Jumping up off the sofa, I walk into the kitchen to place our empty mugs in the sink. I take my time washing them up. I need a moment to calm down. I swear I have a scent that attracts players. Just a look or a touch and I’m putty in their hands.
When I pace back into the living room, I spot Christian standing next to my small fireplace. He’s looking at the collection of photos I have there. “Emily hasn’t changed,” he says, noticing I’ve re-entered the room. “Who’s the guy?”
I move to stand next to him. He’s referring to a photo I took of Emily and Noah at Bronte’s Peak last year. They look so incredibly happy as they stare into each other’s eyes.
“That’s her boyfriend, Noah.” I remove the frame from his grasp to place it in its rightful place on the mantel. During the process, my gaze flicks to a picture of Nick on my left. He’s unaware I snapped his photo the same day as Emily and Noah’s. He’s staring out at the ocean with his brows scrunched and a smirk etched on his face. I love that photo of him because it captures his real personality. He can seem a little standoffish, and he often sits by himself whenever he attends any gatherings. I used to think that was because he enjoyed his own company, but I guess that’s not really true. He just doesn’t enjoy male company.
“Who’s the blond?” Christian asks when he notices me staring at Nick’s photo.
My chest deflates as my lungs lose the ability to breathe. “He’s just a friend.” I crank my neck to Christian. “What do you want, Christian?”
My voice is sterner than I originally planned, but with confusion fueling it, I’m not surprised. Why would he turn up now—days after I was deceived by a man just like him?
His hazel eyes flick between mine. I can see sexual hunger in them, but there’s something else I can’t comprehend. “When I found out you were in New York, I had to come and visit my favorite girl.” He grips my hand in his, hoping it will hide the lie I see in his eyes.
It doesn’t.
“Well, you’ve seen me now, so it's time for you to leave.”
Removing my hand from his, I pace to my front door. My quota for dealing with players this week has reached its absolute limit. I’m not up for any more antics.
Christian snags his jacket off the sofa chair before shadowing me to the front door. “I’ll see you around.”
I shake my head. I’m done with players.
He grins before pressing a peck on my cheek. “Iwillsee you around, because I live in this building.”
My eyes snap to his. His are gleaming with mischief, but I know he’s telling the truth. They’re not just beaming with lust; they’re wholesome as well.
He winks before sauntering out of my apartment. I stand still, frozen in place with my mouth gaped open like a fish out of water. When I snap out of my shock, I close my door. Just before it shuts completely, I see Christian standing near the elevator bank, waiting for the car to arrive to my floor.
Noticing my inconspicuous gawk, he cockily winks. “I’m in the penthouse if you change your mind.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Nick
Eight fucking weeks. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve heard from Jenni. I tried her number every goddamn day the first four weeks. I kept getting the same message about her phone no longer being in service. I got so desperate to talk to her, I begged Jacob to give me her new number. After laughing at my kneeling position, he informed me her number hadn’t changed.
That’s when I realized she had blocked my number.
I’ll admit my ego took a pretty big hit. Still, I went straight to a payphone to call her. When she greeted me with excitement, I thought she’d gotten over her anger. She sounded happy—I’d even go as far as saying pleased to hear from me.
It was only when she realized who she was talking to did her tone go from pleasant to pissed off in under five seconds. She told me to quit calling her before she hung up on me. I called her another three times immediately following that. She never answered any of my calls. I was so fucking pissed at her, I went to the Dungeon to pick up the first cute blonde girl with light blue eyes I could find. One way or another, I was going to get Jenni out of my head.
My plan was working. . . until I was sneaking the unnamed blonde into my bedroom later that night. She was recreating memories I didn’t want recreated. I liked them just the way they were.
After making up an excuse for her to leave, I drove her home. I’d never been eager to scrub a girl’s perfume off my skin before, but I was that night. I scrubbed my skin so hard it nearly bled.
My desperation reached a new level two weeks ago when Rise Up was recording in the studio. While Noah was in the soundproof booth laying down some lyrics, I noticed his cell phone sitting on the bench across from me. I pretended I was getting some more sheet music, but really, I just grabbed his phone to sneakily borrow. It didn’t take a genius to realize his lock code was Emily’s birthday.
After logging into his Facebook app, I typed Jenni’s name into the screen. Her profile picture hadn’t changed since the day she blocked me. I sighed in relief when I realized her relationship status hadn’t been updated either. It still showed she was single.
My eyes darted around the studio to make sure no one was paying any attention to me before scrolling down Jenni’s Facebook wall. She was tagged in a few photos that revealed how her weekends were being spent. She was out clubbing and dancing nearly every Friday and Saturday night. There were also a few comments that popped up from the same guy.
“Christian Doherty,” I mumbled to myself.
When Slater came barreling into the room, he startled me so much, I dropped Noah’s phone on the ground. Slater’s suspicious eyes flicked down at the illuminated screen before they darted back to me. Shifting his head to the side, his brow cocked. It was clear he had busted me.
