“I’ll even cover the relocation fees. How about we start with six months, then see how you feel about the arrangement?”
She pulls out her phone and starts typing. “What are you doing?” Keri asks. She and Heaven lean over to look at Latoya’s phone.
“Telling my current job to kiss my ass.”
* * *
My hand lingeredon Heaven after I kissed her goodbye. She’s grinning at me, but her eyes are a tender plea to relax. My nod is slight, but I steal another kiss before waving them off and locking the door. I set the alarm in the ‘stay-home’ mode and survey the open floor plan with my hand on my hips. I get it. I’m in a new state and new house with Allie locked up. In my defense, this is the first time I’ve been alone since. I’m still adjusting.
It’s not just a concern for my safety. Heaven did her best not to roll her eyes when I gave the girls a pre-night out safety and alcohol lecture. Alcohol isn't the thing that helped Allie tie me up, but it also has a sense-numbing effect. I don’t fool with it anymore.
“What?” Tennessee answers. He’s shirtless and sporting a half frown. That means Tini, his wife, must be near. He blows out some smoke.
“Smoking is bad for your health,” I say out of reflex.
“So is not minding your business. Why did you call?”
“I’m home alone for the first time,” I start.
“Good for you.” His tone is not congratulatory.
“I feel antsy, and I don’t like it.”
“So, stop feeling antsy.”
“What he means,” Tucker says as he sits next to Ten. He’s also missing his shirt. It throws me off since I know they’re business partners and share the practice, but this looks like more than normal interaction, “is don’t allow the feeling to control you. You control it. You are in a different situation and are in complete control of your environment. Trust it.”
Ten frowns at Tucker for expanding on his advice. “Who the fuck asked you?”
“The moment he signed that patient form, he became both of ours.”
“Don’t I share enough shit with you already? Fuck off.”
Tucker laughs but otherwise ignores Ten’s observation. “Are you ready to eat? I just finished making dinner.”
People rarely get a glimpse into their healthcare professionals’ homes or personal lives, but I feel bored housewife nosy.
“So you have a husband and a wife?”
Ten blows out more smoke while giving me his version of a side-eye. “Hell, no. He’s my wife’s husband.”
I open my mouth but close it again. I’m not sure it’s calculating properly in my head.What?
“Anyway, at some point, you have to accept that, that bitch is hospitalized where some not as qualified fuck will try to take a trip into her psyche. She’s not your problem anymore…”
I miss the last half of the statement because the woman he introduced as his wife is having one hell of a make-out session with Tucker in the background.
He wasn’t kidding.
“Axel, I’m charging you an hour for this, it’ll help if you pay attention.”
“Right. Sorry. Is that weed?” I watch Ten take another pull.
“I see you’re still not minding your business. This is what I want you to do…” Tini slides into his lap. He smiles at her, but his tone is firm. “I’m working.”
She glances at the screen but double-takes, then looks back at Ten. He rolls his eyes, and I smirk. We have similarities, but we don’t look that much alike.
“Guys,” she starts. “I was reading a book the other day about reverse Harems—”
