Stacy laughs though I still don’t have the heart.
Chloe gazes around, a satisfied smile on her face. “This place never changes,” she murmurs. “It feels really nice to be back where it all started with my two favorite girls and a pot of liquid lava that Stacy pretends is coffee.”
“Hey!” It’s Stacy’s turn to pout, giving a little sniff and staring down the bridge of her button nose. “Clearly my talents aren’t appreciated here.”
Chloe giggles and takes the cup from Stacy, inhaling the roasted scent of the tar-like drink. “Actually, I almost missed this, too.”
“Oh please, I’m sure you only drink fancy cappuccinos in your beautiful penthouse apartment with Donovan,” Stacy gushes with just the faintest hint of envy in her voice. “I still can’t believe you snagged a billionaire. Love suits you, Clo. You’re glowing.”
Chloe blushes faintly though I interrupt any response with another mournful wail. “You’re not allowed to talk about how amazing love is!” I complain. “Love sucks!”
Chloe and Stacy scooch in closer, wrapping their arms around me in a tight hug. I bow my head to sniffle into Chloe’s shoulder, wishing she was still my roommate. It was so much fun living with both these girls, especially during times like this.
I’m not exactly a stranger to bad romance.
Why had I thought this would turn out any different?
“You know, I’ve heard the only way to get over a guy is to find another,” Stacy suggests with a slow smile, looking pointedly toward Chloe. “Don’t you think so?”
Chloe blinks, a slow frown forming over her pretty face. “I’m not sure I agree. What it takes is time and reflection. Morgan should try to learn something from this experience.”
“That’s easy to say when you’re head over heels in love with the perfect man,” I mutter.
Stacy frowns at Chloe, two tiny furrows appearing between her brows. “Care to rethink your statement?” she asks firmly.
When Chloe finally takes the hint, she rolls her eyes and turns back toward me. “I guess dating someone new wouldn’t be the worst idea.” Suddenly, she gasps, clapping her hands together in excitement. “I’ve got it! We should go on a triple date! Donovan has some cute friends that I can set you two up with. It might take your mind off this guy for a little while, Morgan.”
“I don’t want cute,” I answer with a wounded tone. “I want my rockstar.”
Chloe sighs and shakes her head. “Well, I can’t promise you a rockstar but I can promise free drinks. Will that do?”
I start to shake my head but Stacy takes my hand and leans in toward Chloe. “We’d love that,” she answers, shooting me a look that leaves little room for argument.
Though Stacy is sweet as pie, she’s stubborn as a mule and I know I don’t have any choice in this matter. With a groan, my chin tips into a heavy, reluctant nod. “It’s not like I can feel any worse than I do already.”
Chapter 11
Eric
The sleek glass doors of Dunn Advertising glide effortlessly open. I stride inside, a white plastic bag from Cup of Joe’s dangling from my hand. Styrofoam boxes of deliciously decadent food strain against the bag, begging to be unleashed as they flood the labyrinth-like hallways of Donovan’s office building with the pleasant scent of half a dozen croissants, two patty melts, and a chicken salad sandwich. In my other hand, I balance a cardboard cup holder with three warm coffees inside. One of them spilled on my walk here, meaning Donovan was about to be short-changed. He deserved a half-filled coffee after skipping my show.
I was still pissed at Alex and James for destroying my dream girl’s note, so that meant I’d been spending more time with Donovan—when he had time for me.
I hadn’t given up on finding my angel though. I’d asked around at Logan’s bar and stopped back a time or two, but no one seemed to know anything about her. I was starting to fear I conjured her into existence.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d had a drunken hallucination.
I briefly considered telling Donovan about her. He certainly had the resources to track people down, but his ridicule wasn’t worth it.
I scan the halls as I walk toward his office. As always, the upper floor of the huge advertising building is bustling with life as interns and staff members rush back and forth, their hurried footsteps accompanied by the tapping of fingers against keyboards and the soft but pressing tone of voices making important calls. A corporate symphony. Ugh.
I could see this being a professional’s heaven—but to me it’s hell. There’s nothing appealing about those tiny cubicles or computer screens, or God forbid, khaki slacks! It makes me shudder when I think about trying to fit into this stuffy corporate world. I like my faded jeans and worn t-shirts. My tattoos make me stick out here and I’m pretty sure I don’t own a pair of khakis—thank God!
Soft giggling floats under Donovan’s closed office door as I approach, making me roll my eyes. I give the door a solid knock with the back of my knuckles, the plastic bag rustling loudly. Even though I’m not exactly a patient guy, I wait to be let in. There’s no way I’m going to walk in on Donovan and his girlfriend groping each other.
A few seconds later, the door swings open to reveal a pretty woman with a big smile on her face, her black hair slightly tousled and her cheeks a bit too rosy.
“Hey, Clo,” I grunt, thrusting one of the still filled coffee cups into her unexpecting hands. She frowns at me, arching an eyebrow. When I tell her I brought her a chicken salad sandwich, however, her frown quirks into a smile.
“That’s so sweet of you, Eric!” she says, stepping aside to allow me into Donovan’s office.
My best friend grins at me, sniffing the air with interest. “Is that my favorite croissants I smell?”
“Well, it’s either I bring them to you or you send whatever intern you have this week across town to hunt them down.”
Chloe laughs. “He’s not allowed to do that anymore,” she says perching on the side of the desk near her boyfriend.
I open the bag of food, passing everyone their meals and leaving the croissants in the middle of Donovan’s desk. I end up taking the half empty coffee for myself, giving Donovan the other full one. Staring down at the scrumptious food that I would normally wolf down in a heartbeat, I find my appetite non-existent.
“Not hungry?” Donovan asks idly. “That’s not like you.” He pauses, then groans. “Wait, you’re not still pissed that I missed your show, are you? I sent you that tequila—”
“No, it’s not that,” I interrupt.
“Then what?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, frustrated that I’m so transparent. I wasn’t going to tell him, but . . . “I’ve met someone,” I interject shortly. “Possibly the one.”
Donovan huffs a laugh. “Always with the jokes.”
I glare at him with churning eyes. “I’m serious. This woman is the other half of my heart. The one who completes me.”
Chloe gasps, caught off guard. “Who?”
Donovan lifts a hand and dismissively waves away my words. He pats Chloe’s knee, his hand lingering for a moment. “Don’t listen to him, babe. Easy E says this about every pretty lady who crosses his path. Seriously, he’d date a rhinoceros if it was wearing a bra and booty shorts.”