AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know. Then he wanted to see mine. I said, ‘All of them?’ He giggled.”
“People like that do need to be upfront about their kinks. Then what did you do?”
“I pretended like I’d forgotten about a work meeting and ran out of there.”
“He was probably staring at your feet the whole time. Pining.”
Amber set down her empty plate. “Made me madder at Mario. I’m out there, putting myself through dating hell, because he managed to break my heart after three days together.”
“Want some more wine, shug? I think we should finish this bottle. Open another. Then either go for a swim or go watch something—a dating show? Should I nominate you for one of those? You would be spectacular.”
She passed her wine glass to me. “Don’t you dare.”
“Why not?”
“Because I might do it.”
I handed her the full glass and then held mine up. “Reality television it is.” She just scowled at me, so I took a sip. “We have research to do.” I hiccuped.
She pointed at me. “If I hadn’t met the toe guy today, I’d never consider it, so don’t get any ideas.”
I waved a hand around in the air. “Don’t fret. It would be torture—I don’t really want that for you. Except, there’s a chance you would get a helicopter date to a private island with a yacht ride home. Sumptuous meals and private concerts. Might be worth it…”
“Fine.” She stood up and grabbed our plates. “I’m a tiny bit curious. As long as you promise to keep me from texting Mario.”
“Shug, you’re hot shit. Of course you’re not texting him.”
We marched inside, then detoured to the kitchen to grab more pizza before planting ourselves in front of the upstairs television for the evening. Kate said an exhausted hello as she walked by, still in her hospital scrubs, but that was the only housemate I encountered. Tyrese had offered to take the dog out, firmly stating it was best that I stayed out of the front yard. Every other hour he took Charley out on a patrol while I hid inside like a trapped rabbit.
My mama called as I opened the third bottle. “Hey, Mama.”
“Sally.” She sounded worn down. “There you are—honey, I’ve been so worried I can hardly function. How are you?”
I rubbed my face. “Well, bad news just keeps coming. Press people are camped out in front of my gate. I’m drinking a little, with Amber.”
“Oh, honey. Take it easy now—you’re gonna get through this. Hear me?”
“Yeah.”
“You have security guards now, right? And you’re being careful?”
“Yes and yes. And a dog named Charley. Speak, Charley.” I held the phone in front of him. He panted. “We’re still working on that one.”
“Don’t get sloppy now, baby. Go drink some water.”
“I will.” Actually, after she’d mentioned it, water sounded amazing.
“Talk to you tomorrow. Love ya.”
“Love you too, Mama.”
In the morning, I dragged myself down to the exercise bike then had to pause pedaling a few times to hold mystomach. I stumbled my way through the morning, taking painkillers and drinking coffee.
The media people were gone early that morning when Irving drove us out of the gate. Tyrese—sitting in the passenger seat—sniffed, apparently taking the empty road as a victory.
At least none of the students seemed to recognize me, and if the professors did, they were polite enough not to point me out. The photos of me the media were using were old. Even so, I wore big sunglasses and a hat and had two bodyguards, dressed casually, escorting me wherever I went. The hangover did a fair job of distracting me but there was still a panicked loop going in my head ofwhat am I going to do…
Moving was starting to seem like the reasonable option. At least then I could go back to having a regular life—for a while. My phone pinged with a text, so I sat down on an empty park bench while Irving and Abe scanned the surroundings nervously.
