Don’t think about it.
Zach grunts and some of his tension eases. “You going to Odin’s tonight?”
I generally visit Odin’s, the bar Zach’s brother owns, for a couple of hours on a Saturday night before ending up at the Hammer to make sure none of the patrons ever forget who owns the place. Damn. Didn’t realize until now what a rut I’ve gotten into. Maybe I’ll shake things up and take Jas to the bar instead.
“Sure.” I shove the image aside. The only place I’m evertaking heris in her apartment. “You?”
He cracks a grin. “Yeah. With my old lady.”
…
Jasmine
I stare at Mom’s bedroom door. It’s the only room I haven’t been in yet. Stupid. It should’ve been the first room I cleared out, but I couldn’t screw up the nerve to confront the ghosts.
Not just of Mom. She’s everywhere I look.
Of Viper. When he strolled into the apartment as though he owned it and then dragged me inthere.
Of what happened in that room later that same night.
I exhale a measured breath and wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. The room needs to be stripped and, since I refused my dad’s offer to fly over with me so he could help with everything, it sure as hell won’t get done if I keep avoiding it.
The door swings open. No nebulous specter reaches for my throat, and dust motes dance in the shards of sunlight that spill between the half-closed drapes.
Such a sad, faded room. Or maybe it’s just me seeing it through jaded eyes. Mom always seemed happy enough with her choices. I square my shoulders and march in, refusing to hear the echoes of the past that try and claim me.
…
It’s gone eleven, almost the same time Ty turned up last night. I take a deep breath to try and control the butterflies in my stomach, but it just makes me lightheaded. Honestly, it’s crazy to be so excited about seeing him again, but whatever. After the day I had, I’ve been looking forward to tonight far more than I should.
After hours gutting Mom’s room and hauling another dozen boxes that I need to sort through into the living room, I popped out and got some essentials. Mainly beer, although Ty seemed to enjoy the Chianti we had yesterday. Another essential I bought today was a sexy satin and lace babydoll in mistletoe green. A crazy extravagance, but I love the feel of it next to my skin, and I can’t wait to see his face when I drop my boring, ankle-length bathrobe. I’ve never bought myself expensive lingerie before, but I could definitely get used to it.
With anyone other than Ty?
My mood deflates, and I pour myself a second glass of wine. I’m not going to think about the end of the week, or the fact that after Friday I’ll never see him again. A week might not be long enough for me to get over him, but it’s long enough to bury the past for good, and that can only be a good thing. Even after just one night together the anger in him has faded. All I want is for us to say goodbye as friends this time around.
If I keep telling myself that, I might even start to believe it.
…
I wake with a start, the pain in my neck making it impossible to move for a few seconds. It’s dark, and I blink, frowning as I try and figure out why I’m curled up on the couch.
Alone.
I squint at my cell. Three a.m. Obviously, he decided to stand me up. It’s stupid to be hurt, but I am, and I grip my cell until my fingers ache, but it doesn’t ease the disappointment that he isn’t here, and I can’t even call him as I don’t have his number.
Right. And he doesn’t have mine, so if an emergency came up, there’s no way he could’ve contacted me. It’s perfectly reasonable and makes complete sense, and I don’t damn well believe it.
He just didn’t like the way I took the initiative this morning. I always used to defer to him, and he always loved being in charge. If this is his way of asserting his fucking male privilege, then he can shove it.
I suck in a deep breath.Calm the hell down.The main—the only—question is if he turns up here again, am I going to let him in or tell him to fuck off?
Even though I already know the answer, I pretend to think about the pros and cons. But who am I trying to impress? I’ll let him in. And I won’t let him know he managed to upset me. For God’s sake, it’s pathetic he still has the power to upset me, so I sure as hell won’t announce that fact.
We’re not dating, and if he’s spending the night with another woman, then it’s only what he virtually told me he’d do. I can handle it, and when we see each other again, I certainly won’t ask him what he was doing tonight.
Ifwe see each other again.
