“No I haven’t.”
“You have so. Some sexy guy saves you at a bar and I don’t even get a text about it. That’s just rude.”
“Jesus, Jude has a big mouth.”
“Well, yeah, half the men in Chicago could tell you that.”
I chuckled as the waiter stopped by our table, and after we’d put in our order—chicken salad on rye for me, lobster bisque for Gabe—I noticed him staring at me expectantly.
“I’m waiting…”
“There’s really nothing to tell. I went with Jude to this pub so he could meet a guy, and then someone tried to steal my wallet. At least, that’s what Jameson said.”
“Jameson? Is that Mr. Bad Boy who owns the motorcycle?”
I thought about the bike now parked in Gabe’s old parking spot and felt my cheeks heat.
“Oh, it totally is. You’re red as tomato. You have a cruuush.”
“Shut up.”
Gabe started to laugh. “No way. I can’t remember the last time you were all heart eyes about someone.”
“I’m not heart eyes.”
“You know what I mean. You used to date all the time, and lately you’ve been so busy.”
“I know, that’s why I agreed to go out in the first place.”
“Which is good, because you met this Jameson guy. So have you called him again? Seen him?”
“Um…” So much had happened since that first night that I didn’t even know where to start this conversation.
When I didn’t say anything, Gabe slowly smiled. “You went back the next night and hooked up with him, didn’t you?”
“I wish.”
“Oh yeah? That hot, huh?”
“Let’s just say I would’ve been willing to do just about anything to get more of his attention that night—even lie about my name.”
Gabe’s eyes twinkled. “Hey, don’t poke fun at me. That worked, didn't it?”
It sure had, and the cheeky grin on his face let me know he regretted nothing about the way he’d landed Marcus. Even if it had almost cost him his job.
“Well, unlike you, I wasn’t so quick on my feet.”
“No?”
“No. Whenever I get around Jameson, I kind of lose my brain.”
The second the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake. But it was too late, and Gabe took immediate advantage.
“Whenever you get around him? I knew it. You have seen him again. So…is he a bad boy in bed too?”
I could only imagine. But before I could tell him he had it all wrong, the waiter appeared with our food and slid it on the table.
After a quick thanks, I looked back to Gabe. “It’s not like that.”
“Suuure it isn’t.”
“It isn’t.” I took a bite of my chicken and rye and then said, “He’s my new roommate.”
Gabe’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What?”
It wasn’t every day I got the best of him, and I had to admit, it felt good.
“He’s your new roommate? You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
“How in the hell did you manage that?”
“I don’t know, it just kind of happened.” I swallowed and grinned. “It was kind of weird. I kept running into him.”
“That doesn’t sound weird, especially if there were a few…naked run-ins.”
“But it wasn't anything like that. Alexander has this piece he’s doing on Chicago’s first responders.”
Gabe snorted. “Did he do that as a favor to you?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? Everyone knows you like a man in uniform.”
“A lot of people like men in uniform.”
“Yeah, but you dream about falling in love with and marrying one of those men.”
“Do you want to hear the rest of this or not?”
“I definitely do.” Gabe blew on a spoonful of lobster bisque. “Wait, oh God. Is he a—”
“Fireman?” I grinned like an idiot and nodded. “Yes. Yes, he’s a fireman. And he was at the station Alexander sent me to and was told to show me around.”
I was well aware that my voice had gotten increasingly louder with my excitement, but come on, how unbelievable was that?
“Then, as if that wasn’t weird enough, he responded to my ad that same week for a roommate.”
“Fuck me.”
I chuckled and took another bite of my sandwich. “Pretty sure Marcus would fire me, and, uh, you’re not my type.”
“Marcus would kill you, not fire you.”
I believed him.
“Seriously, though, isn’t that crazy?” I said.
“Sounds more like fate to me. Some hot guy that saved you the first time you met keeps showing up in your life? If that doesn’t sound like a meant-to-be story, I don’t know what does.”
“Yeah.” I took a sip of water. “Problem is, I don’t think he really likes me.”
“What do you mean? He just moved in with you.”
“I know, it’s just…he doesn’t talk a whole lot, and sometimes he’s a little short.”
“Short? I thought you said you hadn’t seen him naked.”
“Not there. Blunt. As in a little standoffish.”
“Is he mean to you? Because if he is, Marcus and I can—”
“No.” I shook my head. “No. He’s just quiet, I think. I’m used to the way we were, and it’s just going to take a little bit for us to get to know each other.”
Gabe grinned. “And then you can get naked with each other.”
“In a perfect world, maybe. In this one, I’d settle for him opening up a bit more.”
Gabe shrugged and sat back in his seat. “Maybe it just takes him a little longer. Not everyone can walk into a room and make friends with everyone in it like me.”
“That’s true.” But this felt different. I wasn’t sure why, but I got the distinct impression there was a reason for Jameson’s walls. That there was more to his defensive attitude than just being an ass.
“Just give him some time,” Gabe said. “I’m sure he’ll come around. You’re one of the most likable people I know.”
I was just about to signal for the check when my phone buzzed on the table. I flipped it over and saw a message from the man under discussion.
Jameson: You home Friday night? Thought we could catch up.
Gabe leaned across the table and peeked at my phone. “Looks like he might be coming around after all.” Then he winked at me. “Or coming Friday night.”
I chuckled and shook my head. Catch up? Huh. I wonder what that meant to him. Talking? Dinner? I had no idea. But it was a step in the right direction, and for now, that would do.
Friendship and trust would come later…maybe.
Chapter 14
Jameson
YOU HOME FRIDAY night? Thought we could catch up.
Catch up? What did that even mean?
I stared at the message I’d just typed out to Ryan and rubbed at my head. I’d had the worst headache all morning, and as I debated whether I should send this, it throbbed even more. Ever since the weekend, when I’d acted like a dick, he’d been giving me a wide berth, and I couldn’t blame him. But since he was usually out the door before I had a chance to see him, I felt like I should probably try to mend the fence I’d stomped on.