Chapter 5

 

“You’re back.”

Cat jumped in her seat and glanced up at where her ex-boyfriend stood, his arms resting on the walls of her cubical Friday afternoon. “My meeting ran through lunch, so I went to grab a latte downstairs. Did you need something?”

Although they both worked for the same company, they worked in different departments. These days, they rarely ran into each other while at the office.

“Just wanted to say hi. You never returned my call on Saturday.”

“Sorry. I meant to, but I got busy.” In truth, she’d forgotten all about his call until now.

Zack gave her a nonchalant shrug. “No problem. Aunt Leslie and Uncle Ron are up. We’re having a big get-together tomorrow night. I wanted to know if you’d like to come. My aunt is always asking about you.”

Until two years ago, Zack’s aunt had lived in the house next door to Cat’s parents. Following her husband’s retirement, they sold their house in North Salem and moved to Florida. The last time they’d been back to Massachusetts had been the previous Christmas, months before Zack ended things and moved out.

“I’d love to see her, but I have plans on Saturday already.” She did like Leslie, and if she ran into her at the café or something, she’d sit and talk to her. Attending a family get-together was another matter. Besides, she had plans with Tony on Saturday night. “How long are they staying up here?”

“They’re off to see my cousin in Pennsylvania on Monday before they head back home.”

“Tell her and your uncle I said hello. Maybe I’ll run into them at Christmas.”

Zack grabbed the chair from the empty cubicle behind her and rolled it over. “Everyone is flying down there this year for Christmas instead.” Like he had so many times when they were together, he sat next to her, stretching his legs out. “So, what are you up to Saturday night? A movie with Kelsey and Ella? Jessie spends all her time with Mack these days.”

Why did he automatically assume she had plans with her friends? He dated. She could too. “Dinner with a good friend.”

“Are you free tonight?”

Cat grabbed her latte and took a sip. What was Zack up to? Yes, they talked from time to time, but they never inquired into each other’s social lives.

“I thought we could go out and grab dinner. Catch up. We haven’t talked much lately.”

Back in March, she would’ve cleared her calendar and gone out with him whatever night he wanted. Now, she wished he’d leave her cubicle, so she could get back to work.

“I might stay late to catch up. I fell behind being at the conference.” A little fib never hurt anyone.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve come in early every day this week so far.” Zack rotated his chair from side to side. “Maybe the week after then?”

“Zack, I —” Cat stopped when her phone rang, and she grabbed it from her purse, grateful for the interruption. Maybe Zack would leave so she could talk on the phone and get out of this suddenly uncomfortable conversation.

“Hello,” she said, answering the phone.

“Hey, beautiful. Got a minute to talk?”

Cat glanced at Zack next to her and shifted in her seat. “For you, always.”

“I just wanted to let you know my meeting with the website designer got pushed back to five o’clock this afternoon. I’m going to be late getting to your place.”

“Okay. Whenever you get there is fine.”

Next to her, Zack pulled his legs in and leaned closer to her.

“The meeting shouldn’t take long. I’ll call you when I leave the gym.”

There was no way Zack could hear Tony’s side of the conversation, but still, she inched closer to the cubicle wall. “Sounds good. See you soon.”

Cat dropped the phone back into her purse and prepared to finish the sentence she’d started before the interruption.

“Who was that?”

“A friend.”

Zack narrowed his eyes. “The same friend you have plans with on Saturday night?”

She clenched her jaw to stop herself from saying something she might later regret. “Yep.” She didn’t plan to give him any more information.

After dating Zack for ten years, she could read him like a book. He was not only curious about her mystery friend, but also annoyed because he realized she didn’t intend to tell him anything else. The way she saw it, he had no right to be either. He’d been the one to break up with her because he wasn’t ready for the white picket fence and two kids. He’d been the one who wanted to see what it was like to be with other women. If he was unhappy now, it was his own fault.

“So, about my earlier question. How about we go out one night next week? We can grab dinner or a coffee and catch up.”

“Zack, I don’t have a lot of free time right now. Besides, I thought you were seeing someone. She might not like you spending time with your ex-girlfriend.” It might be childish, but she couldn’t stop herself from putting a little extra emphasis on the word ex-girlfriend.

“Jasmine and I called it quits. We didn’t have enough in common.”

Jasmine? The last she’d heard from a coworker, he’d been dating Lilly, a temp in the human resource department. Obviously, Zack was getting around these days.

“Not like you and me, Cat.”

Oh boy, she hadn’t just heard him say that.

“We can go to Revere’s after work.” When they’d been together, they’d often stop at Revere’s, one of her favorite restaurants in Boston, after work. “It’ll be fun. Like old times.”

She’d hoped to avoid telling him outright, but it didn’t look like she had much of a choice. “I can’t, Zack. I’m kind of seeing someone.”

“Really? I’m surprised I didn’t hear about it through the gossip line. Anyone I know?”

Zack had a point there. If she let even one person know she was dating someone, word would spread through North Salem.

“No. We met at O’Leary’s one night. It’s not that serious yet, so I haven’t introduced him to Mom and Pop.” Weaving the lies in among the truth made it easier to keep track of her story.

“If it’s not serious, what’s the big deal if we have coffee? Friends are allowed to have coffee together.”

Didn’t he have work to get back to or something? “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I like him and want to see where things go. I don’t think he’d appreciate it if I started having dinner or coffee with my ex.” Even if this thing with Tony ended tomorrow, she didn’t want to go out and catch up with Zack. That part of her life was over for good. “I hope you understand.”

“Yeah, of course.” His frown contradicted his easygoing tone. “I need to finish up this presentation before I go tonight. I’ll talk to you later.” He stood and pushed his chair back to where he’d found it.

“Bye, Zack. Say hello to your aunt and uncle for me.”

Zack nodded and then walked in the direction of the elevator.

Wow. Cat took another sip of her latte. Talk about an unexpected and uncomfortable conversation. Not once since they broke up had Zack even hinted at wanting to spend time together. She wondered what prompted it now.

Right after their breakup, Mom had said that in time Zack would realize what a mistake he’d made and come back to her. Back then, she hadn’t believed Mom. If the conversation she and Zack just had was any indication, Mom had been right. Unfortunately, for Zack anyway, he’d waited too long.

Would he accept her answer today and leave her alone though? Zack had a stubborn streak, and when he wanted something, he kept after it until he got it. In high school, he’d asked her out four times before she said yes. She didn’t want to have any more conversations like today’s, and it wasn’t like she could avoid him easily. They worked in the same building, and he lived in North Salem. In fact, he lived in the condo complex that her brother was moving into soon.

With a shake of her head, she pulled her keyboard closer. If she had any hope of getting out of here on time, she needed to finish up her work. She’d worry about Zack if and when he showed up at her desk again.

Since Tony planned to be late anyway, she stayed at work and finished what she needed to for her Monday morning meeting. On her way home, she stopped at Oishii and grabbed some sushi, something Tony had come to love since they started seeing each other. The first time she suggested they have takeout from the Japanese restaurant near her apartment, he’d turned a little green and refused to try it. It had taken a considerable amount of convincing, but eventually, he caved and sampled some of her dinner. Since that night, they’d ordered takeout from Oishii several times.

Once home, she stored their dinner in the refrigerator and cracked open a can of cream soda. She didn’t drink soda often, but cream soda had been her favorite since she was a kid, and every once in a while, she indulged in a can or two. After getting comfortable, Cat took a sip of her drink, the unique flavor bringing up memories of hot summer days hanging around Lake Stonefield in North Salem with her friends.

It also brought up memories of Zack. He loved cream soda too. More than once, they’d flipped a coin over who got to drink the last can in the apartment, and more often than not, he won.

That thought of Zack soon brought his unexpected invitation that afternoon to mind. Did he want to get back together, or had he truly just wanted to have coffee because they were friends? Friends did have coffee and dinner together. Often on a Saturday afternoon, she would meet Kelsey or Ella for lunch. She knew Striker would sometimes get together with Mack or Sean for a beer at Masterson’s, and she’d seen Jessie have a coffee with Sean at the cafe.

Yep, Zack’s request that afternoon could be innocent enough. Her gut told her otherwise. If he truly wanted to meet up as friends, why had he waited this long? Nine months had passed since he ended their decade long relationship, more than enough time to ask her for coffee or anything else.

She raised and lowered the tab on the soda can with her fingernail. If they didn’t work together and share so many of the same friends, avoiding him would be much easier. It wasn’t uncommon for her to stop in the deli downstairs during the day and pass by him as he headed out with his lunch. Although not too often, they did sometimes find themselves in the same meetings at work. She didn’t even want to consider the times when he stopped by her parents’ house to pick up Pop for one of their fishing trips or to just say hello.

Cutting him out her life completely looked impossible. The tab on the soda can snapped off and she tossed it on the table. Maybe today had been a one-time event. Perhaps another nine months would go by before she had any kind of lengthy conversation with him again. She’d be okay with that.

 

“That was perfect. I’ve craved Sushi all week,” Tony said as he deposited his dish in the dishwasher. He’d arrived twenty minutes earlier starving, and they’d immediately sat down for dinner. “You didn’t eat much tonight. Are you feeling okay?” Tony removed her dish from the table as well.

At the office, her ex-boyfriend was a neat freak. Everything in his cubicle had its place, and if someone put something back where it didn’t belong, he went a little crazy. When they lived together though, he’d been the exact opposite. Before moving in with Zack, she’d thought nobody could be a worse slob than her brother. Zack proved her wrong. Not only did the guy not know how to get his clothes from the floor to the laundry hamper, he never took his dirty dishes off the table, forget about getting them into the dishwasher. She doubted Zack knew what the thing looked like.

Tony didn’t suffer from a similar problem, or at least he didn’t when he visited her. He always helped clear the table, and if they had a snack while they watched television, he made sure to take his dishes out of the living room. If he did that here, she guessed he did it at his home too.

“Just a little distracted. I had an odd day.” Cat wandered into the other room.

“Did something happen at work?”

“You could say that. I had a strange conversation with Zack after lunch.”

Tony sat down next to her and moved his fingertips up and down her neck. “What did he want?”

“First, he asked me to a family gathering this weekend. His aunt and uncle are up and they used to live next door to my parents. Then he asked me for coffee or dinner. He said he wants to catch up.”

“What did you tell him?” Tony’s fingers stopped moving.

“No.” The heat his caress had created started to disappear.

“Good.”

“But it’s weird. Since we broke up, he’s never asked me for coffee or anything. We pass each other often at work and stuff, but we don’t really have conversations. Why did he ask me today?” She leaned into Tony. “Maybe I’m overthinking it. Friends get together all the time.”

“He didn’t ask you out just because he wants to catch up.”

Cat pulled away at the annoyance she heard in his voice. “You could be wrong. I’ve seen Jessie and Sean have coffee. And I know you get together with your friends sometimes after work.” She probably shouldn’t bait him, because it appeared as though Zack’s invitation didn’t sit well with him. At the same time, this was at least the second time Tony had shown jealousy where she was concerned. Considering the fact her own emotions toward this fling had changed, she wouldn’t be upset if Tony’s had as well.

He’s a good guy who wouldn’t betray his friends. Sneaking around with a friend’s sister doesn’t seem like something he’d do unless she meant a lot to him. Why would he risk his friendship when he could date someone he met at a bar? That’s what he’s always done. Jessie’s words from the day at the fair came back to her. She hadn’t thought of them again until now.

“Sean and Jessie getting together is different. He thinks of Jessie as a sister. He always has.” The muscle in Tony’s cheek twitched. “Zack asked you out because he wants you back, not because he just wants to catch up.”

Perhaps she’d baited him enough tonight. “He can want me back, but that won’t change anything. I don’t want him back.” She waited for Tony to put an arm around her or go back to caressing her neck. He didn’t do either.

“Are you sure?”

She turned so she could see him better. “Of course. Why would you ask me that?” She’d never hinted to any one, let alone Tony, that she wanted Zack back in her life.

“Everyone assumed you two would get married. You were together for so long. Your family loves him. He even still spends time with your father. Plus, he strikes me as the kids and minivan type.”

She’d thought that about Zack too, but not anymore. “I’m not looking for that now. Right now, I’m just enjoying life like you.” Afraid of what his next response might be, she kissed him before he said anything.

With her tongue, she traced his lips and then tugged on his bottom lip until he opened his mouth. Cat wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her.

She kissed him until her need for air won out before she released his mouth.

“I’m glad.” He kissed her neck, sending warmth once again through her body. “I don’t—” Tony cleared his throat. “I don’t think he deserves you back after what he did.”

She’d had friends say something similar, yet she didn’t think that was what Tony had started to say.

“You’re not the first person to say that. It doesn’t matter anyway, because I don’t want to be with him. I think I stayed with him for so long more out of habit than anything else.” Before that moment, she’d never shared that thought with anyone. “And because my parents expected us to get married. Every other time I go over there, they hint at how we should work things out.”

Tony ran his fingers through her hair, something he often did when they sat together on the couch. “Parents love setting plans for us and then insisting we follow them.”

She’d never heard him use that particular tone of voice. Both Joseph Bates and his wife appeared to be supportive parents. Perhaps they weren’t as supportive as she’d assumed.

“I’m tired. Do you mind if we just stay in tonight, maybe make some popcorn and watch a movie?” he said, changing the subject.

Cat almost sighed. Every so often, Tony gave her a peek at his innermost emotions. For a moment there, she thought he was about to do that now, but she’d been wrong.

“Find us a movie, I’ll get the popcorn.”

 

A building in the movie exploded, reminding Tony of his blood pressure when Cat dropped the news about her ex-boyfriend, not that the news should have bothered him in the least. She could do whatever she wanted with whomever she wanted. If she wanted to spend time with Zack, that was fine. He and Cat hadn’t made any kind of commitment to each other. They were both free to see other people. Just because he hadn’t since that night at O’Leary’s Pub didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future. Who knew who he might be having dinner with three months from now. The same held true for Cat.

Even with the reminder, the little green-eyed monster remained in the back of his head, urging him to seek Zack out and tell him to stay away from her. At the same time, the little monster wanted to demand she avoid her ex-boyfriend both in and out of work.

He fought to shove the urges away. Doing either of those things would create way too many headaches. Not only would it expose their secret, it would give Cat the impression he planned to stick around, which was something he didn’t plan to do.

Soon, he was sure, he’d get bored with her and be ready to move on. Just because the time hadn’t come yet, didn’t mean anything. He had no intentions of changing his ways for Cat or any other woman. He’d gone down that path once, and it had nearly destroyed him. No matter what, he never planned to make himself that vulnerable again.

“Are you still awake?”

The reassuring weight of her head on his shoulder disappeared. “Of course, why?” He looked away from the television and met her hazel eyes. Contentment like he hadn’t experienced in years stole his breath for a moment, and the jealousy monster telling him to confront Zack screamed out again.

“I asked if you wanted anything from the kitchen. I’m getting myself another soda.”

“Sorry, I got wrapped up in the movie. Sure, whatever you’re having is fine.”

She kissed his check and started to stand. The tiny gesture sent an arrow straight to his heart.

“Cat, I––” The word love formed on his tongue, but he swallowed it back. He didn’t love her. He liked her a lot. More than he should.

She sat back down and waited. “Do you want something else?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure what. Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll go get the drinks and find a snack for myself.”

She gave him an odd look, but once again made herself comfortable on the couch. “Okay. I grabbed some more of those peanut butter cookies you like. They’re in the cupboard near the sink if you want them.”

Of course she had picked up the cookies he liked. She always made sure some of his favorites were around. When was the last time a woman did that for him? Aside from Isabella, he couldn’t think of anyone.

He walked into the kitchen and a light bulb went off in his head. He enjoyed spending time with Cat because she made an effort to make him happy and didn’t expect anything in return. That was something no other women did for him. It wasn’t love that kept him hanging around. It was simply the fact she made him happy. Everyone wanted to be happy. And Cat wasn’t looking for love or to get married. She’d told him that herself. He remembered her exact words. I’m not looking for that now. Right now, I’m just enjoying life like you.

Nothing had changed between them. In a few months, they’d part as friends and go on with their lives.

“Do you want anything besides a soda?” Tony grabbed the peanut butter cookies from the cupboard.

“Nope.”

Relieved that he’d unraveled the mystery behind his feelings for Cat, he carried two cans of cream soda and the cookies into the other room as her cell phone rang.

She picked up the phone as he sat back down next to her.

“Hello.”

Tony started on a cookie while he waited. If it was a friend, she’d keep the conversation short. She always did when they were together. If it turned out to be her mom or dad, she’d promise to call them back later.

“Zack? Sorry, I didn’t recognize the number.”

The little green-eyed monster he’d driven away moments earlier returned bigger than before.

“Is something wrong?” Cat glanced at him and shook her head.

Zack said something, and Tony wished he could hear the whole conversation.

“I’m busy right now, but tell everyone I said hello.”

Again, Zack spoke, and this time, Cat rolled her eyes.

“I really need to go. Maybe I’ll see you at work on Monday. Have fun tonight.”

Tony popped the rest of his cookie in his mouth before he said something he’d regret and waited for her to explain why her ex-boyfriend was once again calling her.

“Sorry about that.” She put the phone down and leaned against him again. Without another word, she reached for the remote.

What her ex wanted wasn’t any of his business. If Sean or Richard called, would he want her asking all kinds of questions?

Then again, neither of his friends were trying to get him in bed with them either.

“What did he want?” He just couldn’t keep his mouth shut tonight.

“Zack ran into some of our friends at Masterson’s and wanted to know if I wanted to join them for drinks.” She put her hand over his.

“Do you all get together like that a lot?” Somehow, he already knew the answer to the question.

“No. We haven’t all hung out together since last fall. Ryan and Jude are more Zack’s friends than mine. I get along with their girlfriends, but I wouldn’t call them friends.”

He doubted the little get-together tonight had been an unplanned thing.

“He said Kelsey is there too, but I see her all the time. She won’t miss me tonight.” She stole a cookie from his plate. “Ready to put the movie back on?”

“In a minute.” Letting the green-eyed monster have its way, he kissed her, his lips marking Cat as his.

Even as his teased her lips apart, intent on wiping Zack from her thoughts, his own mind screamed he was a liar. He could tell himself all day that he was with Cat only because she made him happy and the sex was fantastic, but that didn’t make it true. And he knew it.

***

 

Cat took Tony’s outstretched hand and walked alongside him toward her apartment. “That show was hilarious. I can’t believe their television series got canceled.”

That evening they’d enjoyed dinner in Boston before going to a comedy show at the Wilbur Theatre on Tremont Street.

“I read they wanted to devote more time to their Vegas show, and the network didn’t like that.” Tony held open the door for her when they reached the top step.

“If they ever come back to town, I’ll have to take Kelsey and Ella to see them. Maybe Jessie too. They’d love it.” She tried to keep her disappointment from seeping into her words as she headed up the stairs toward the third floor.

It was impossible though. She’d dreaded this night ever since Striker asked if he could stay with her, and now it was here. While Tony assured her they’d still find a way to be together until her brother moved out, she realized their time together from here on out would be limited. And unless she wanted to drop the news on Striker about her and Tony’s relationship, she’d have to make the best of it.

Now, like a few days earlier, she wondered if they shouldn’t just tell her brother. They were all adults. Plus, since the wedding, Striker had been spending time with her friend Ella. If she didn’t get mad about that, then really Striker had nothing to be upset about either. Well, except the fact that she and Tony had been lying to him for months now.

Perhaps if they told Striker, they could leave that little bit of information out. They could tell her brother they’d started dating a few weeks ago around the same time Striker started dating Ella.

She tried to picture how such a conversation would go. Unfortunately, no matter how she started it in her head, it ended with Striker arguing with her and punching Tony in the face.

“Are you still helping Sean tomorrow?” Cat unlocked her apartment door and switched on a light.

“I told him I’d be over sometime after breakfast.” Tony pulled her close and kissed her neck. “I want to make sure I have enough time with you before your brother gets here.”

Hope pushed away the disappointment. “I doubt my brother will be here all that early tomorrow. He and Mack have to move almost all of his stuff into the storage container and then load what he plans to bring here into his truck.”

She took off her jacket and hung it on the coat tree in the corner.

“As much as I’d love to spend the whole day with you, I promised Sean.”

When Tony’s hands slipped under sweater, a slight chill went across her skin and she jumped. “Wow, your hands are like ice cubes. Are you cold?” She’d grabbed a jacket before they left that afternoon, but Tony had gone around all day without one. “Do you want something hot to drink? Or I can turn on the heat.” She’d avoided turning the heat on yet. She wasn’t ready to admit the end of fall was quickly approaching.

“Freezing, but I bet you can think of better ways to warm me up.”

That she could.

She undid the top two buttons of her sweater. “I read sharing body heat is the quickest way to warm up.”

“I’ve heard that too.”

Cat pulled her sweater off and let it fall to the floor, quite aware his eyes followed her every move.

“If this is going to work, we need to get rid of this.” She pulled his shirt free from his waistband and then worked each button free. Tony didn’t try to stop her or help her. She’d noticed that sometimes he liked to be in complete control, and other times, like now, he preferred it when she was.

She’d quickly realized she liked being in control.

Grabbing his hands, she placed them on the tops of her breasts and then slid them down toward the front clasp of her bra. Together they undid the clip and let the material fall to the floor near her sweater. She captured his wrists and moved his hands on her breasts, not sure which she enjoyed more, the desire building inside her or the expression on his face.

“Feeling a little warmer now?” She let go of his wrists and pulled down her skirt, thankful she’d worn a long one today, so she’d been able to skip the pantyhose underneath.

His hands left her breasts and moved down her sides until they rested on her waist. “A little, but I think we can do better.” As he kissed her, he lifted her up at the same time.

Her bare thighs landed on the kitchen table, but she didn’t care. So far, they’d made love in almost every room in her apartment. Why not add the kitchen to the list as well. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she moved herself closer to the edge of the table.

He released her mouth, kissing his way down her neck toward her breasts. “I don’t think we’re hot enough yet. What do you think?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but then he pulled a nipple into his mouth while at the same time his fingers slipped inside her panties.

She let him tease her for a moment or two, then pulled his hand away. She wanted to enjoy their night together, not have it end quickly, which would happen if she didn’t stop him.

“What’s the matter?” He released her nipple and met her eyes.

Cat pulled his head toward hers. “Nothing.” When she pressed her breasts against his chest, the heat from his skin seeped into her and the world around her faded.

In the back of her mind, she heard the footsteps on the landing outside her door, but her brain dismissed it. Mr. Fox and his wife, her neighbors, must have just come home. Often on the weekends, they babysat their grandchildren in Danvers so their daughter and her husband could go out for dinner.

“Hey, Tri––”

She stopped breathing. It wasn’t possible. Her brother couldn’t have just walked in.

Tony released her lips, but otherwise, he remained motionless.

Slowly, Tony pulled away and looked at her, his expression saying the same thing as her brain. The shit was about to hit the fan.

“Buddy, how about you––”

Tony turned, and she tried to cover herself with her hands.

“What the fuck!”

Cat cringed.

Tony moved, acting as a human privacy shield. Or at least he tried.

Her brother’s fist plowed into Tony’s face, the momentum forcing him to lean toward the left. Immediately, blood trickled down Tony’s chin.

“Striker, stop it.” Cat shouted as she looked around for her sweater.

Striker swung again. This time, Tony ducked and Striker’s fist only met air, which only enraged him more.

Jumping off the table, she scooped her sweater up from the floor and pulled it on.

Across the room, Tony landed a punch in Striker’s stomach, but it didn’t seem to slow him down.

“You son of a bitch. She’s my sister,” Striker yelled loud enough that her neighbors on the first floor most likely heard.

“Striker.” She’d seen Striker anger plenty of times, but never like this. Again, her brother swung at Tony with his right. Tony avoided the punch, but, unfortunately, Striker got him with his left.

Her heart moved to her throat and her chest rose and fell rapidly. She had to do something. Tony didn’t deserve this. She’d been a willing participant.

Cat lunged forward, hoping to get between the two men. “Knock it––” Her teeth rattled together as pain sliced through her face. She started to fall, but Tony grabbed her.

“Trina, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Striker’s voice shook as he took her hand.

Cat pulled away and focused on not crying as pain radiated through her face.

“Do something useful and get her some ice,” Tony said, leading her to a chair.

She wiped her eyes with her hand before any tears fell, but didn’t sit. “What is the matter with you, Striker?” she shouted, even though it hurt.

“Me?” Anger once again filled Striker’s voice. “I walked in to find you and this scumbag having sex on the table like a whore, and you have to ask.”

One moment, Tony stood next to her, and the next, he had Striker by the front of his shirt. “Your sister is not a whore, and you damn well know it.”

Now that they’d stopped throwing punches, she didn’t want to see a repeat performance. Besides, as angry as the comment made her, she knew her brother didn’t mean what he said. “Let him go, Tony.” She touched his arm and Tony released Striker.

A stare down to end all stare downs ensured.

“Get out, Bates.” Striker broke the silence in the room.

“This is my apartment, not yours. You don’t have the right to throw anyone out.”

Striker turned his ‘I’m the big brother, you’ll do what I say’ glare on her. When they were children, it worked almost every time. They weren’t kids anymore.

“Maybe you should leave instead, Striker,” she said.

“What, so you can get back to screwing this asshole?”

Tony took a step forward, but when she took his hand, he stopped.

“Cat, maybe we should go.”

If her brother wanted to be a jerk, she’d let him. Maybe when he cooled off, they could have a rational discussion like adults. “Let me grab a few things. I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”

She waited until Tony buttoned up his shirt and left before she went into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Then she pulled on a pair of jeans and tossed some clothes in a bag.

When she walked back in the kitchen, Striker stood near the counter, his arms crossed. “What in the world are you doing?”

“Don’t start again. I’m not doing anything you don’t do.” She collected her keys and purse, ready to leave without saying another word.

“It’s not the same, and you damn well know it.”

Cat slammed her phone and purse down on the table. “So you can have sex, but I can’t. Did you think Zack and I just cuddled every night when we lived together.”

Striker pushed away from the counter, coming toward her. “Walking in on you and Zack the way I did would’ve been bad enough, but I could’ve handled it. But with Tony, Trina? What the hell were you thinking?”

“He can’t be all bad. He’s your friend.”

“You know just what’s wrong with him. The guy has been in more beds than a traveling salesman.” Striker paced a few times before he stopped and looked at her. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Trina.”

Done with the discussion, she picked up her phone again. “He’s no different than you, Striker. Maybe I should call Ella and tell her to stay away from you so she doesn’t get hurt.”

“Ella and I have gone out a few times. That’s it. We haven’t had sex on her kitchen table.”

Her first reaction was to say the word yet, but she refrained. “We weren’t having sex on the table.”

“You were pretty damn close.”

The moment justified a good foot stomp. Too bad she’d stopped doing that years ago. “I don’t care what you think. Tony and I enjoy spending time together, and I’m not going to stop doing that because it upsets you.”

“How long has this been going on?”

The smart thing would be to say a couple weeks, but her anger was getting in the way of her intelligence. “A few months.” Cat pulled open the door and stepped into the hall. She’d had enough of her brother for the night.

Striker followed her. “When will you be back?”

“When I’m back.” She heard Striker call out to her as she reached the second floor landing, but she didn’t stop. Once he cooled off, she’d sit down and talk to him, until that happened though, they’d only keep arguing. Getting away from him was the wisest option.

Tony stood near his car with his hands shoved in his pants pockets. The overhead streetlight illuminated the frown on his face as well as the developing bruises and split lip. “Ready?”

She considered kissing him, but his tone stopped her. “Let’s go.”