“Not willingly. She ambushed me. You walked in at the worst possible moment.”
“Because I caught you.”
“I never liked Phoebe in that way. I didn’t want her to kiss me. She just did it.”
“You had to know she was interested. The two of you flirted all the time. Youreallyexpect me to believe there was nothing between you?”
“Yes, because it’s true. It also happened five years ago. Even if all the bad things you assume about me are true, which they aren’t, it’s old news. Are you still that angry about it?”
Lindsay frowned. “I’m not talking about this here.”
“Will you talk about it somewhere else? Like my place?”
He hadn’t meant to be quite that personal. He should have suggested a neutral location, not his apartment. But instead, the invitation hung in the air for a long moment. Lindsay stared at him, her lips pressed together.
She moved suddenly, jerking her whole body toward the door. “No. I have to go.”
Brad knew he probably wouldn’t have another chance like this, so he had to put everything out there. “Phoebe meant nothing to me. The worst part about that night is that you walked in and of course saw something awful and then you left me. The three of us were friends, and then fucking Phoebe ended it all with one stupid kiss. But I didn’t want her. I wanted you.”
“Friends? You thought all three of us werefriends?”
“Weren’t we?”
“You and I weren’t friends, Brad. We were a couple. But if it was all a lark for you, then I won’t waste any more of either of our time.”
“It wasn’t a lark. God, Linds, can’t you just sit and listen to me instead of constantly assuming the worst?”
“No. Turns out I’m still mad. And I have to go. Expect the story in next week’s issue of theForum.”
She stormed out.
After staring at the door for a good, long moment, Brad realized he was standing. He hadn’t remembered standing up. He dropped back into his chair. Hamilton dutifully hopped into his lap. Brad petted him.
As Hamilton started to purr, Brad concentrated on the feel of soft fur under his hand and the gentle vibrating against his leg. Okay, he could see how having a cat might be an asset. This was helping him calm down.
Paige walked into the cat room. “Did she at least finish the interview this time before you pissed her off?”
“Yes, but what makes you thinkIpissed her off?”
Paige shrugged. “She looked pretty mad when she stormed out of the café. Lauren tried to give her a latte, but Lindsay turned it down.”
“She’s so stubborn.”
“I know.”
“She thinks I was cheating on her with one of our friends. I was not, for the record. But she has her own interpretation of what happened imprinted on her brain and will not let go of it or listen to me.”
Paige sat in the chair Lindsay had just vacated. “Yeah, that sounds in character.”
“What is it they say about the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing again and again but expecting different results? Well, I must be insane, because I want her back. I want her to give me another chance.”
Paige gave him an appraising look. “Really?”
“Seeing her again made it all come back. I never wanted to break up. She’s the one who ended things.”
Paige nodded. “I lucked into my fiancé, but I am otherwise pretty stupid about romance. But did you not just complain about her being stubborn?”
“I always found that equal parts frustrating and arousing.”
