We’re happy, right? I think we are. At least I do when we’re together. But what if I’m just the stand in? A great distraction? What if our relationship is less about mutual attraction and growing emotions and more about him attempting to get over Jessa? Ugh, I hate to be that girl, but her name makes me want to scrape my tongue clean with my toothbrush.
“And yet you’re talking to some random guy on an app.”
“Because we’re friends,” I say. “We have mutual situations in common. He’s the one who encouraged me not to give up on Vale. You’re the one that signed me up to review this app in the first place.”
“Okay, okay.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “If you say so.”
“I am saying so. Cap’N Crunch and I are just friends,” I insist. “Vale and I have been dating for a month. When are you going to accept it?”
“If you’re happy, I’m happy for you.” He shucks his shoes and props his gross, socked feet on the coffee table. “I’m worried too. You’ve admitted yourself that he’s not the commitment type. And you are very much likely to be the sort to rush headfirst into love when you finally allow yourself to feel. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I huff under my breath. I have too many men in my life who think they should be able to decide what’s best for me. “I’m actually capable of being reserved when I need to be. I promise I’m not going to get hurt.”
“Oh boy, what’s going on in here?” Kiki prowls into the room, her long limbs dressed in tight black spandex.
She drops her yoga mat in the basket where we keep our workout gear. Well, she and Lewis do. My idea of working out is running my mouth and the reps my jaw does when I chew cereal. Unfortunately, my besties disagree with my workout plan and sometimes I’m forced into actual strenuous physical activity. Whatever, I should have a free pass now. I’m having sex. Bending into positions that aren’t in any yoga manual. Lifting my own body weight. Swinging around on Goliath like I’m an expert pole dancer.
Stretching her arms over her head, Kiki tugs on her top knot. “I need a glass of water. Anyone else want one?”
My phone blows me another kiss.
Kiki’s eyes widen and then narrow. “Is that the new wolf whistle?”
“Mmhmm.”
“It’s better,” she says.
Agreed. “But is it five star worthy?”
“He did change it for you, didn’t he?” Kiki reminds me.
“He took my feedback.” I shrug. “That’s all.”
“He likes her,” Lewis says. “But he’s conflicted.”
“That’s not it,” I insist. “We’re friends. Besides, I’m with Vale.”
“We’re only teasing you,” Kiki says.
“So what are you going to rate the app? Or should I tell Coda it didn’t work out?”
“I don’t know.” I grimace. I hate letting him and Coda down, but it was never a good idea to start with. “Technically it did set me up with someone like-minded and helped us get to know each other. But we didn’t date. Or find love. So it kind of failed as a dating app.” Even if technically that was our fault for not being open to it. But the guy did take my suggestion seriously.
Kiki snorts and clamps her hand over her mouth in an effort to contain it.
“What’s so funny?” Lewis prods.
“Nothing.” She coughs into her fist.
“Something is.” Lewis nudges me with his shoulder.
“Yes, tell us.” I point at my eyes and then at her. “Are you going to spill?”
“Mmm.” She cants her head to the side and studies me as though trying to decide whether I’m worthy of knowing what was so amusing. Her eyes are full of secrets and teasing. “No.”
“Oh, come on, that’s not fair,” I whine.
Lewis throws a cushion at her, but she catches it and plops it back on the sofa. “I think we should go out. It’s our last weekend in L.A. What do you say?”
“We could have a couple of drinks,” Lewis tips his head from side to side as he waffles over the idea. “Get our groove on. It’s a good idea to celebrate.”
“We still have a week.” We’ve busted our butts—another reason I don’t need to get down with the exercise—for eight weeks straight. Now it’s time to finish all the fine details before the Gladstone Group representatives come through for the final inspection.
“I can’t believe we only have another week,” Kiki says. “I am going to miss all this sunshine.”
“I can’t wait to get home to Trix,” Lewis says.
I’m going to have to face Hud, knowing that I’m sleeping with his best friend. I hate that I’m keeping this secret from him. Every time he calls I get heart palpitations. What if I can’t keep our story straight? What if he can tell by my voice when we talk about Vale that there’s something going on between us? “I need to focus on getting through this week.”
“Yet another reason we should go and have a drink,” Lewis says. “One last chill evening before the stress kicks in.”
“We have nothing to stress about,” Kiki directs at me, because, well, I’m already starting to feel the pressure.
We might be ahead of schedule, but that doesn’t mean we have time up our sleeve if anything goes wrong.
“Everything has arrived. It’s all waiting in the lobby. And we have more than enough crew. We could shave a day off the project and still finish up.” She thwacks my ass on her way past the couch. “Now, get your heiney up and get dressed. We deserve a fun night.”
“Where do you want to go?” Lewis asks.
I raise my eyebrows as if to say really? “Line ‘Em Up.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Lily
“What do you want to drink?” Lewis asks as we settle in around a high table.
It’s Friday night so all the girls are volleying to get as close to the bar as possible. And all the guys are swarming around them in the hopes that they might be able to woo a few away from the show that will be put on at some point tonight. The music is loud and the scent of sweat and booze fills the air. I have to practically yell for Kiki to hear me, “Jug of Panty Droppers?”
She nods. “Tequila shots too?”
“Well, of course.” I grin, bouncing on the balls of my feet and glancing around as best I can. Haven’t seen Vale yet, but I sent him a message.
Lewis sighs. “You two are incorrigible.”
A couple of girls near the bar scream and I wonder if the Friday night entertainment is starting. Back in Chicago, I can usually tell by the song choice, because Hud is almost always to blame. My brother being one of the bartenders is normally a huge drawback. The last thing any sister wants is to see her brother shake his groove thang for a group of horny gals and sometimes guys. But he’s not here tonight and these men are gorgeous. Plus, I’ve always loved watching Vale’s dirty dancing moves. The way he always made it look like sex… “Actually, let me get this round. My treat.”