“Vincent.” She spoke my name so softly that I might have missed it if I hadn’t been tuned into her. “This ... what we’re talking about doing. It’s a one-shot deal, right? Just tonight.”
She took me by surprise again, and when I didn’t respond immediately, she rushed on to elaborate. “I don’t mean to sound ... but yeah. It’s just that I don’t really have time in my life right now for anything complicated. You know? I’m buried with my classes, and my job is kind of challenging.”
“Yeah, I get it.” I did. It was just that it was usually me giving the let’s-keep-it-casual speech. “Like I told you, I don’t do relationships or girlfriends. Maybe this is a bad idea, you and me tonight, but we’re both adults, and we both know what we’re doing. So why not?”
“As long as we’re on the same page.” Amanda nodded. “And I don’t want this getting back to Liam, got it? Or to Ava.”
“Jesus, no.” I shuddered. “The last thing I need is my family deciding you and I are some sort of couple or whatever. No. These lips are sealed, I promise.”
“Good.” She squared her shoulders. “Then I’m ready when you are.”
“Okay, then. I’ll tell Carl I’m going out after, so he doesn’t worry when I don’t show up.”
“Be subtle.” She set down her glass on a nearby tray. “I’ll thank Mrs. Bailey and plead a headache and lots of work at home. I’ll meet you in front.”
I watched her ease away, her hips swaying gently under the subtle shifting of her red dress, and I wondered if I knew what the hell I was doing. Part of me did; that part was already straining at the zipper of my dress pants as I took in the way her legs went on forever. The thinking, semi-intelligent remainder of me suggested that I was certifiably insane.
One thing I knew, though. I wasn’t backing out. I might be a lunatic, but I was a lunatic who’d been working so hard in the past two months that I hadn’t gotten laid in way too long. I knew my family considered me something of a man whore, but the truth was slightly less exciting. I didn’t troll bars for women often. I didn’t have time. Most of my one-night stands were with people I met through my job, which was slightly complicated, since I worked at my family’s restaurant.
I was careful never to hit on anyone younger than me by more than a year or so. The truth was that I preferred slightly older women who didn’t have starry eyes and expectations. I’d slept with suppliers who came around to make sales calls or occasionally, customers who were in town for a short time. If the pickings were lean, as they were from time to time, I’d drive up the coast and hang out at a bar where no one knew me.
Still, that didn’t happen often. I wasn’t an idiot, and I knew how to keep it in my pants when there were more important issues in my life, or when the restaurant was so busy I didn’t have time to think, let alone flirt with a pretty girl. The problem was that I’d been reluctantly celibate for too long now, and although I hadn’t expected to meet anyone tonight, the combination of my attraction to Amanda and her easy availability made this too good an opportunity to pass up.
She was still talking to Liam’s mother and Ava, I noted, so I threaded my way between groups of people until I found my brother, who was holding a plate of food and staring off into space.
“Carl? You okay, buddy?”
He startled at the sound of my voice, frowning at me, and I wondered if he’d been somehow sleeping standing up, with his eyes open. “Oh, Vince. Good. I was just about to come looking for you. The baby’s real fussy, so Ange and I are heading back to the hotel now. I wanted to give you a key, so you can get in.” He began hunting through his pockets, looking for the key, I assumed. “But listen, be quiet coming in. In case the baby’s asleep. Because if he is, and you come barreling in and wake him up, I’m pretty sure Angela will strangle you. If she doesn’t, I might.”
“Dude, don’t sweat it.” I gripped my brother’s shoulder. “I’m not going to stay with you guys after all.”
He squinted at me as though I was speaking in a foreign language. “Are you crashing at Ava’s?”
“Ah, no. I’m, uh, going to ...” I tried to think of something that would throw Carl off the scent, but I came up with nothing. Lying on the fly had never been my strength. “Um, there’s this chick—”
“Dude, you picked up some woman at your sister’s engagement party?” Suddenly Carl’s fatigue-dulled eyes were awake again. “Who is she?”
“I don’t want to say. It’s not a big deal, Carl. It’s just a one-time thing.” Unbidden, my gaze strayed over to where Amanda was hugging Mrs. Bailey and clearly saying good night.
“No fucking way.” Carl spoke furiously, under his breath. “Amanda? Liam’s best friend? That’s the girl you’re nailing tonight?”
“Be quiet,” I ground out. “This isn’t something I want getting around the family. I’m telling you, it’s no big deal. We’re just going to go ... uh, get a drink. Or something.”
“Yeah,or something.” Carl shook his head. “Vince, this is not a good idea, even for you. She isn’t just some woman you met at a bar. She’s Liam’s friend. She’s Ava’s friend. It’s not cool.”
“I’m not kidnapping her and carrying her off to my cave. For fuck’s sake, Carl. You’re not my father, and I don’t need you giving me morality lectures.” I clenched my teeth. “She’s clear about where I stand. Hell, she’s the one who made me promise this is only for a night. So stop worrying about her and about me and just take care of your own shit.” I drew in a deep breath and forced myself to speak calmly. “You’ll have the room to yourself tonight. Get the baby to sleep and spend some time with your wife. I think you both need it.”
He snorted. “If we manage to get him down, the only thing either of us wants to do in bed is sleep.” My brother exhaled long. “Okay, Vince. I hope you know what you’re doing, but it’s your life to fuck up. I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, bro.” I punched his shoulder. “I’ll try to be back for breakfast at Ava’s, but in case I don’t make it, just tell Ma I got up early and decided to drive back home. I’ll see you there.”
“I’m not lying for you, Vince. I said I won’t tell Ma or Pop, and I won’t, but if Ma asks me where you are, I’m not going to lie. If she asks if you slept in our room, I’m not going to tell her you did, and I’m sure as hell not going to ask Ange to lie.”
“Fine. Just don’t bring it up. I’ll figure something out.” Worst case, I’d leave Amanda’s apartment early enough to get back to the hotel and hang out in the lobby. I’d tell my parents that I hadn’t wanted to risk disturbing Carl and Ange. No one would think twice about that sentiment. “See you later.”
“Vince.” Carl called after me. “It’s not that I think any less of you. You know that, right? I just want you to think about this. Be smart.”
“Always.” I winked and gave him the same corny salute we’d been sharing since we were little boys playing in the backyard together. And then I walked toward the exit, eager to get outside before anyone else could make me second-guess what I was about to do.
