Chapter Eighteen
Anthony
“Man, I need to get out tonight.”
I’m glad Tyler’s only on the phone so he can’t see when I roll my eyes. He’s going to have to get over his girl eventually or stop using her as an excuse to go out every night. My patience with him is finally wearing thin.
“Did you hear anything I just said?” I ask, my voice edged with annoyance.
I’ve spent the past twenty minutes telling him about Jane, and all he can think about is wanting to go out because his girlfriend dumped him a month ago. I feel bad for him, but it took a lot for me to share with him like that. I mean, we’re close, and I would do anything for him, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy baring my soul. That would be why I don’t do it much, and he knows it. I don’t ask for much in my friendships, but this one time, I wish he would actually think about someone other than himself.
He sighs, and I can almost hear him rolling his eyes. “Maybe you should let me finish.”
I frown but say, “Okay. Go ahead.”
“I was gonna say, I need to get out tonight and so do you. You need to get laid, buddy. Get that girl out of your head.” He says it like it’s going to be easy.
Except I’m not sure getting laid will do it. It’s Monday, four days after the last time I saw her in my office, and I sure as hell haven’t stopped thinking about her. I can’t get the taste of her skin off my mind, the sound of her voice as she moaned my name. There’s an email sitting up on my monitor, and it’s from her. It’s completely professional and totally lacking, as if what happened between us was erased from her memory. She’s not kidding. She really wants to forget all of it, to the point where she’s willing to risk her job by calling off for two days.
The worst part is, she’s brilliant. I can’t even get mad at her for not being around because she’s still doing all the work she needs to do, and she’s sharing ideas with me. They’re all genius, which I know means she’s an amazing asset for the company. But that’s all she’ll give me. No answers, no explanations. Every time I ask a question that isn’t business related, she ignores it. She won’t even tell me why she won’t come to work, even though I know very well why. She isn’t as unaffected as she pretends. She can’t see me and still keep her distance. I could make a big deal about it, but I know damn well if I go to HR about Jane’s attendance, she could counter with my behavior making for a hostile work environment, and that’s the sort of press my father might very well use as an excuse to kill me.
As always, Tyler has some pretty strong opinions. Which I’m sure aren’t colored at all by his own recent romantic issues. “Dude. She’s crazy. I mean, she practically threw herself at you and then she acted all nuts and ran off. She doesn’t know what she wants. Forget about her and come out with me tonight. Get some ass. You won’t even remember her in the morning.”
I doubt it, but I agree anyway. It’s not like I’ve never regretted agreeing to something Tyler wants to do. At least I won’t be sitting at home on my couch, replaying that night over and over, trying to figure out when things went wrong. Or, worse, fantasizing about how things would have progressed if I’d done one thing or another differently.
I need to avoid going home as much as possible. If nothing else, being with Tyler gives me an excuse to get drunk on a work night. At least an excuse that’s better than me drinking alone in the dark in my apartment.
Why not. Things can’t possibly get any worse.
***
Hours later, he sidles up to me with a frown. “What’s your problem, man? You need another drink?”
I shake my head and wish I had gone home after work instead of going out to the club. Drinking in the dark holds more appeal right now than all of this. Not that I can explain it to him. Hell, I can’t explain it to myself.
“Nah. I don’t know. I’m just not into it tonight.” I try to shrug it off. Would it be ridiculous if I tell him I have a headache?
Tyler glances at the girl I just turned away as she walks back to the table full of her friends. She’s hot—smokin’ hot. Tall, leggy, with pouty lips I would normally imagine sliding up and down my dick within about three seconds of talking with her. When she came over and introduced herself, I didn’t feel anything. I haven’t felt anything all night, actually. Not for any of the girls who’ve given me the eye or “accidentally” bumped into me. I’ve been turning down ass all night. And he knows how unlike me that is. I know how unlike me that is.
“You’ve got it bad, brother.” He has a smug sort of smirk on his face as he raises a glass in a toast. The douche is lucky we’re out in public, where I can’t get away with hitting him.
I’m lucky nothing came out about the fist fight I got in over Jane, and a second brawl would be pushing my luck. Dad’s finally not treating me like a disappointment, and getting a shot in at Tyler isn’t worth losing that.
“I don’t have anything bad. I’m just not in the mood tonight. Is it against the law for me not to be in the mood to fuck around?” I finish my drink in a single gulp and decide that the buzz I have isn’t enough.
“Then you’re getting old, Anthony. It’s one or the other.”
“Fine. I’m getting old.” I turn away from him and look over the room again because it’s easier to do that than to keep listening to my best friend trying to get under my skin. Did I give him shit when he broke up and the whole world ended? No. I was there as his friend. I’m glad he thinks it’s so funny that I’m going through something I’ve never dealt with before.
Someone catches my attention from across the room. A curvy blonde is taking off her jacket by the door, and I can’t help dipping my gaze down to check out her ass.
Killer.
If she looks that good from behind, I can make it work. She wouldn’t be the first woman I preferred to take doggy-style because that showed off her best assets. Some women might think that makes me a pig, but I’m always upfront that all I’m looking for is sex. That’s what tonight’s about too, right? The sort of fucking that will push aside any lingering attraction I have for Jane.
Which means a blonde is best since I don’t think I can be with a brunette right now and not think of Jane. Of how I want to have her on her knees in front of me, my hand tangled in her hair as she takes me in her mouth. Her hair spread out on my pillow as I move above her. Those wide gray eyes glazed with pleasure...fuck.
Tyler’s right. I need to get laid.
I turn my attention back to the blonde just as she turns around. I’m already psyching myself up to go over to her when I realize that I know those eyes, and that smile, and every inch of her paid-for curves.
Trinity. And she’s coming my way.
I should turn away from her, make it clear that I’m not checking her out. I should make sure Tyler keeps his mouth shut about why we’re here, because as much as he dislikes Trinity, with as many shots as he’s been knocking back, he might think it’s a good idea to mention my recent women troubles.
Trinity will bring me nothing but grief. I know this as much as I know that pretty much anyone I hook up with tonight is going to pale in comparison to Jane. Which means no one is going to be exactly what I’m looking for, and it’ll only be for tonight. We’ll go to a hotel, fuck, and then I’ll leave as soon as we’re done. I’ll tell whoever I’m with that she can stay the night, then take off before she can ask any questions. That won’t work with Trinity since she knows where I live. And she might come into things expecting us to go back to the way we were.
But isn’t there something to be said for the devil we know? At least I know what I’m getting myself into with that one. I can make sure I’m clear about this only being a random hook-up, a one-time thing, and if she doesn’t accept that, I’ll walk away. And if she says she accepts it, then changes her mind, that’s on her, not me. Whatever little scenario her mind may cook up is her responsibility, not mine.
So why is this a bad idea?
Hell, it might even be kismet, her being here tonight. And who am I to say no to fate?