Page 18 of Spring Break Fling

“How would you know?”

He shrugged. “I know things.”

I shook my head, trying to dismiss their interest and my own surprising curiosity about her. “You don’t know shit.”

“Come on, man,” Diego pressed, leaning back on his stool with that annoyingly knowing look. “When was the last time you wrapped someone’s tattoo and then mooned over them like a lovesick puppy? You gotta admit, there’s something about this one.”

I threw a dirty rag into the trash harder than necessary. “Fine. Yes, she’s different. Happy now?”

Jessie laughed, slapping her knee. “Never seen you like this. She’s got under your skin.”

“I’m leaving,” I said. “I need to go deal with the other woman not in my life.”

“Shit. Alone? Need backup?” Diego looked genuinely concerned.

“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to get my shit and leave.”

“Don’t accidentally have sex with her,” Jess warned.

“I’m not sure that’s physically possible,” I said dryly.

“That’s what she wants from you. She wants the D. She’s reeling you in. I bet she’s going to accidentally be naked when you show up.” Jessie clearly thought she was being funny.

Ignoring them, I grabbed my phone and keys. “I’m out,” I said, not waiting for a response.

Samantha’s apartment was only ten minutes away, but it felt longer. Maybe because I was already regretting the whole thing. What the hell had I even left there that was worth picking up? But when I’d told her I’d come by, she’d sounded smug—like she had the upper hand—and I wasn’t about to let her win whatever stupid game she thought we were playing.

Whatever she had was obviously not important enough for me to miss. I wasn’t convinced there was anything. I had a feeling Jess might be right. That or Samantha was setting me up to get jumped or something.

I knocked on the door and braced myself. Samantha was a beautiful woman and sex with her had been good, but I felt nothing for her. I didn’t want to have sex with her ever again. That would make it easy for me. I didn’t care if she was naked and begging me. I would grab my shit and leave, done and dusted.

When she opened the door, I was relieved to see she was dressed. There had been a time when that would have disappointed me, but that was long in the past.

She shoved a box into my hands without so much as a hello. “Here. Your stuff.”

I glanced inside. A grip strength trainer, some protein powder, an old mug, and a shirt I’d forgotten I even owned. “You couldn’t just throw this out?”

“I thought you might want it back,” she said. “Oh, and your doodles.” She turned and called over her shoulder. “Greg, grab his sketchbook.”

Greg? Who the hell was Greg?

I didn’t have to wait long for the answer. A guy built like a refrigerator appeared, my sketchbook in hand. He shoved it at me, his jaw clenched. The guy looked like he’d done more steroids than any doctor would recommend.

And I knew what that meant. Compensating for something.

“Thanks, man,” I said, taking it. “Now this, I’m glad I got back.”

I was playing it cool even though I understood what Samantha’s game was. She thought she was going to make me jealous with the new man in her life. Talk about desperate. She was screwing, or attempting to screw, a juicehead when she really wanted me back. At least in the sack. She knew I could give her what she liked and needed.

Then, because I couldn’t resist fucking with her just a little and I didn’t particularly care for the way Greg was staring at me, I looked down at Samantha’s legs. “Has she shown you the scorpion tattoo on her inner thigh? One of my best, if I do say so myself.”

Samantha’s eyes flashed like she was ready to commit murder. “Nikko, get out.”

“Relax, Sam,” I said, holding my box of junk. “I was just making conversation. Oh, and Greg?” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “If you ever want that shitty shoulder piece fixed, come down to the shop.”

“Fuck off, Nikko!” Samantha yelled as I stepped back.

The door slammed behind me and I couldn’t help but laugh. She always did have a temper. Maybe my shit-stirring would put an end to her inviting me over. It was best to make a clean break.