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“She announced it? Why didn’t you say no?”
“I doubt Bryan would let anyone say no. He does what he wants when he wants.”
“I’ll get security to—”
“It’s okay, Gwenie and I moved out.”
“You’re at ours?”
“We’re at Roxie’s. She called when we were packing and invited us to stay.”
“I gave you the key to our apartment, Button. I want you to use it.”
“It was easier to be here, Roxie has more room. Besides, I don’t want to be one of those limpet people. I’m not a limpet type person. We have never established what we are, but whatever it is, I don’t think we’re at a place where it’s time to move in together. If we get there and decide we want to do that, we have to decide together. I don’t want to do it because I’m out on my ass with nowhere else to go. Your place only has one bed anyway, and I wouldn’t want to leave Gwenie or make her think she might be a burden.”
“She’s there with you?”
“She’s at work. One of us has to earn a living if we’re going to be apartment hunting.”
“You have your credit card.”
“I can figure this out. Roxie’s been amazing. She helped out with the landlord getting both of us signed off the lease. At least we don’t have to worry about that chasing us down.” She caught a length of hair and slid her fingers down to toy with the ends. “And I know we were kidding, but thank you for not being the third shock. If my best guy friend was to call and dump me right now—”
“I will never dump you,” he said. “Have you heard from Demetri?”
“No, why?” She frowned. “Should I hear from him?”
“No, I don’t want him sneaking back in while I’m out of town.”
“We said no other guys, didn’t we? You don’t have to worry about that. Losing my job and apartment in one night blindsided me, but Roxie may have me lined up for a job already.”
“You should’ve called me, babe. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you last night. Damnit, I should’ve just got on a plane.”
“We’re fine, it’s fine,” she said, looping her hair around her finger. “We had a few drinks and just crashed last night. Anyway, it’s like I said, it’s embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing that you lost your job?”
“You’re out there taking over the world one corporation at a time and I can’t even get my shit together for a nine to five. I was the one who told you Viva would be fine if we just got the Northberg bill paid. Now it’s like I wasted your money.”
“You didn’t ask me to do that, and it’s just money. I don’t give a shit about that. I give a shit that they cut you off for no good reason.”
“They wouldn’t have if they knew we were together, and I don’t want to trade off your name like that. It is what it is.”
Even if Roxie employed her to help with the Crimson Chicago opening, it would be a temporary gig. Eventually the club would be complete, the doors would be open, and she’d be hunting the job market again. Still, beggars couldn’t be choosers, she couldn’t refuse work, any work. They’d need a deposit and rent for wherever they moved to next.
“We’re supposed to be doing honesty. And I’m your guy, Rainie. You tell your guy when things like this happen.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I should’ve called.”
“What job is Roxie offering?”
“Crimson Chicago,” she said. “Zairn bought it for Roxie and asked her to oversee its completion and opening. Then—”
“They got engaged and started jetting off all over the place.”
“I’m not sure it’s a real serious thing that they were worried about, but Roxie’s been nice enough to take me along. I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’ve never seen an empty nightclub… I should go get ready, I don’t want to hold Roxie up. She wanted to go over there last night, but with everything that went down, we missed it.”
“You want off the phone?”
