Page 139 of Stanton Adore

Not really. What’s up?

I text back.

Where are you?

A text beeps back.

I’m at home but I am going to Ross’s soon. Can’t I see you later? Is it really that urgent?

I fume again at the mention of that prick’s name.

YES, this is a matter of urgency.

Get here now!

I wait for his reply.

You’re a pain in my ass, Stanton. See you soon.

I turn to Ben.

“Bring the car around, time to pay lover boy a visit.”

He nods, understanding my meaning. “Sure thing.”

I walk up the stairs with renewed purpose. He’s fucked with the wrong person if he thinks I will let him do this and get away with it. I walk into my room to quickly get dressed and there she is. Lying naked in the middle of my bed smiling up at me. My god, those dimples are beautiful. I lie down on the bed next to her and gently kiss her lips as I push the hair off her forehead.

“Morning, beautiful, how did you sleep?”

She gives me a mussed-up sexy smile. “Fine thanks, but you know I hate waking up alone. Where have you been?” she says as she stretches her arms. I kiss her again and smile. “Can you do me a favor?”

She smiles and nods as she runs her hand up my legs to my shorts. “Hmm, I like the sound of that,” she purrs.

I wish. “No, not that, can you keep Adrian busy for an hour or so? I need to organize something for him, a surprise, and I don’t want him to know. Could you do that for me, Presh?”

She frowns. “You want me to babysit Adrian?”

I smile and nod. “Exactly, thanks, baby. I will make it up to you later.” I jump up and start pulling on my clothes in a hurry. I need to leave before Murph gets here. I give her a peck on the cheek and dart toward the staircase, pretending not to see her disgruntled face.

We pull up out the front of Ross’s house and both sit in silence as we weigh up the situation. I slowly get out of the car and Ben follows me up the path in silence. He’s going to be sorry and begging for mercy by the time I’ve finished with him. That’s if I don’t kill him first. I don’t know if I have ever been so furious in my life.

Knock, knock, knock.

Ross opens the door and his face lights up.

“Joshua, nice to see you.” He looks around for Adrian and I continue to glare at him. “Come in,” he gestures with his hands.

My eyes flick to Ben and I murmur the words, “Guard the door.”

We exchange nods and he steps back into his position. I walk in and close the door behind me. Time to pay, fucker.

Natasha

He’s odd. I rub my eyes as I try to remember what he has just told me. Is it Adrian’s birthday or something? I hear the sound of people talking downstairs and I get up and shower. I suppose I had better get to my job, whatever that is. Fifteen minutes later I enter the kitchen to find a very annoyed Adrian speaking to Cameron.

“Well, why would he summon me over here and then frigging take off?” Oh shit, I need to think quickly.

“Hi, Adrian.” I smile and his eyes flick to me. “Hi Tash, where did your nutjob boyfriend go?”

“Um, I asked him to go and get something from the store for me.”

He and Cameron both frown at me. “Joshua doesn’t shop, Natasha,” he snaps. Boy, he’s angry.

“Um, no…I ahh…I needed something specific.” They both frown at me again. Oh shit, what am I going to say? “Um, he went to get me my pill prescription for me.”

They both frown and look at me as if I’m crazy. “He doesn’t particularly want a baby and I told him no sex until he got my tablets for me…you know taking one for the team and all that.” Oh shit, that was the lamest excuse in the history of lying. Josh is going to kill me.

Adrian shoots his eyes to Cameron and they both burst out laughing. Cameron holds his hand up and Adrian slaps it in a high five.

“What the hell have you done to Joshua Stanton? He’s like a fucking lovesick puppy.” He puts on a fake Aussie accent. “No sex for you, Joshua, until you get me my pills,” Adrian says to Cameron as he points his finger at him.

I roll my eyes and flick the coffee maker on. Josh is right. I’m a totally shit liar.