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“No. I don’t want handouts. I’m doing this on my own.”
“What about buying you dinner?”
I pretend to think about it and tap my chin. “Eric can buy me dinner. You can buy me drinks. That’s what we’d do when I’d come visit you guys before.”
“Deal. But only if you invite your sex-friend.”
I pivot on a heel and stare her down. “Oh, no. He and Eric have already met, and it wasn’t very pleasant.”
“Exactly why you need to bring him. If you’re living out of your car in this town while you get on your feet, I need to meet at least one person you’re spending time with to suss them out. See if they really have your back.”
I shrug. “Just remember if dinner goes south, and they end up brawling over cheap cocktails, that’s on you.”
Caiti grins wide, revealing her perfect white teeth. “I always liked a good fight.”
“Great. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a long, hot shower before my brother gets back.”
“Have at it.” She snags the remote from the dresser and flicks on the television. She stretches her slender body out on the queen-sized bed. “I’m going to take a nap. Jet lag.” She yawns.
Leaving her to relax, I lock myself in the bathroom. She’s not the only person who could use a nap. My eyelids feel heavy at the intrusion of silence. After a late-night sex marathon and the excitement of this morning, I could sleep for a week. Though the thought of a long, relaxing shower does perk me up. I didn’t get the chance to enjoy one with Rhett last night. It’s not a five-star hotel, but it beats a truck stop shower any day.
Standing naked in the center of the room, I assess the evidence of last night. A reddish mark near my collarbone. Tiny purple bruises from his fingertips dot along my thigh. A bruise on the back of my arm from knocking over the lamp. With a content smile, I snag my cell phone and type out a text to Rhett.
Me: You’re apparently invited to a family dinner. I thought we could meet at Calypso’s for food and drinks. Let me know what day you’re free, or if I have to make up an excuse why you can’t join us.
I add a wink face to convey that I won’t be offended if he doesn’t want to get involved.
I’m about to step under the heavenly spray when my phone vibrates with Rhett’s reply.
Rhett: Monday.
His one-word response sends a slight pang through me. I hope the run-in this morning didn’t change his opinion of me. As soon as the thought comes, a follow-up text vibrates the phone in my hand and chases it away.
Rhett: Still have the taste of you on my tongue. Have a good weekend, Rosie.
18
Rhett
I parallel park across the street from Calypso’s just before five on Monday night, wanting to kick my own ass for being here. I don’t know why I agreed to come. My knowledge of how relationships work is severely limited, judging by the fact I’ve had exactly one, and it ended in heartbreak. After this weekend, I don’t know if Evie and I are supposed to slap a label on ourselves or continue to draw a line at friends with benefits. And this feels strangely like a dinner to meet the parents.
Except her parents are dead, so I get the protective older brother instead.
The side of me that agreed to come is the side that wants to be there for her. That guy who would part with any reasonable dollar amount to help her situation. That guy under the spell of a curvy beauty and fantastic blow jobs and incredible wit. I’d probably walk across a pit of fire to experience more of those things.
The guy who’s in his thirties and remembers the last time he let a woman get too close is the one that wants to ditch this charade and keep us strictly friends.
My cell vibrates with a text, distracting me from the clusterfuck of thoughts. Speak of the damn devil in red horns and an expensive dress. Nora’s name pops up on the screen. If she didn’t have my son, I’d ignore her shoddy attempts at conversation.
Nora: Can you meet? I’m ready to agree to your terms.
Not this shit again. I pocket my phone without responding. She already knows my answer. The pressure is mounting for her because we finally have a date on the judge's calendar. I can’t wait for this to end.
The sounds of a busy bar assault my ears the moment the door swings open. I hold it with my back to let a group of stumbling girls giggle their way past. By the leaning into one another and shrill noise, I’d say they’re well on their way to a drunken evening even though it’s only five o’clock. As I wait to pass, I scan the crowd, easily spotting Evie’s gorgeous curls at a table near the back.
A hand clamps on my wrist. “Hey there, handsome.”
