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Owen: I was just texting you to see what you were doing. If you don’t want to talk, then that’s cool with me.
Owen: I can give you Furio’s number if you would rather talk to him.
My finger hovered over the send button for several seconds before I sent the second message. Amber started typing a reply, then stopped. Tux must have sensed my mood, because he flicked his tail and hopped over to the other chair, curling up into a ball by himself.
Amber: Is that what this is about? You’re jealous of Furio?
Owen: Not jealous. Just pointing out that he was all over you tonight. Asking a lot of personal questions.
Now Amber’s responses came rapid-fire and without hesitation.
Amber: LOL
Amber: Seriously?
Amber: Let me tell you a secret: asking about my dad’s cancer isn’t a big turn-on for me. He was just being a nice guy.
Owen: So you didn’t get all giggly when he hugged you and kissed you on the cheeks?
Amber: You’re a lot sexier when you’re NOT acting like a child, Owen.
I got in bed and stared at the ceiling. Why was I letting this bother me so much? I didn’t control Amber. She wasn’t my girlfriend. Before the meeting, I had gotten upset when I learned we would have to sign documents declaring our relationship.
Why did the image of her and Furio together bother me so much?
Maybe I don’t want things to stay casual with Amber after all.
38
Amber
After sending the final text to Owen, I powered down my phone and tossed it on my bedside table. What was his problem? Acting jealous about Furio, and blaming me for Melinda finding out about our relationship.
And the way he insisted that he didn’t want anything official, and that he wanted us to stay casual… It felt like a slap in the face.
My annoyance didn’t last long. It burned hot and bright and then cooled quickly, leaving me feeling hollow and empty.
Despite the little text fight, I missed Owen. I had been enjoying our secret fun together. For that matter, I missed Jude for all the same reasons. It had only been two nights since I had been with either of them as they prepared for the investor meeting, but after spending nearly every night with one of them, those two nights felt like an eternity.
I powered my phone back on, not sure who I wanted to reach out to. But I had a text waiting from Jude.
Jude: I wanted to find an excuse to get you back to my place, but then Owen called an Uber for you. Sorry.
Me: It’s not your fault. I wanted to go home with you too! Is it too late to lure you down to my house in San Mateo?
Jude: As tempting as that is—and it’s VERY tempting, trust me—I’m wiped out. The last few days preparing for the contract signing has left me exhausted. I need a good night’s sleep.
Me: You don’t think you would get a good night’s sleep with me?
Jude: I think if you come over, I won’t sleep at all ;-)
Me: LOL
Jude: Hey, what’s your opinion of Furio?
I considered my response very carefully before typing it out.
Me: He’s not at all what I pictured. As far as investors go, I think I like him. He was friendly too.
