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“For you, yes,” I say, running my hands over her soft curls. “Any other woman, I’d toss her an electric razor and encourage a buzz cut.”
She laughs. “Really? You’re scared of spiders?”
“No, I was kidding. I’m good with bugs and rodents. Snakes aren’t my favorite, but as long as they’re not crawling into my bed, I figure live and let live.” I lift her hair, checking under the collar of her robe. “You’re safe, I think. But I’d need you naked in my bed coming on my cock to be completely sure.”
She giggles as she spins back to face me. “Tempting, but I should get home. I have laundry to do and finding a free machine in our building on a Sunday is always an adventure.”
“Bring your laundry here next weekend,” I say. “I have a washer and dryer in the guest bathroom.”
Her eyes widen. “Wow. Aren’t you fancy? My dad doesn’t even have a washer and dryer at his place. He used to have one, but when it broke, he never replaced it. He likes sending his laundry out. Our maid could never make it smell as good as the place on Eighty-First Street.” She crosses her arms. “So, are we going to keep making small talk about spiders and laundry or are you going to tell me why you look so happy?”
I smile. “I am happy. Adrian and I had a really good talk. Best one we’ve had since before he was in middle school, actually. I think we might have finally turned a corner. He’s going to call later, and we might do Thai takeout tonight for dinner.”
“Oh, Gideon, that’s so great,” she says, her eyes shining with relief. “What amazing news. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”
“Thanks,” I say. “He actually mentioned you while we were talking. Said he owed you an apology and that…he thinks I would really like you.”
She winces and bares her teeth in something too pained to be a smile. “Wow. And you didn’t break from the guilt and tell him I was under the table?”
“No, but I was close,” I confess. “Would you have killed me?”
“No, but I’m glad you waited. He has enough going on right now. I think we should wait until after things settle with Gigi, at least a little.” She presses her lips together for a beat before she adds, “And I think I should be the one to tell him. I think it will be easier to digest coming from me. I can even make it clear that I seduced you.”
I arch a brow as I draw her closer. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell him that you tried to resist, but I was a virgin on a mission and practically leapt on you like a starving animal.”
I snort. “Yeah, that’ll go over well. I think the less said about virginity or anything else remotely sexual, the better.”
“I know.” She loops her arms around my neck. “I was kidding. Mostly. I do think I should be the one to break the news that we’re dating, but we can discuss that further at a later date.” Her lips turn down. “I’m going to miss you. When do I get to see you again?”
“Tonight?” I ask, my hands drifting down to squeeze her ass through her robe. “As soon as Adrian leaves, I’ll text you with the all clear?”
Sydney grins. “I think I need to sleep in my own bed tonight, but I love the enthusiasm.”
“Do you?” I ask in a softer voice. “I’m not coming on too strong?”
She shakes her head. “No. Am I?”
“Not a chance. I want as much of you as I can get while I’m in the city. I’m extending my trip indefinitely. Any night you want to get together this week, let me know. I have an early meeting in Brooklyn on Wednesday, so I’ll have to leave the apartment by six or so, but you have a key now. You can stay as late as you want and lock up on your way to the office.”
“I have a key to your place,” she says, sounding as delighted by that news as I feel. She sighs. “Life surprises you in good ways sometimes.”
“Which is good. Helps make up for the bad surprises.”
I kiss her and we sway inside, bound for the bedroom despite her insistence that she needs to go, and I forget all about “bad surprises” for a while.
But I really shouldn’t have.
Whenever my ex is within a two-hundred-mile radius, bad surprises are always right around the corner.
twenty-seven
SYDNEY
I don’t think I’ve ever been so sad to see a weekend end.
Not even back in Maine, when the girls and I spent an amazing weekend kayaking, having bonfires on the beach, and sleeping over in the lighthouse’s lamp room.
