“You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard. Where are you going?”
She hesitated. “He’s cooking.”
Jeff’s eyes went wide. “He cooks? Who is this mystery man? Tell me everything.”
Min struggled for words. What could she say?He’s our professor and he gave me so many orgasms last night I literally saw stars.“He’s older,” she said finally, resolving to limit herself to lies of omission.
“How much older?”
“Thirty-four? Maybe thirty-five.”
Jeff let out a low whistle. “When do I get to meet him?”
He reached in and pulled out a black silk tank top with a plunging neckline that he had talked her into last year when it was on sale. Min took it from him, smoothing the silk between her fingers.
“I can’t exactly introduce you.”
“Why not?” he asked, pausing in his perusal of her wardrobe.
“We agreed not to tell anyone we’re seeing each other.”
“I don’t understand. What happened to never being anyone’s secret again?”
She winced. “I know. I just need you to trust me that this time’s different.”
Jeff handed her a blue cardigan from the back of her closet as he eyed her warily. “You deserve to be with someone who’s proud to be with you, Mel.”
“I know. I do. This is my choice as much as it is his.”
Jeff nodded. “I just worry about you, doll.”
“And I appreciate it. But I’m okay. Really.”
“More than okay if that hickey is any indication,” he smirked, gesturing to the purple mark peeking out from the edge of her bra. Min gasped, her hand flying to cover the offending spot. “Wear your skinny jeans. And the black ankle boots.”
“Thank you, Jeff.”
“Just be careful, yeah? I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
As Jeff started to leave, Min called after him. “Hey, Jeff? Don’t tell Maria, okay?”
He cocked his head to the side in question. Min was definitely closer to Jeff than Maria, but she didn’t usually hide things from her. “If that’s what you want…”
“It is. Thanks.”
He nodded and mimed zipping his lips and throwing the key over his shoulder as he left her alone to dress. When she left her room, dressed and digging through her purse for her keys, Bobby and Jeff were still battling it out in Mario Kart. As she entered the room, the sweater thrown over her arm instead of around her shoulders, Bobby stopped playing, his eyes raking over her as his game controller hung limply in his hands. “Fuck, Mel.”
“Yeah?” She smoothed the shirt over her hips, aware that it clung to her curves more than she usually liked.
“Yeah,” he nodded and cleared his throat, looking away and trying to subtly adjust himself.
“You’re welcome,” Jeff smirked.
Chapter Twenty-two
Liam opened the door before she could even knock. He’d been waiting for her to come back ever since she’d left, after all. His eyes scanned her body, from her face to her feet and back again, lingering for just a moment on her cleavage. He smiled. She was there, in his home, for the second night in a row. He could smile at her without worrying who would see. The fragile happiness blossoming in his chest was almost too much to bear.
“You look amazing,” he said as he kissed her on the cheek. He stood back and held the door open, inviting her into his home.
