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I cross my arms over my chest. “And who gave you permission to do this?”
“I did,” Theo chimes in. I pivot to yell at him, but I don’t have the lady balls—sometimes Theo scares me—and turn to his woman instead.
“How could you allow him to do this?”
Fay chuckles like this is all a huge joke. “He said I could tag along, which meant getting to see you. He’s banned me since tequila night, so I had to take what I could get.”
I turn my scowl back on Theo. “No one bans me from my bestie.”
“You ever try to get puke out of Italian leather? Had to trade my fucking car in because they couldn’t get the smell of tequila out.”
Okay, he wins.
“Whatever.” I turn to my main suspect. “Who turned off my alarm? I missed my Pilates class.”
To my surprise, Fay answers. “I did. I thought you may need the rest.”
I toss my hands up in defeat. Fay was the only one left on my nice list, and now she went and ruined it. I open my mouth to express my disappointment, but the words don’t come out. Twisting on my heel, I walk back to my room and close the door, making a beeline for my window. I open it and lean over, debating how badly it would hurt to jump the two stories. “If I bounce off the dumpster, I bet—”
“Hey.”
I retract back inside. “What?”
“Well, for starters, you set off an alarm sensor, and they sent me in here to make sure you’re not trying to escape.”Seriously!“But I wanted some alone time with you. I know yesterday must have been hard.”
I shut my window. Dumpster diving will have to wait for another day. “It was fine. Fucked up, but fine.” I grab some clothes from my closet and change out of Theo’s coat. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Fay giggles and tucks it under her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? I know you’re a little baddie, but it’s okay tonot beokay.”
“What do you want me to say? That I’m freaked out? That I hate feeling so out of control of my own life? I can’t fathom going back to work for Russell. Having someone’s hands on me like that…I can’t. I hate how affected I am by what that guy did to me, and I hate that I haven’t overcome it yet. I hate that he’s made me scared.”
Fay steps forward, wrapping her arms around me. “And all of that is okay.”
“Not when you’re not allowed to be. I don’t have any room for failure. If I don’t go back to work for Russell, I can’t cover my rent. Theo’s check is the only reason I’m covering it now. When that’s gone…what do I do then? And don’t say move in with you.”
“Okay, I’ll say we’ll figure it out, and in the meantime, you can move in with me.”
I pull away from her. “Fay, I love you. But doing that only puts a Band-Aid on my problems. Not to mention, you’re about to get married, and the restaurant’s so close to opening. You don’t need me tainting these special moments that should be about you and Theo.”
“Minds, you know I would do anything for you. If it takes getting rid of Theo, then—”
“Oh, stop.”
“Okay, that was going too far, but you know I would do anything for you.”
“Then let me fight this battle. I’m a big girl. I don’t need this protection. The security cameras. A moody guard dog.” Her and those damn puppy-dog eyes. “Knock it off.”
“You’re right. It’s so obnoxious how much everyone cares about you. How about we get out there—after you put clothes on, of course—and tell them to knock it off and take us for mimosas.”
My mouth waters. “God, you know the way to my heart.”
“Duh. Get dressed. I’m thinking Don Julio’s.”
“I swear, I’ll never tell Theo you love me more than him.”
“Wear the short skirt that one waiter likes. He always hooks us up with extra guac when you wear it.”
I give her my signature Mindy Parks wink, and she leaves me to get ready. Thirty minutes later, I walk out of my bedroom, looking good and feeling better. Stalker who? Fay sees me first and smiles wide, giving a wolf whistle. Theo shakes his head, continuing with whatever call he’s on, and Tate’s jaw tics, though his expression remains blank.
