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The words send a shiver down my spine.
Telling Hat to cancel all of his appointments.
Going to his apartment.
Sleeping there.
The nightmare.
Dancing.
I should not feel the way I do about last night. But listening to a song Ben's mom used to play for him, hearing him sing it in my ear as we twirled around his living room, feelingsafe.
Everything that came after that.
Shit.
I need to go.
I look at the clock—5:52.
Shit, I really do need to go.
Rolling, I nearly fall when I hit the end of the bed, stumbling to my feet.Smooth, Lola. Real smooth.
“Where are you going?” his croaky, sleepy voice asks, and in another world, I think that would be a nice voice to wake up to every day. Another world where I’m not constantly covering for my dad, another world where I’m not struggling to keep my sister in the dark at all times. Another world where Ben isn’t my asshole neighbor because, despite the fact that he saved me and danced with me and isreally fucking goodin bed, he is definitely, probably, still an asshole.
Just a confusing asshole.
In another world, I think it’s the kind of asshole I could have fun with. One that would frustrate the hell out of me, but I would throw it back at him, always keeping each other on our toes in a way we both really liked.
But this is not that world.
“I have to bake,” I say, tugging up the underwear I wore last night. I’ll head up to my place before opening and change, but for now, I need to get going.
“No.” That has me pausing.
“No?”
“No.” I stare at him, tattooed arm contrasting the dark sheets pulled up to his hips.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. No?” I look around the room, searching for my bra and tank. I spot the bra and put it on as well.
“You’re closed today. Not going there, definitely not without someone watching you.” I stare. I didnothear him say that.
“Excuse me?”
“We have to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” I counter.
“We sure as fuck do. You need to tell me what the fuck last night was, and I have to figure out what the fuck to do about it.”
“None of that is your job, Ben. And it’s none of your business.”
“None of mybusiness?” His eyes are wide, incredulous. “Are you kidding me, Lola?”
I need to go.
