Alex nodded. “Yeah, me too. I want to offer her a chair here.”
“Okay, cool.”
“I think we also need another artist.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Are we keeping asshat on?”
“For now.”
“Okay. I have another client. I don’t have time to chat.”
“Veronica?”
“What?” I snapped.
“Don’t come in tomorrow.”
“But—”
“You need to take your days off,” he insisted. “I don’t need you burning yourself out.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
I had back-to-back clients for the rest of the night until the shop closed at eight. The shop was hectic right now, but I’d rather be busy than hurting for money.
My feet were dragging by the time I walked to the subway and hopped on the regional rail at Suburban Station. Even worse, when I had to walk the four blocks uphill to my apartment. Maybe I should have moved back to the city, but the rent was my main issue. I was saving a lot, living here on my cheap rent. I had to calculate the cost of my commute and see if I was saving enough. I always had a room at Eddie and Alex’s, but I didn’t want to impose on them.
I was so burnt out, I nearly jumped when I walked up the steps to my porch and saw a man sitting on it in the dark. The light on the porch didn’t work anymore. I think my neighbor had control over it, but I never bothered them about it.
“Sweets, it’s me,” Blaise’s voice cut through the fog of my brain. Right as I was about to jab him in the face with my keys.
“Jesus! Blaise, you scared me half to death. A big guy like you can’t lurk on a girl’s porch.”
He hung his head. “Shit, I’m sorry. I tried to call, but you wouldn’t answer. I went to the shop, but your brother said you already went home. Guess I beat you here.”
I looked at the phone in my hand. Dead.
“It’s fine. I was just surprised.”
He eyed me calculatingly. “Why are you out of breath?”
“Um…it’s a four-block walk uphill from the station.”
His gaze seared across mine, and even in the dark, I recognized that look. I had seen that look come across his face on the ice. When an opponent slashed one of his teammates’ and got away with it or did something else that I didn’t understand because I didn’t understand the rules of the game. Blaise was pissed.
“You walked?” he bellowed.
“Calm your tits. I’m a big girl,” I argued.
I caught my breath and untangled my keys from around my fingers to unlock the front door. We walked inside, and Blaise locked the deadbolt behind us before following me up the stairs. I dropped my bag on the kitchen floor and couldn’t help the smile from spreading across my face when his enormous arms wrapped around my waist, and he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck.
“Oh, someone missed me,” I teased as I felt his hardness poking me in the back. Not like I was going to admit that I also missed it. His cock, not him. I definitely didn’t miss my friend with benefits when he was off traveling for his job.
Nope. Not at all.
I didn’t miss his scent on my pillows. Or the feel of his arms around me when I woke up the next morning. Or the wicked look in his eyes when he was about to go down on me.
I definitely didn’t miss any of that stuff.
I couldn’t.
He nosed across my skin, his hot breath teasing the shell of my ear. “Maybe.”
I spun in his embrace, and he met me in a kiss I’d been hungry for since he left my bed three days ago. I leaned into that kiss and let my heart have feelings for once. But only when Blaise was taking me to my bed. In the morning light, I would shove those useless feelings back down inside where they belonged.
I woke up alarmed to a loud banging noise…no, a knock. Someone was knocking loudly on my door.
I groaned and turned in the bed, hoping to snuggle down into the warmth of Blaise’s chest, but he wasn’t there. The banging continued, and I looked at my phone to see it was only eight a.m.
Who was bothering me on my day off?
I groaned and got out of bed, only to walk out into the hallway to not find someone knocking at the door downstairs but to find a sweaty and shirtless blonde giant on the staircase installing a railing.
“Um…Blaise, what the actual fuck are you doing?” I seethed.
He looked up at me and smiled. “Hi, sweets. Sorry if I woke you. I got coffee and bagels from the coffee shop in town.”
I glared but walked into the kitchen to retrieve the bribes. Why was he installing a railing on my stairwell?
I grumbled as I sat on my shitty futon in my tiny living room and bit into the French toast bagel. How did he know that was my favorite? And with the apple cinnamon cream cheese from the shop, too. I sipped on my black coffee but kept glaring when he walked into the living room with his shirt still off, looking so good. Fuck him for looking that way.
I waved the bag at him, but he shook his head. “Nah, too many carbs for me. I gotta be serious about training right now.”
I glared again and watched him run his fingers through his hair.
“Dude, what the fuck!” I exclaimed
He bent over the couch and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Eat your breakfast.”
“I’m pissed at you,” I said, pushing him away.
“Why?”
“Why did you install a railing in my stairwell? I could lose my deposit.”
“Sweets, calm down. I can take it down when you move out,” he explained and took a sip of his coffee.
I stared at him. That implied we would still be a thing past our expiration date, that he would still have time for me once this was all over.
“I didn’t ask you to do that!”
I shoved the bagel into my mouth before I cursed him out anymore.
He knelt in front of me. “How can I make it better?” He bent his head to kiss my naked legs, his hand drifting toward my panties underneath the t-shirt I wore to bed. Or rather, his t-shirt. I wouldn’t admit it, but I loved that he left it here so I could wear it every night and think of him. That was bad, very bad.
“Don’t,” I warned and put the bagel down on the coffee table.
His blonde head was still facing my legs, and his lips burned across my skin. “Let me apologize.”
“That’s not the point.”
He lifted his head. “Baby, I’m sorry. Tell me what I did wrong. I was trying to help you. I worry about you.”
“You shouldn’t. You’re not my boyfriend!”
His jaw ticked, and he stood up abruptly. “Right. Yeah. Well, I’ll call you when I need another appearance from my fake girlfriend.”
“Blaise…” I sighed, realizing I had overreacted.
But he was already shrugging on his shirt and pulling on his jacket. He didn’t even kiss me goodbye before he clomped down my steps and slammed my front door.
This was supposed to be what I wanted, but it felt like someone had twisted a knife in my chest.
Chapter Twenty-One
BLAISE
TJ hit my shin with his stick while I was putting on my gear. I glared at him. “What?”