2005
“AHHHH HA!” I said as I leapt out of my sister’s closet where my Rolling Stones T-shirt hung. My sister looked over at me with guilty eyes.
“Neil likes them.”
“Half of the population of the globe likes them, get your own.” I threw on the shirt and grabbed the plate from the counter.
“So, you want to tell me why you’re bringing him breakfast?”
“Because mother taught us not to waste food?”
Paige rolled her eyes. “Yesterday you hated him.”
“Today I’m feeding him. I’ll be right back.”
Her complex was huge, made up of at least a dozen buildings, and Reid’s door was way too far to deliver a hot plate with a healthy dose of freshly cooked eggs, diced potatoes, and peppers. Even in the early morning sun, I regretted wearing a black shirt
It took me three excruciating minutes of knocking to get him to open the door. When he did, my breath was stolen by the mussed-up version of Reid Crowne.
Fuck me.
It was the second time I’d seen him in his boxer briefs. It was the first time I wanted to rid him of them. Reid eyed the plate and then my ruby-red-lipped-tongue-out Stones T-shirt, which was ironic because at that moment that tongue represented my state of mind. I was drooling like a horny teenager.
No, Stella, no.
“Good morning,” I chimed as I ducked under his arm and made my way into his kitchen. “Today we are serving eggs and papas.”
“Stella, you’ve gotta go.”
“Rude much? I cooked for half an hour to provide you this ass-kissing breakfast.”
Reid crossed his arms. “It’s appreciated, really, but I’m not alone.”
I felt the sharp nudge in my chest and ignored it. I wasn’t interested in Reid Crowne, only what he could do for me.
Liar.
“Is she showering you off?” I asked while I listened for running water.
“Does it matter? Out.” He moved toward the door. I lapped him and stood in front of it.
“Okay, so, I need you to let me start hanging with you. I need you to show me around a little, introduce me to club owners when you do gigs, okay? I’ll return the favor with favors.”
Reid opened the door behind me, and I slammed it shut with my blue-jean-short-clad ass.
His nostrils flared. “This isn’t cute. I don’t want her to see you.”
“I’ll leave in fifteen seconds. Just say yes.”
“No,” he said as he gripped my arm and pulled me close so he could open the door. With our breath mixing and his fingers on my skin, I saw a flash in his eyes. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Reid, who’s here?”
I peeked over to see the girl from the picture next to his mattress in the flesh. Except this girl had a fresh, jagged scar across her forehead.
“Hi, I’m Stella.” I waved awkwardly. “I was just bringing the man some breakfast. Paige’s orders.”
“I’m Lia, and you’re the little sister.”
I was beginning to hate the title. But what little sister didn’t?
“That’s me.”
“Reid, unhand her and get the hell out of the way.” He let me go, and I walked into the kitchen to get a better view. She was in one of his T-shirts, and I had no doubt she was missing underwear, but she was well covered.
Her long, blonde hair was slicked back and wet, and she didn’t have a stitch of makeup on. But her big blue eyes were startling and her coloring was perfect. She was the quintessential blonde but had a sort of edge to her beauty. Beautiful in her simplicity with sharper features, bigger eyes. Long, dark eyelashes fluttered over her cheeks as she unearthed my offering and grabbed a fork from the drawer next to Reid’s stove.
In a split second, I didn’t want to know her, and I didn’t want her eating Reid’s eggs. I didn’t want her in his apartment. And I didn’t want to think about why.
“Yum,” she complimented. “Thank God, I’m starving.” She gave me a sincere smile and then motioned me forward as if I were on trial. “So, tell me about you.”
I shrugged. “Nothing to tell. I’m going to UT this fall for journalism. I just started at The Plate Bar with this guy.” Reid stood in the hall, completely clueless as to how to navigate two women gabbing in his kitchen. He made his exit to his bedroom and left us to it.
“The Plate Bar,” she chuckled. “Is that what it means?”
“Yeah,” I said, forcing a fake smile. I felt my resolve to befriend Reid wilt as I watched her.
“Wow, what a bunch of dumbasses,” she mumbled around a mouthful. “So, what will you write about?”
“Music. That food is kind of a bribe to get Reid to take me around and introduce me to people.”
He appeared a second later, dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt. His eyes found mine. “Going to take more than eggs for me to babysit.”
Lia rolled her eyes. “Stop being such an ass. What could it hurt to show her around a little? You know everyone in this city.”
“I’m kind of a pain in the ass,” I admitted with a grin in Reid’s direction. He returned my smile, and for the second time since I met him, it reached his eyes. “No arguing that.”
Lia looked between us with a smile that slowly faded. I saw her neck redden, and then her hesitance right before she took another hearty bite of Reid’s breakfast.
Why was she there? And why would he let her in? Didn’t she hurt him? My sister said she’d left him high and dry. It became apparent she had been in the accident with him. I could see it in his eyes as he looked at her, and feel the guilt when his eyes stopped at the pink scar on her forehead. In that moment, I felt like I was intruding. And in the next moment, I felt nauseated. My chest burned at the thought of him touching her, kissing her.
“I’m going to go.”
“You stay,” she said carefully as she pushed the plate away from her. “I’ll go. Nice meeting you, and thanks for breakfast.
“You’re welcome.”
Reid furrowed his brows as she gathered her clothes at the foot of the mattress and walked into his bedroom before slamming the door.
Reid’s eyes found mine and he let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry. I’ll just go. I didn’t mean to do, whatever . . . I did.”
Without a word, he followed her and shut the door behind him.
Paralyzed and uncomfortable by the drastic turn of events, I heard the start of a heated exchange quickly escalate.
“What am I doing here?” Lia yelled as I made quick work of covering the plate and putting it in his empty fridge. I didn’t hear Reid’s response and didn’t understand why she was upset. But a second later, she made it abundantly clear.
“Got a thing for Paige’s sister, asshole? So, again, why did you call me?”
I heard the sharp edge to his voice, but he kept his response low.
“I saw it, Reid. I saw the way you just looked at her. And you fucked me last night like you hated me! I’m not an idiot!”
Chest pounding with the drama unfolding, I slowed my footsteps and strained to hear his words.
But it was Lia’s voice that echoed through the empty apartment. “I’m ridiculous? You’re ridiculous! We’ve been doing this for four years! This relationship is a circus. I was an idiot to think you had some grand epiphany. I told you not to call me until you were serious. So now what am I? I’m a fucking booty call? A piece of ass to take the edge off? I won’t let you reduce me to that.”
I heard more mumbling as my heart began to pound. Something inside me began to hope there was truth in her words. Four years? She knew him well enough. I tiptoed to the front door, hoping for more, and was rewarded just as I opened it.
“I’m done. Completely done with you.”
The bedroom door opened as I pulled the front door shut. I raced down the steps and hid behind the side of the building just as Lia came out, guns blazing.
“Would you stop!” I finally heard Reid say evenly as he tried to reason with her. “I don’t have a hard-on for Stella.”
“You can’t lie to me. And you know this isn’t about her. Just . . . ” She paused at the bottom step and turned to face him. “I really loved you, you know. We went wrong somewhere, but we have to let go. No more back and forth. I can’t be your comfort anymore, Reid.”
He moved to meet her on the bottom step. His hand went to her face as he leaned over and whispered to her. Lia gasped and hung her head. “Right here. Let’s end it right here before I start to really hate you.”
I couldn’t see her tears, but I knew they were there.
“I can’t believe this is it,” she choked out. “But it has to be.”
I genuinely felt for her in that moment. Selfishly, though, I hoped she meant every word she was saying.
Damn Reid and his whispers. He spoke rapidly as she nodded before she threw her arms around him and held onto him tightly. They stood there for a minute, maybe two, before she fled to her car. Reid watched her pull away before he slowly climbed the steps and disappeared back into his apartment.