She still liked her cable shows.I tried to sell her on a streaming app, pointing out that she could watch whatever she wanted whenever she wanted, and her reply had surprised me.
“But that’s no fun.How would I ever decide?This way, I know I have to be in front of the TV at a certain hour.It’s my routine.”
After I left, I looked at the bars in the area and drove to the nearest one, which also sold drinks to go.When I pulled up, the parking lot looked really busy, but I didn’t mind.I could reply to several emails while I waited.I didn’t like to work once business hours were over—it just created a bad habit, as far as I was concerned—but since I wasn’t going to be available on Friday, I wanted to wrap a few things up before I left.
The bar was small but loud.Everything was made out of wood except for the ceiling, which had mirrors, making it look much higher.It worked well.
“What can I get you?”the bartender asked when it was finally my turn.
“Margarita to go.”
“Coming right up.”
After paying, I headed back to the car and realized I could walk to Amy’s place from here.I’d come back for the car later.I was still driving the SUV even though the Lexus was at home, out of the shop.I took out my phone intending to text her, but then just decided to surprise her.
When I headed up to her house, I already had a plan in mind.I was going to invite myself over for the night.Damn—I typically never spent time with a woman two days in a row, let alone stayed until the morning.But to be honest, Amy was more than a fling or hookup.I wasn’t sure how to define our relationship—although “friends with benefits” sounded good.
I rang the bell, already imagining her expression.But when the door swung open, a guy stood in front of me.I was pissed.
He looked at my cup.“Can I help you?”he asked me somewhat incredulously.
“Is Amy here?”
Who the fuck was this?Why was he at Amy’s house, and why hadn’t she mentioned him being here tonight?Why did she have a man over this late in the evening?
“I’m in the bedroom,” Amy said.“I’ll be right out.Just sign off for whatever delivery it is.”
Fuck.They were very familiar with each other if she just asked him to sign off on stuff.
“Amy, it’s me,” I said loudly.Her place was small, so I knew she’d hear me.
She darted out of the bedroom.“Knox,” she said.Her face was red, and her hair was haywire.“What are you doing here?”
Why was she in the bedroom?
I swallowed hard.My temple was pulsing.She couldn’t be sleeping with this fucking geek, could she?The guy looked like an adult-sized Harry Potter, and I didn’t mean that as a compliment.He had round glasses and shitty hair.
“This is Gregory,” Amy said quickly.Was that a look of guilt on her face, or was I imagining it?
“How do you do?”He held his hand out.
“Knox Sterling,” I said without offering mine.
“Did you text me that you were dropping by?”Amy asked.
“No.”
What would she have done?Shoved him out the window so I wouldn’t see him?
What the hell had gotten into me?We owed each other nothing.There was no commitment.We were just friends with benefits, after all.My whole life, I’d never believed in monogamy, so it was a perfect situation.
But why did it not sit right with me now?
I needed to pull myself together.
“Gregory and I are doing some crafts for the elementary students,” Amy said.
Gregory looked at her a little too intently for my taste.Yeah, he was into her.
