Page 119 of Nothing to Tell

“DAMON THE DICKWAD.”Ah, trust Roxie to get right to the point.“You should kick his ass.No, I’m sending Ballard to kick his ass.That’s what he’s paid for, kicking ass.”

Working in Bastian’s house was easy.In anticipation of her needs, he’d had an office set up for her.It wasn’t there in the morning and then just was when she got home on Tuesday afternoon.Just like that.Poof.It materialized from nowhere in an invisible plume of imaginary smoke.There was no telling the room had once been a bedroom.In a few short hours, it had been completely transformed, decorated and everything, given renewed purpose.If only it was that straightforward for humans.

Yes, it was Saturday, but she should be working.This was a quick break.A short one.Except… this was Roxie.Ignoring a call from Roxie just wasn’t possible.Neither was cutting any conversation short.That was okay, she’d go with it, they had some catching up to do.

“Thank you, but it’s okay.This week has been… It’s strangely invigorating to change everything about your routine.”

Roxie laughed.“Are you hyperventilating?”

“Only three or four times a day.”

“That’s an improvement.”

“It helps to hold onto a constant.”Which right then was Bastian.“How’s your sanity?”

“On a different continent.He’s fine, we make it work,” Roxie said.“No skipping the important stuff, what gave Dickwad Damon the right to kiss you?”

“He didn’t make contact.”Not for lack of trying.“He just threw himself on me.”

“Without finesse, like it was a done deal?Would that have made a difference?”

Her friend’s flat tone betrayed the obvious answer.

“No.God, no.How could he even think…?It’s just wrong.It’s disgusting.I feel violated and he didn’t even make contact.”

“Men like that believe they’re God’s gift.Guarantee he doesn’t even see what he did wrong.As soon as you uttered a word to him, he assumed all was forgiven and you wanted him again.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I don’t think my mom believes me.”

“That there was nothing going on between you and Damon?”

“My dad appeared in my office first thing Monday.He actually came to the ground floor to talk to me.”

“To check you were okay?That’s something.He cares.”

“To let me know it would be okay if me and Damon got back together.”

“What a treat.”Sarcasm alert.“Just what you needed, his blessing.”

“It gets better.He said it’s okay for me to get back with Damon, providing Bastian isn’t still an option.Bastian would be a good fit for the family and whatever I could do…”

“Oh, wow.”

“Right?”

“Did you tell your dad Bastian is an option?”

“No,” she said, pushing back in her plush leather chair, rocking side to side.“Bastian’s not an option.Not like that.”

“Please, the guy took care of you, towed you home, gave you safety.And he’s a good lay.You said he was a good lay.”

“Before,” she said, licking her lips.“Not now.It’s not like that this time.This time is purely platonic.”

“Are you sharing a room?”

“No.”