“Can you come over?”
“Now?” he asked, and I imagined him looking at the clock on his phone. “It’s late. Can it wait until morning?”
“I wouldn’t ask, but it’s kind of important,” I said, my voice rising with every word. “I’m in a predicament, and well—” I puffed out a breath. “I’m handcuffed and naked.”
He chuckled, and I heard the rustling of covers and his muffled voice before he said, “I’ll be there soon. Try not to have too much fun without me.”
“Har-har. Just don’t forget a bobby pin.”
“I’m leaving now,” he said, then disconnected the call.
I went into my closet and grabbed a pair of athletic shorts. Some of Lauren’s clothes still hung there, and I wondered how I was going to make this right. How I was going to get her back. I’d really fucked up.
With my athletic shorts on, I waited for Preston to arrive. I was supposed to fly to New York in the morning, but now I wasn’t sure what to do. It felt like my life was at a crossroads, like everything hinged on this moment, this decision. I needed to know whether I was Mia’s baby daddy, but I also needed to fix my relationship with Lauren.
Headlights flashed through the windows. For a brief moment, hope bubbled within me. Maybe it was Lauren coming back to say she’d made a mistake, she’d changed her mind. But when I swung the door open and saw Preston, my spirits sank.
I used my shoulder to nudge the door open. “Come in.”
“Well, hello to you too.” He bypassed me, dressed in sweat pants and a T-shirt from Sophia’s school. His dark hair was mussed.
I shut the door with my shoulder, locking it awkwardly behind me. I really needed to get out of these handcuffs. I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to see a pair again after tonight. And I sure as shit wasn’t letting another woman use them on me.
Preston glanced around as if he’d never been here. Though in all fairness, I hadn’t had him over for a while. Not since Lauren had pseudo-moved in.
He frowned at Riley’s plush bed, which was overflowing with toys. “Did you get a dog?”
I shook my head, scrambling for an answer. “Sort of.”
Why had I felt the need to lie—and to Preston, of all people? I was beginning to think I’d forgotten how to tell the truth.
He turned to stare at me. “What does that mean? Where is it now?”
“It was a temporary arrangement. I was trying it out—you know, to see if I actually wanted a dog. Or if I just liked the idea of having a pet.”
Geez, wasn’t that the best metaphor for Lauren and me. Both of us were too scared to commit—her more than me. So, we’d done a sort of trial run, slowly changing things without ever admitting the fact that she lived here.
Preston nodded. “That’s sensible. So, what’d you think?”
“I think…” I sighed.
Riley was great. The perfect dog. And there was no question in my mind that I wanted to be a pet owner. But when it came to Lauren, to love, I wasn’t sure what to think. I knew I wanted to be with her, but I’d screwed up. I was in the doghouse big-time, and I didn’t know how—or even if—I’d be able to get out.
“I think I’d love being a pet owner.”
Preston nodded thoughtfully. “So…what else is going on?”
“Well, I’m a bit stuck.” I held up my hands.
“I can see that.” His lips twitched, and I knew he was dying to make a joke.
If roles were reversed, I’d be giving him so much shit. Then again, this type of behavior was expected from me. Preston—well, Preston was like a sex camel. He could go for long periods without sex. Or at least, he had before he’d met Alexis.
“So, what happened to your, um, partner in crime?” He grinned, clearly pleased with his joke.
“She fled the scene,” I said, though I wasn’t in the mood.
“Clearly.” He set his phone on the counter, glancing between it and the bobby pin. “Come on, man. You have to give me more than that.”
