“Did you see my text?” Paige asks.
Her voice makes me jump.
“Oh!” I look over my shoulder and find her in my doorway. “Uh, no, my phone’s kinda...I had to turn it off.”
“He’s still obsessing?” Her eyebrows scrunch down.
I shrug. “Not sure if I’d call it obsessing. More like desperation. His inbox is full, he can’t find an EA, and he doesn’t know what to do about lying to Jordan, so he needs me.”
“I’m proud of you for not giving in,” she says with a smile. “Give him a deep freeze worthy of a penguin.”
“He said he misses me,” I whisper, wishing I shared her pride.
“Did you respond?”
I shake my head.
“Good girl.”
“Anyway, what’s in this text you came to ask about?”
“Our apartment building needs some work—”
“That’s not news,” I tell her, glancing at the miserable A/C unit that’ll be straining against a baking Chicago summer soon.
She sighs. “Well, they’re coming for repairs. The water’s going to be off for the next two days.”
“Ugh. What’s the plan?”
“I’ll probably go to my parents for a day, but I really don’t want to be home for two whole days. It puts a cramp in my style.” She strikes a silly glam girl pose.
I laugh. “Your parents give you everything you want. How could that be a bad thing?”
“They’re too up in my business, and if Mom gets started on meeting a good guy, watch out. Ever since that thing with Austin...” She trails off, looking down sadly.
“Say no more,” I whisper, flashing a sympathetic look.
The fact that there’s a part of my best friend reeling from a sour college relationship that ended years ago scares me.
Will I be her in a couple years?
Dating in a void, grieving a man who tore me to shreds, even if I deny it?
“Yeah, blech. Forget I said the name.” Her expression brightens again. “You want to come with me, Brina?”
A knock at the front door stops me from answering.
“Can you get it? I’m trying to wrap up that web design for you.”
“Sure!” she says.
The door’s old hinges squeak as it opens.
“Is Sabrina here?”
Oh, God. That voice.
I’m gripping the edge of my seat for support. Hearing Mag sends needles down my spine.
“I’m not sure. I just came home.” Paige’s voice is frigid. “Let me go check her room.”
The door slams shut.
I don’t get up. It would be too easy to talk to him if I move.
“That’s a good color scheme.” Paige stands behind me, her eyes dark with worry.
I look up. “Thanks?”
“Oh, and a certain Maggot is at our door with flowers...want me to tell him you’re not here?”
Flowers? Is she joking?
I blink back a hot rush of tears.
He’s totally mad if he thinks I’ll be wooed back by him sacrificing a few pretty plants. “Tell him I’m busy giving my new boyfriend a BJ.”
“Nice!” Paige snickers, covering her mouth. “Are you serious? I’m so down for messing with this idiot.”
“I don’t know. It might be easier,” I say. “Also, I don’t want the flowers. Tell him to drop them off at a retirement home. They need pretty things more than I do.”
“I already slammed the door in his face. With any luck, he’s gone, but let me handle this.” She walks out of the room.
I stop what I’m doing, my senses glued to what’s happening in the front room.
The door creaks open.
I wait, listening intently. He’s probably gone. He’s a busy jackass with places to go, people to see, hearts to shred. I’ve never been more to him than a convenience.
“Brina’s boyfriend says she’s busy,” Paige says.
Panic time.
So he didn’t leave. And damn—she went there!
“Boyfriend?” His voice is strained, angry-jealous, but I don’t think he buys it. “What boyfriend?”
“Dude. They’re really busy, so this isn’t a good time. I think a BJ might be involved, since she wasn’t talking through the door, just making these hot gurgling noises.”
Holy crap, Paige.
I’m spinning.
“Will you please give her these?” He growls, and I smile as I imagine him shoving a bouquet at her.
“Hmm, I dunno. Sabrina’s not a big flower girl. I think she’d rather you donate them to a retirement home or something.”
Pause.
“And how do you know that, if she wasn’t talking?” Mag growls, his eyes smoldering blue volcanic craters in my mind.
“We’re friends. Duh. With her, I know everything. Plus, her boyfriend finds gifts from other guys like her creepy ex-boss inappropriate, and...well, she just doesn’t like you. No hard feelings,” Paige practically sings the last part.
I’m soaring, biting back an awkward laugh. I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
So, I probably shouldn’t have given her ideas with the boyfriend bit. I didn’t expect her to take it this far.
“Does she hate me?”
Whoa. Insecurity in Magnus Heron’s voice? That’s a first.
Paige’s words are chipper. “Probably. I mean, I would.”
“This new man of hers—is he good?” He grinds out, buying just enough of the bait for his voice to waver with something I don’t expect.
Hurt.
I doubt Paige notices, he’s ever the growly ice-cold businessman, but I do. I hear it and my heart stops.
“He’s pretty freaking hot. If they ever break up, it’s my turn.”
“I meant good to her, you—forget it.” Mag is getting furious.
And this isn’t exactly funny anymore. I’m torn between coming out of my room to defuse the situation and letting Paige hand him his ass. It can’t be worse than what he did to me.
“No prob, already forgotten! I’ve wasted enough of my day talking to you. Ciao!” Paige enjoys this way too much.
She slams the door again and I hear both her feet land on the floor after a full jump.
She waltzes back into my room and falls on the bed.
“Sheesh. That was intense. Also, he’s effing hot. I see why you’re having a hard time getting over him. I should’ve had a turn at him.”
“Ha ha,” I spit back, my voice acid.
“Hey, just joking. Are you sure you don’t want to come to my parents?”
I shake my head.
All Paige has seen are Mag’s good looks and a hint of his legendary temper. She doesn’t know the half of it.
She’s never seen his employees turn protective when he’s been insulted.
She didn’t watch him take in a kid he barely knows.
She hasn’t felt his Lucifer lips brushing her skin, taking her to the depths of hell and then sending her to all seven heavens.
“I’m not having a hard time moving on. It’s just...confusing. It’s normal to be upset, isn’t it?” I whisper, somehow doubting myself.
“For sure. Bad jokes aside, you know I’ve got your back.” With a crooked grin, she gives me a quick air pistol shot and blows imaginary smoke off her finger.