“Eager much?” Rhodes mutters.
“You would be, too, if you were in my shoes.”
“You starting something with her?” he asks in a low voice, following everyone to the elevator.
According to her? No.
According to me? It started from the beginning.
I shrug and shove my phone farther into my pocket.
After saying bye and getting a verbal reminder of what time to be on the bus in the morning, everyone but Rhodes disappears in the other direction.
I stop in front of my door to let him pass. “Later,” I say.
“Make sure to get some rest…” he calls over his shoulder.
I furrow my brow. Since when is he concerned about my rest?
He rounds the corner, and his voice echoes down the hall. “You know…in between beating your dick off to those texts.”
“No promises,” I call out jokingly.
But it’s not really a joke at all, now that I think about it.
Thirty-Six
REESE
Daisy
A good friend would probably tell you to listen to your instincts, but I’m going to have to disagree with your instincts on this one. Keep texting him.
Me
My instincts are never wrong.
Daisy
Fine. Say you’re right and this ends badly. You and Char can just live with me.
I roll my eyes. I’d never bombard a friend like that—not with all the baggage I have.
Daisy
Seriously, though. Might as well have some fun while you’re playing make-believe, right? Knowing Malaki, he’s probably trying to actually convince you to marry him.
I laugh.
She’s right, even though I know he’s kidding.
He has to be.
I’m a jobless, college-dropout, single mother with an obsessive ex.
Another text comes in right after Daisy’s, and I already know it’s Malaki without looking.
Malaki
