AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ll see,” Brooke says. I can’t see her face, but her tone didn’t sound as triumphant. “It was great talking to you, though. I’m loving all the updates.”
“I’ll call you soon! Miss you.”
“Aww, that’s sweet. Bye!”
“Bye, miss you, bye!”
He hangs up and shoves his phone in his pocket. “Whew. Thanks for not blowing my cover.”
“No problem.”
I don’t even understand his covers enough to blow them.
“You’re becoming quite the spy,” he says.
“Thanks. So, uh, what exactly is a pre-boyfriend?”
“It’s like a boyfriend, but you’re not actually together.”
“So… a friend.”
“No, no. There’s romantic intent, just not contractually. You’re still in the waiting period.”
“The waiting period?”
“Eight months.” He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Wait, sorry. Eight months from the inauguration.”
He motions for the bags, and I hand them over.
“You have a partner or pre-partner?” he asks.
I force away the sudden rush of my pulse. “No, not really.”
“Ding, ding! Good answer.” He leans close. “I saw those condoms, you sly dog. Are you one of those dude dudes who has a girl in each city? Or wait… Is it Sage and Coriander?! That could get messy. Unless you’re dating both? That’s it, isn’t it!”
“Huh? No! None of the above. Can we just walk?”
“Sure, yeah. You wanna go downtown to look for some of that city-sponsored art? Most cities have that now. Like the ginormous eggs and shit?”
“Yeah, um, we should probably get back. Plus, all our stuff.”
I hold up the bags I’m still carrying.
“Right! Of course. I need to get these to Jarvis, anyway. I’m hoping one day he lets me buy his condoms. That would be the day, right?”
I cast him a look, but as usual, he’s dead serious.
“Sure…?”
“Mallory did it last time, but if I ace these mints, I’m sure I could get the next run. He goes through them quick enough.” He winks and resumes walking with the vigor of a man certain he will get the chance to buy condoms for another man in the near future.
My stomach drops as I follow.
Why does Jarvis need condoms if he’s supposedly engaged to a woman he’s not sleeping with?
Larinda: I’m finally alone. Can you come to my suite? 612.
Me: We’re on our way back to the hotel. I’ll drop my stuff at my room and be up as soon as I can.
