I chuckled, picking up a pair of football pants I was working on. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing he didn’t have coming.”
“Ben, he just called me in a rage. He thinks it was me.”
“Give me his number. I’ll set his ass straight,” Mikey fumed. “He doesn’t get to talk to you like that, Jessie.”
“Well, he did, so he thinks he does.”
“He’s lucky I’m not in town right now,” he said through clearly gritted teeth.
I sighed. “Mikey, leave him alone. I appreciate you sticking up for me, and yes, it’s funny. But let me handle him, okay?”
He huffed. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
“It is. How’s... where are you today?”
“Tampa. It’d be more fun if I had my fun roomie with me.”
I couldn’t help but grin when he did shit like that. I never imagined I’d be friends with someone who was so all over theplace: sweet as honey, big bear protective, but also with big soft emotions. “What would we do together if I was there?”
“Go to the beach, of course,” he said without hesitation. “I’d make you play beach volleyball and get popsicles from a popsicle guy and drink beach beers.”
“You know we live by the beach, right?” I said, tucking my phone to my shoulder so I could get back to work while talking.
“Then I guess we’ll have to go when I come home, huh?”
My smile leaked into my response as my stomach fluttered. This was bad. I hated how smitten I was with his attention and affection. The flutter turned to a nauseating churn when I remembered the guest appearance I’d had the night before. “Maybe. Um, someone came by for you last night, by the way.”
“Oh, God. Was it Hannah?”
I furrowed my brow. “How did you know?”
He sighed. “Not her first rodeo. She shows up every now and then when she decides she’ll try to bag me again.”
“How does she get in?”
“Honestly, I think she shows the security guard her tits. She wouldn’t be above it. She’s not well, Jess. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
“I, uh, told her I was your girlfriend. Hope that’s okay.”
He chuckled. “No, it’s perfect. Thank you. Maybe she’ll finally go away.”
“So I didn’t ruin your shot of getting back together with her?”
“Absolutely not. I was never with her to begin with. I blocked her number a long time ago. I’m really sorry she showed up. You should have called me.”
“It was late. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Always bother me, hon. I don’t want anyone making you feel uncomfortable in your own home. I’ll talk to the building management when I get home. She can’t keep getting in like that.” My heart warmed a little at that. “I hate to do this after all that,but I wanted to ask you a favor. Since you’re the best girlfriend ever.”
“Oh, God, what?”
“I’ve got this benefit thing on Friday when I get back. Since you don’t have to work the next day, would you be my date?”
I pricked myself with a needle on the garment I was sewing. “Date?”
“Yeah. You know. Dancing. Drinking. Merriment. Hors d’oeuvres. Handshaking and shit. Kitty’ll be there, if that helps.”
