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“Just tell me if she’s here. She’s not answering her phone!”
“Did you answer yours?” Jagger countered.
“Charlie!” Deacon’s booming voice echoed through the warehouse.
I wanted to hide, but instead of actually attempting to, I froze in place as Deacon and Jagger yelled at each other all the way down the halls. My body jerked when Deacon began pounding on my bedroom door and calling my name. After taking a deep breath in and giving myself a second to school my expression, I walked over to open it.
“Charlie, I’m sorry,” he began, but Jagger cut in.
“You don’t have to talk to him.”
I shrugged and smiled. “Why wouldn’t I? And you don’t have to apologize.”
“The hell he doesn’t,” Jagger growled.
“Yes, I do. I’m sorry, I—I—I lost track of time and crashed, and when I woke up it was two hours after I was supposed to get you.”
“You fell asleep?” I asked, but kept the smile plastered on my face.
“Bull—”
“Jagger,” I bit out, but didn’t stop looking at Deacon.
“I’m sorry,” Deacon said in response. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear to God. Let me—”
“That really isn’t necessary, and actually, I need you to leave. I have a date tonight, and I’m running a little late now that you’re here.”
His eyebrows shot up, as did Jagger’s, and for the first time since I opened the door, Deacon’s eyes slowly trailed over my body. “Oh . . . you have a date?”
“Uh-huh. So if you wouldn’t mind, I need to finish getting ready.”
He nodded absentmindedly and took a step back, but didn’t take his eyes off me. “Then, uh, I guess things worked out tonight.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Funny how that can happen for both of us.”
Deacon’s gaze had been traveling down again, but snapped back up at my words. From the way he quickly looked away, but kept opening his mouth like he wanted to say something, it was clear he’d assumed I had somehow guessed the real reason why he hadn’t been there for me today. But I wasn’t going to make it easier for him by saying anything else. He’d hurt me without even trying or caring.
Unapologetically arrogant and unaware.
Well, I guess now he was apologetic at least.
“Deacon,” I prompted when he continued to stand there, and tried to ignore the chaos his light eyes caused inside me when they finally rested on my face again.
My heart was racing so fast it felt like it would beat out of my chest, and it was taking every ounce of strength to stand still when my body was craving the feel of his against mine again.
“Right, well . . . I’ll, uh, I’ll see you.” After another pause, he turned and walked down the hall. And with a worried look, Jagger reluctantly followed.
I released a ragged breath and slumped against the doorframe, and tried to ignore the way my hands shook from the chaos that Deacon left in his wake. After I heard him leave, I waited in the hall for a few minutes before grabbing Grey’s keys and leaving as well. And soon I was at the babysitter’s house picking up my son.
“Hey, thank you for understanding,” I told her as I handed her some cash, and took Keith’s hand and started backing up toward the driveway. “After what happened today, I really just need to spend the night with my favorite guy.”
“Not a problem! Call me whenever you need me again.”
“I will.” Once Keith was in his booster seat, I kissed his cheek and asked, “Who are you?”
“Mommy!” he said with a laugh and a cheesy grin. “I’m Spider-Man!”
“What do you say to Spider-Man taking me out on a date tonight? I think other guys just make our lives too complicated.”
