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A Friday night babysitting. What a life.
Even more, what did Corey think about her having no life on a Friday night? Even available to watch Amelie.
What did it matter what he thought?
They were nothing more than friends.
* * *
Corey groanedin good nature as he threw his cards facedown, folding, once again. It was better than losing all his money. At this point in his life, he needed money. Sure, they were making great money at the bar, but all the money he had saved had gone to Jones to pay off his debt. It’d take a while to put more money back in his savings. Bills had to be paid and having a kid cost more than he ever anticipated. It sucked him dry every week on formula alone.
“So, tell us more about this woman?” Dwayne said in a tone that told Corey he’d keep prying until he spilled the beans.
Shit. Not something he relished.
He’d already shown them way too many pictures of Amelie, loving the oohing and aahing they did. Which would’ve been comical if he hadn’t known these guys for the past five years. Dwayne, Jerry, Sisco, and Todd were huge burly guys. One look from them with a hint of anger, and people shut up and backed away.
He might’ve—against his better judgment—told them what Genevieve had done. Gotten a few stares that made him think he was crazy. Had he made the wrong decision in trusting her? Should he have never let her in his and Amelie’s life?
Seriously, what more did Dwayne want to know?
“What about her?”
He forced himself to leave her alone. No calls. No texts. Just a huge amount of trust that things were going well. If he started texting and calling her, he wouldn’t stop, so it was better he waited until he got home to see how everything was going.
Dwayne whacked him on the shoulder hard. Not to be mean. He had a boisterous touch. “You think you can fool us? Shit. You ain’t that stupid.”
Meaning he was stupid on occasion. Though his brother hadn’t been there for the three terrible years of his life, these guys had been. They’d seen him at his worst. When the drugs had nearly drowned him. Not once had they walked away. Not once had they given up him. They’d never know how much their friendship meant to him.
“I’m not fooling you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sisco snorted. “You want in her panties. You always want in their panties.”
Corey rolled his eyes, picking up the cards Todd dealt. He wasn’t even going to dignify that with a comment.
Even if it was true.
He would admit to being a lover of women. But that was in the past. He was now a dad and Amelie had to be his sole focus. No more jumping into bed with a woman because it would be fun. He had more to think about than only himself these days.
“He ain’t wrong,” Dwayne said when Corey still refused to say anything.
“I’m not getting in her panties.”
“Notice how he said he’s not getting in her panties, but not that he doesn’twantto,” Todd pointed out with a smirk.
All four men laughed like the joke of the century had been told. Whatever. They could laugh all they wanted. He’d never admit how much he wanted to sleep with Genevieve.
Shit. It had nothing to do with how beautiful and smart and funny she could be. It had to do with the fact he hadn’t slept with anyone in over a year. Not having sex would take a toll on any man.
“You’ve forgiven her. What’s holding you back?”
Corey stared at his cards, wishing they’d focus on the game and not his non-existent love life.
“Come on. You’ve been uptight all night.” Jerry snorted in the same way as Sisco had. Considering they were cousins, it didn’t surprise him. “And you’ve never worn cologne for us before.”
Damn it. He knew that had been the wrong move when he splashed some on. He had even contemplated taking a shower to remove the smell but realized he wouldn’t have enough time. Genevieve would never know he’d put it on for her, but he knew his friends wouldn’t ignore it.
“It’d be weird, okay. I raise it twenty bucks.”
