“Like Mindy?” I widened my eyes at him. Mindy had been his idea, histerribleidea I’d only gone along with because of the way things had played out.
“Okay, not Mindy. How about your new neighbor?” He laughed just like he had when I’d told him the story and given him the full rundown of my weekend.
Then he’d come by to see me the previous day and had gotten a visual of Miss Mouth for himself.
“Right, of course.”
“The woman is hot.”
“Like I didn’t notice.” I frowned.
“I didn’t realize you planned on being celibate.” He smirked and straightened up.
“Asshole.” I smirked at him.
“I’m actually being serious. You need to…get laid.” He nodded with conviction, as if that was really the answer.
“I don’t need to get laid.”
“Okay, when was the last time you got some, Ryan?” A wicked smile lit up his face.
Aaron thought he had me all figured out, but he didn’t.
“Three months ago.”
He looked like he didn’t believe me. “Really? Who with, yourself?”
I narrowed my gaze. He could be such a jerk sometimes. “No.”
I was going to make him wait for an answer.
“Who was it? Come on.”
“Nah. Why do you need to know?”
“’Cause I’m your friend and you should tell me these things so I don’t worry.”
I had to laugh. Really, though, it wasn’t funny. I’d had a one-night stand with a woman I met in a bar uptown. I was having one of those days when I’d had enough. It was at the height of my problems with Aria. Suddenly the old me had come rushing back, and I’d gotten with the easiest lay who’d had her eye on me from the minute I stepped into the bar.
I had been like that before I met Olivia, and I’d gone off the rails when she died. I wasn’t going to commit to living like a priest or anything, but I didn’t think random hookups were a good way for me to live. It set a bad example for Aria, particularly now that she’d jumped on the comparison train.
I stood up, deciding it was time to grab lunch. With the window open, the aroma from the deli called to me. I would have to trek into town because Mindy would be there and I doubted she’d forget her encounter with Aria any time soon.
“You’re seriously not going to tell me?” Aaron winced.
I shook my head and pulled my jacket on.
“If you’re not interested in your neighbor, can I hit on her? Did you see the body on that woman?”
I didn’t answer. Best not to. It wasn’t my call.
I’d seen her, admired from afar, and that was all I’d be doing. I’d keep my distance, staying far away from her and the famous boyfriend.
It would have been easier to keep my distance if she hadn’t come crashing into me as I reached for a jar of olives in the world foods section at the supermarket.
I actually had to catch her and steady her so she wouldn’t fall over.
She’d come at me backward, dropping her bag and a pineapple. Miss Mouth went to say thanks but stopped midsentence when she saw it was me.
