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But it’s also Alec. And it’s Rogue. How will he react when he knows the truth?
“You’re going to be fine, Love,” he reassures me. “That man is crazy about you. He’ll probably need time to wrap his head around it all. But then you and your virginity are both going to find your happy ending with that beautiful hunk.”
“You think so?”
He taps his finger to the side of his nose. “I know it.”
I hope that translates when I tell him that Alec has been using him against me. It’s time to bite the bullet. I know what I want in this life. Rogue. Happiness. Independence. And a lot of P in V action with the man I love.
I need to confront Alec first. If I’m right about him bluffing about Adira he’ll get nervous…might even slip up. I’ve been trying to get to him without getting close to him, but that is never going to work. He’s too prepared for it. He expects me to avoid confrontation, not bring it to him. “What about you?”
“I do just fine. Have you seen the ever-revolving line up of eligible bachelors and hot mamacitas?”
“That’s not what I meant,” I say. “What about love? Happy endings?”
“I had my tarot read.” He shrugs. “It isn’t in the cards for me.”
“Maybe the cards will change,” I say, aware we’re talking metaphors.
Adira’s doorbell app chimes and he swipes on the screen to check the video feed.
“Rogue.” My heart skips a guilty beat as I stand. Is it even fair that my heart does a happy dance inside my chest when Rogue is close by? How can I feel so much love every time I see him, after what Adira experienced, and not tell him everything?
Adira frowns as he swings his screen in my direction. “Not unless he’s in drag.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ivy
Dizzy waves at me from the other side of the door. “Hey, Ivy.”
Totally not a drag queen. Equally not Rogue. Is someone playing a trick on me? I glance over my shoulder in case Ben is laughing at me behind my back, but he isn’t. I crane my neck to see if I can see him at either end of the street. Maybe he’s parking his car? Because there’s no way he just gave his girlfriend my address and left me to fend for myself against this Energizer Bunny.
The sun glints in Dizzy’s bright pink locks. The tips look extra crimson today like she’s dipped them in fresh blood recently. Her smile widens on straight white teeth as she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. A huge pink bangle slides almost all the way to her elbow. Her nails alternate between sunshine yellow, fairy floss pink, and summer lime.
“It’s so good to see you.” She barges up the steps in pointed, candy-colored heels to air kiss my cheek before she slips past me into the apartment. She squeals almost immediately. “This is your place? It’s adorable.”
“Is Ben with you?” Seriously, where is he? I figured me dating Rogue and him dating Dizzy would change the dynamic. I didn’t expect he’d foist sweetness and light Barbie on me and disappear.
“Oh, no. I hope that’s okay. I told him about how we wanted to do girls night. He was going to give me your number, but then…” She hurries over to me and grabs my hands while she bounces up and down. “I figured why not do it now. So I rushed right over.”
Oh great.
“What do you think? It’s a fantastic idea, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know, Dizzy.” I manage to tug one hand free. I want to go and find Rogue.
“Oh.” Her face falls as she releases me. Her fingers dig into her hair again and yank so hard I’m scared she’ll come away with a chunk of strands in her hand. “I should have called, shouldn’t I? Of course you don’t want to hang out with me.”
“It’s not that.” Something is wrong. My gut is all tangled up at the idea. Rebel made it sound like Rogue was really drunk. Then practically told me to butt out. Although why would I expect anything different from the elder twin? Even if I do manage to have my brother charged and put away for what happened to Rochelle Kitt, it probably won’t change his opinion on me.
“You’re busy.” Dizzy covers her face with her hands. “I’m such an idiot. Of course you are. I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t think—”
“It’s okay.” Maybe she’s like me. Both of us just trying our best to get to know people without being too much. This is totally a me issue. I should put in more effort. “I’m not actually busy.”
Adira is heading out to Hoe House for karaoke with Ermine and Magnolia tonight, and honestly, what am I going to do? Sit around the apartment and worry about Rogue? Stress about Alec? Talk myself around and ’round in circles going over every little detail of what will happen when I tell Rogue about Alec? Rehearse what I’ll say to Alec?
I should probably run my plan past T. Add that to the list of things going around in my head. It won’t just be Dizzy that makes my head spin.
