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The bartender places my drink in front of me, and I take a sip.
I give Tim a friendly smile before replying, “You too.”
“I can’t take my eyes off you,” he admits. “You look different. Whatever you did, it’s working for you.”
I flatten my lips. It’s called emotional stress eating. However, I’m not going to tell him that. Then I’d have to admit how much weight I’ve gained, and that’s not happening.
“I didn’t know you have a wandering eye. What does your girlfriend think about that?”
“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s just a friend I’m getting drinks with. I’ve never slept with her.” I take another sip of my drink, surprisingly unbothered. “You know, I was thinking about calling you. I miss having you around. I was thinking maybe we could get coffee or dinner sometime.”
Then why haven’t you? I want to ask, but I don’t. Tim’s heated gaze drops to my mouth and it does nothing for me the way Leo’s does.
Interesting.
“I’m seeing Leo,” I say, going along with the story. “I don’t think I should be getting coffee with you.”
“He doesn’t have to know.”
My eyes pop wide and my jaw drops. Despite the relationship being fake, anger ignites inside of me. His sense of entitlement makes me fume. Was he like this with other women while we were dating? I’m not sure I want to know.
“Leo is my boyfriend,” I reiterate.
“I didn’t think you’d move on so quickly,” he says, and I can’t believe he just said that. He has some nerve.
“Did you think I would sneak behind his back for you?” I ask.
Tim gawks at me. “Yeah, I did. It’s me,” he says arrogantly, like it’s obvious. “Our breakup is still in the early stages. The rules are different. We have a lot of history. I was thinking we can talk things out.”
A week ago, heck, yesterday, I would have said yes, but this mysterious man named Leo appeared in my world and changed things up. Now the answer is no.
“I can’t,” I tell him. “It feels sneaky. Like I’m being deceitful.”
“Where did you meet him so quickly?” Tim asks, and I’m thankful Leo told me why he’s in Chicago.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s opening a restaurant for a client downtown. He was picking up lunch at the same place I was, and we hit it off.”
Tim studies me, and I pray he can’t tell that I’m lying.
“Will you at least call me? Can we start there?” he pleads.
I’m about to take it to the next level when Leo appears. He wraps a possessive arm around my waist and buries his nose in my neck.
“Looks like you’re all mine,” he whispers for only me to hear. My nipples harden beneath the dress. Thank goodness he can’t see them. Tim looks uncomfortable as he watches.
“Keeping Trista company, Tim?” Leo asks him. He doesn’t take his hand off me as he sits down and pulls me into his lap. I sort of like it.
“We’re catching up. We have a lot of history between us.”
There’s a pause, and it’s awkward.
“You know, I need to use the rest room now that you’re back,” I say, using it as the perfect opportunity to take a break from the weird tension. “All those tequila shots are hitting me. Want to order one more and then we’ll go?”
Leo nods. Tim’s date returns and joins us. She points in the direction of the ladies’ room. I nearly sprint there and relieve myself immediately in the small bathroom. I need to come up with an exit strategy. Not that I’m trying to escape to Leo’s hotel just yet, but I need to get away from Tim. Maybe Leo will want to go to another bar. Or get something to eat. I’m pretty drunk and could use some carbs.
As I’m drying my hands, the door swings open and in walks Leo. He’s tall and his shoulders are broad. He fills out his dress shirt so there’s not any breathing room left.
“What are you doing in here?” I whisper.
