Jay’s stare turns colder. “Do you take me for an idiot, Tom? Your test comes back positive, you vanish for days, and now you’re here, ready for a retest? Very clever.”
I catch a flicker of a grin on Sergei’s face as Jay says it. Just a twitch, nothing too visible. Russian bodyguards don’t smile.
I shrug. “Sorry, I freaked out. I needed some time to get my head straight. Stick me on a lie detector if you want.”
Calvin comes over to refill our glasses. I beg him with my eyes.
Please, Cal. For the love of God, help me out here.
“Um, Jay, listen… Tom’s changed. He’s not drinking anymore and—”
“Did I say you could talk?”
Calvin drops his head, retreats a few steps, then disappears into the kitchen. Sergei watches him go.
Jay turns back to me. “So, how was your stay? Any life-changing insights?”
Well, thanks for finally asking. Short version: you’re the biggest arsehole in my life, and if I want any chance at rebuilding it, I need to get rid of you.
I bite back a grin. Probably best to keep that one to myself.
“I’ve managed to process some things. Still working on it. It was going well until the local DEA barged in.”
Jay nods absently, scrolling through his phone.
“What’s your therapist’s name again? I should probably have a word with her.”
“Him,” I cough away a sudden tickle in my throat. “Doctor. Aoki, and he’s uhm, you know, alternative therapy. Crystals, needles. Back cracking and yoga.”
Focus, Tom. You’re in the danger zone now. Everything out of your mouth needs to sound casual.
And why does alternative therapy suddenly not sound casual at all?
Probably because getting sucked off puts a whole new spin on the alternative part.
I cross my right leg over my left, trying to hide the fact that just saying his name is enough to make me rock hard.
“Wait. I spoke to Doctor Nyberg, and she assured me she’d—” He stops mid-sentence, waving his words away.
“You know what? Maybe it’s for the best. At least we know you didn’t sleep with this one.”
Is… is this real?Did he just? Did he actually say that?
I press my palm over my mouth, feigning boredom. It’s like I’m holding a royal flush at the poker table while he’s gone all-in on a busted hand. Sweat beads on my forehead as I do my best to keep a straight face. I even roll my eyes. Oscar-worthy.
Jay watches me closely. “You behaved yourself at that resort, I hope?”
“Well, yeah, of course I did!”
Sergei opens his phone and hands it to my brother. Jay looks at the screen and raises an eyebrow.
“Stella Martens?” No context.
These games are wearing on my patience. I snatch the phone from his hand.
Tom McKenna and Stella Martens cozy up in rehab,reads the headline of the cheap gossip article.
“Calvin said you had a girlfriend in rehab. Is it Stella?” I scroll through the biggest pile of crap I’ve read about myself in ages. Lies I told Stella to keep her distracted while I was busy fooling around with Yosh.
