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“I did not,” I sputter. “I just needed some time to get my shit together.” I glance toward my brothers, but their blank faces are no help.
I look at the bartender, who throws her cleaning rag toward me. My reflexes being at their worst, the cold cloth hits my face.
“Call the girl,” she comments begrudgingly.
“Isn’t it better to go in person?” I ask my new friend. She appears to be having the best advice right now.
“You’re too wasted to go anywhere but your bed. Call her now and then visit her tomorrow morning.”
I hop off the barstool and drop several hundred-dollar bills on the counter. I certainly owe this woman.
“I’ll be outside,” I tell my brothers before making a beeline to the door.
With trembling fingers, I dial Marr’s number. It rings twice before she picks up.
“Hi.” Her soft voice sounds like heaven.
“Hey. Reach home safely?” God, could I sound any lamer?
“Yeah. We’ve been home for some time now.” Her voice sounds guarded as she waits for me to say something, to explain where we stand after tonight. The bartender chick was right; I did leave her hanging.
“So, the general consensus is that we’re together.”
She takes a sharp breath, making my complete body shudder. “Are you sure?” Her voice is almost a whisper.
“I told you, nothing you say will change my mind.”
“Oh.” I picture the O formed by her puckered lips and her eyebrows knit together. “You didn’t say much,” she finally murmurs.
“It was a lot of information, Marr, and unexpected.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m sorry. Not only for now.” I don’t know what else to say. What can you tell someone who has suffered so much? Sorry seems so scant.
“It’s okay, Zander.” Her concluding tone makes me change the topic.
“You looked beautiful tonight.”
“Thanks, but you already told me that.” Thank God for her tiny giggle.
“Earlier, I told that to my friend. Now, I’m telling my girl that she looked breathtaking. Fucking cute and adorably sexy.” I take a chance, my chest light and warm for the first time this evening. How does she do that? Lighten up my mood like that. A moment with her is like the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Zander!” The mix of surprise and delight in her voice tells me she’s not offended by my comment.
“What?” I grin, too happy to care for anything else in the world.
“You can’t say things like that.” Her breathy voice makes me crazy. I want to jump inside the phone and hold her tight in my arms and do so much more.
“Why not? It’s under my rights as your boyfriend to say all the sweet and sexy things to you and…” I pause dramatically.
“And?” Her hoarse voice is making me crazy.
“Curious, Ms. Marlin?”
“Um, no,” she whispers. I can imagine her fixing her glasses, wetting that plump bottom lip nervously.
“Really? Not curious at all?” I chuckle. “But I think I’ll deliver the rest of my thoughts about my rights face-to-face.” My lips curl into a shit-eating grin.
She hums before asking, “Zander, are you all right? You sound different.”
“I had a few drinks. But tonight, it’s you, couch girl, that has me zonked out.” I hear her breath hitch and press the phone closer to my ears. Her breathing travels directly to my groin. Before my inebriated mind schemes something for which she isn’t ready yet, I rush out, “I gotta go now, but I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sleep tight and dream of me.”
