I wince and hurry to put back the ones I haven’t bitten in to.
“Notice I’m not making a crude rebuttal referring to her peach and me eating it. I’m growing as a person!” I shout out, waving goodbye as she answers the phone and starts cooing down it to Finlay.
I turn to Aidan. “So… you met Antonia?” I laugh as Aidan nods and a smile plays on his face. “What did she have on under the blanket?”
He shakes his head. “Something to give me a fucking heart attack.”
I nod knowingly. I happened to get a glimpse of her in her underwear one night when she flashed all of us. Her little face. She was mortified.
“Told you she was hot.”
He shakes his head as he pulls a suitcase into the hallway of our apartment.
“That’s an understatement. I thought you were exaggerating. Man, she was singing and playing piano in these little boxer pantie things and a little vest top that showed her midriff. Those toned legs and cleavage nearly had me keeling over.”
“I thought you were off women?” I ask, gesturing to his room. “That one’s yours.”
“I am off women, but if she were available, I would rethink that.” He smirks at me.
I’ve got to say, my brother is a great guy who deserves a woman like Antonia. His last girl messed with his head, but just the thought of him having Antonia causes a weird pain to form in my gut.
“You’re frowning,” he says.
Shaking the confusion from my head, I shrug. “Tired.”
He dumps his suitcase and we follow through the alcove into the kitchen. There is a bag and a note placed on the sideboard.
Happy house warming for the guy that has everything. I put beers in your fridge, crisps (aka chips) in the cupboard, and loaded your freezer. Playboy in both the en-suites ;) I’m assuming your brother likes the bunnies as much as you do. Pizza menu on the fridge, and in the bag, batteries for Xbox controllers. Don’t say I don’t think of you! Love, Antonia xxx
“How serious is her relationship with Finlay? Because I want to marry this woman.” Aidan drools, making me contemplate that.
“Get in line and be prepared for a long wait. She fucking idolizes that man.”
“Shame.”
Yeah, maybe.
I go to the fridge and pull us both a beer, screwing the lids off. A deep chime rings through the house. What the fuck?
“The doorbell?” I check my watch, knowing full well it’s too late for guests, and nobody knows I live here yet.
“Must be Antonia. It’s open!” I call down the corridor.
The front door swings open and Gaby is standing there with a sheepish Mary, both looking like they’ve just stumbled off the catwalk.
“I’m sorry. I tried to get her to her apartment, but she refused. She said she needs to speak to you,” Mary tells me.
Gaby huffs and throws an evil eye at Mary. “Don’t say sorry to him. He’s the asshole moving in next door to torment me with his whores.”
I gulp as Gaby gravitates towards me.
“Why?” she asks, confusion in her eyes as she studies me.
I don’t understand her anguish.
“Aren’t you supposed to be happily engaged? What do you care what I do, or who I do?”
She brings her hand up and slaps it across my face. A ringing sound pierces my ear and heat on my cheek spreads like wildfire.
Bitch.
“Shit, Gaby!” Mary shouts, and runs to grab Gaby’s arms so she can’t hit me again. “I didn’t know she was going to hit you!” Shaking her head at Gaby, she says, “She’s been drinking like a frat boy. We were only out a couple of hours, and she was just waffling on about you ruining her for Mike.”
Well, damn. I never blush, but hearing Mary say that has a blush creeping over my face and down my neck.
“What the fuck? I thought we agreed to lay off bringing your tramps here, Gavin!” Aidan bellows, taking in the very drunk Gaby.
“No.” I spin on my heel to face him as Mary gives him a mouthful. “Tramps? You cheeky shit. I’ll kick your arse.” Aidan’s eyes roam over her.
“Are all British women this feisty? I’ve been here one night and had two British women threaten to kick my arse.” He says arse in a bad British accent.
“Well, you must be a dick then,” Gaby slurs.
“Aidan, this is Gaby and Mary.”
He eyes Gaby again. “Maybe you should go lie down and sober up.”
She smacks her lips together. “Maybe you should go away. I’m talking to Gavin.”
She leans on my back and I stiffen when her hands rub my shoulders. “Let’s go to your room and talk, Gav.”
My heart pounds against my rib cage. This was all I wanted when I found out about the engagement, but that seems like forever ago, and I don’t want that anymore.
Aidan walks towards us with purpose. “Gaby, that isn’t going to happen. Let me see you to your apartment. You’re engaged to his friend. Don’t put him in that situation again.”
He steps between us, removing her hands and turning her towards the door.
“Don’t fucking touch me, douchebag,” she wails as he manages to escort her out.
“Wow, you’ve grown into a charmer,” Aidan mutters.
“I’m so sorry, Gavin. I didn’t realize things were that serious between you two. I would never have let her come here.”
I take a deep breath and smile down at Mary, who’s biting her lip and scrunching up her petite nose. “It’s fine. It was nothing. I don’t know why she just acted that way. She seemed like she didn’t care about me when she ignored me after our night together, then she got engaged, so I’m a little confused.”
She nods. “Well, she cares and I think this will need to be aired out when she’s sober.”
“Agreed.” I smile.
Mary looks gorgeous; she’s wearing a dress I’ve seen Antonia wear and look beautiful in. They have similar figures and I’m confused by the preppy clothes she wore when I first saw her. Which one is the real Mary?
I realize I’ve been staring at her but thinking of Antonia in that dress, when Aidan fills the doorway and clears his throat.
She startles, and I realize she must have been staring at me too.
“You might want to go help her out. I dropped her on her bed and she’s already snoring, but she’s fully dressed.”
Mary smiles up at him. “Thanks for the help. I’ll let the tramp comment pass this time. Your arse is safe… for now.”
Aidan’s eyebrows shoot up. He looks at me and I can’t help the laugh that rattles from my chest.
She wiggles her fingers over her shoulder. “Night, boys.”
Aidan closes the front door and glares at me. “I thought that shit was over.”
“It is. I don’t know where that came from. She’s been pretty much ignoring me for weeks.” Walking back into the kitchen, I grab my beer and drain it. Aidan’s hot on my tail, not ready to drop it.
“I fucking warned you not to go near her when you told me she was looking grown up. I begged you to stay away.”
“I don’t understand why you fucking care, Aidan. Do you want her or something?”