He squeezed my wrist gently before he let me go. “The pleasure is mine, Carson.”
“Oh my god. Shut up and listen to me.” I walked through the door and tossed my clutch on the entryway table.
Charlie stilled at the round dining table, his notes scattered around him next to his laptop. He looked up, bewildered by the comment. “Done and done.”
I sat in the chair across from him and slipped off my pumps, my feet screaming from the long walk from the bar to our apartment. “I met the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. He’s got dark eyes, which I love, and this sexy stubble on his jaw.” I dragged my fingers across my jawline, where his hair would be. “He’s got dark hair too. You know, dark and dangerous kind of vibe. And he’s the strong and silent type. Doesn’t say much. Damn. Sooooo sexy.”
Charlie stared at me blankly. “Then why are you home right now?”
“Come on, I’m not gonna go home with him right away.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Because…?”
“Because I want him to think about me for a bit. That way, when it does happen, it’ll be super hot. You know, I’ll send him texts of me in my lingerie, make him look forward to it. He’ll be like a bronco coming out of the chute.”
“When are you seeing him?”
“Saturday.”
“You’re bringing him along, then?”
“Yep.”
“What about Boy Toy #1?”
“What about him?” I asked. “He sees other people, and so do I.”
“But I thought you liked him.”
“I do.” I was playing the field and loving every second of it. I liked having a man to call when I needed some companionship. Men had regulars all the time, so why couldn’t I? Dax probably had a message box full of admirers. Why couldn’t I have the same? I never led anyone on. My complete detachment was clear.
“So…are we going to talk about what you actually went out for?”
“Oh shit.” I smacked my forehead playfully. “Of course. Well, Jerry is a big sleazebag—”
“Guys who commit corporate fraud tend to be.”
“He was picking up a whore when I intervened. I tried to grind him down, but he wouldn’t talk. Told me to mind my own business if I didn’t want to end up in an oil drum.”
“And that doesn’t concern you?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You know how many times I’ve been threatened like that?” I started counting on both hands. “Like a hundred times. And I’m still here.”
He shook his head slightly. “So, he wouldn’t go on record?”
“Nope. Douchebag.”
“Can’t blame him for not incriminating himself.”
“But he seems to think they might get away with it, even though they’re being investigated. Getting those fancy lawyers won’t save his ass.”
“Those fancy lawyers save most asses.”
“Well, my article will rip them all to shreds.”
“And probably have no real consequence, because the bad guys always get away with everything.”
It was depressing to think about, but it wouldn’t change my integrity. My articles made a difference, changed the world, broke the news people least expected. I’d had articles that launched investigations from the CIA and the FBI. “This article will be different.”
“Hope so. Did you tell Vince?”
I nodded. “I sent him a text. He didn’t respond.” I relaxed into the chair and crossed my legs. “Have you bagged any dates lately?”
“I’m still seeing Jennifer from the gym, but it’s not going anywhere.”
I pitied Charlie because he was in a complicated situation—and there was nothing he could do about it. “You know, I could always move out…” Charlie was my closest friend, and I loved living with him. Our personalities were compatible, and we balanced each other out. Some people thought it was strange to have a guy roommate and assumed we hooked up all the time, but there was no attraction between us. “Move in with Denise or something.”
He shook his head. “It’s okay, Carson.”
“I just don’t think it’s ever going to get better. Maybe some space will be good.”
He shook his head again. “Carson, you’re my person. I don’t want to sacrifice this friendship for anything.”
I grinned. “I thought Matt was your person?”
He chuckled. “He’s my best friend, but I can’t talk to him the way I talk to you.”
“Because I’m a woman?”
“No. You just understand me better. I tell you things without getting judgment in return. We work together, so I have someone to talk about those things with. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but I don’t want you to move out.”
I leaned over the table and smiled at him. “You love me.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Come on, admit it.”
“I’d rather die.”
“Oh, shut up.” I swatted his hand where it rested on the table. “I’m your bestie.”
“Matt is technically my bestie—”
“But if you can’t say that to his face, then it doesn’t count.”
He sighed in defeat. “Fine… I love you.”
I grinned wide, with a hint of victory. “I love you too, Charlie.” I blew him a kiss.
He brushed it away with his hand.
I chuckled at his rejection. “Looks like we’re roommates forever.”
“I hope not. I was hoping to get a raise or promotion at some point.”
“Yeah, that’s never going to happen.” There just wasn’t enough money in publishing. People wanted free content, so no one bought newspapers anymore. If this were fifteen years ago, I’d be making a phenomenal salary, but now I made just enough to live in the city. But I’d never been in this for the money, so it wasn’t an issue. I would probably have a roommate for the rest of my life. “But we’re going to be together forever, so it’s fine.”
“I do want a wife and kids at some point.”
“That’s fine. I can just live with you guys.”
He chuckled. “That would happen, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah, because whoever you marry is gonna be an awesome chick, so we’ll be best friends, naturally, and she’ll never want me to leave. Plus, free babysitting.”
“And what about when you get married?”
I continued to plaster the smile on my face, but it was forced. I didn’t feel it in my heart where it belonged. “I’m too wild to settle down. With all the travel required for my job, the late hours, and the alleyway meetings…it’s not for me. Plus, you know how many hot guys I’m gonna meet?”
Charlie watched me with a stern expression, but his eyes slowly turned apologetic, like he didn’t believe a word I said but chose to let it go. “Yeah…a ton.”
Three
Carson
Kat stood beside me at the high-top table, her untouched cosmo in front of her. She kept glancing at Charlie and Matt at the bar, her long dark hair pulled over one shoulder. “So, where’s this guy?”