Okay, stop procrastinating.
I took a deep breath and exited the bathroom, marching directly into my office and gently closing the door behind me. Hopefully, Adina wouldn’t notice.
Since I had no information about my brother’s living situation, Luke was my best option for finding him. My ex returned my unanswered call from yesterday about an hour ago, while I was on a conference call with the board. I’d been working up the courage to call him back ever since.
If Ben didn’t have a stellar excuse for ghosting me, when I found that boy, he’d wish he did.
I perched on my chair and dialed the guy I’d been dodging for months.
Luke answered on the second ring. “Hey, babe. Long time no hear.”
He and I hadn’t been at the pet name stage since high school, but I didn’t correct him. “Luke. Thank you for returning my call.” Even though I hadn’t left a message. I mentally danced around that creepy thought, hoping a little gratitude might start this conversation on the right foot.
“Yeah. Saw you called, so figured I’d see what’s up.” He clicked his tongue, and there was a teasing note in his tone when he added, “Wait. Don’t tell me; let me guess. You couldn’t stay away from this dick.”
The way it had taken my ex all of five seconds to bring our conversation around to his anatomy spoke volumes about my taste in men. My eyes about rolled out of my head as I mentally berated myself for believing he could have grown up in the years we’d been apart. Luke had reappeared at a stressful time in my life, promising Ben a job and saving the day. His kindness had struck me with temporary amnesia, making me forget that slimeball narcissism was in his DNA. I’d lost my mind and spread my legs for him. Again.
I’m such an idiot.
I shook my head, determined to end the negative self-talk before it could spiral out of control. Sure, I’d been a moron in the past, but I’d learned from my mistakes and would make better decisions in the future. Progress.
“Text me your address and I’ll pick you up Friday at seven,” Luke said.
Whoa. This call had gone way off the rails. “For what?”
“Dinner? Drinks? Hell, we can even catch a movie if you want.”
“As I told you before, I don’t date anymore.”
“This a booty call, then?” Amusement danced in his tone as his voice dipped suggestively when he continued. “Just down to fuck, huh? Because we both know you like to do that.”
This dipshit had cheated on me in high school. I’d broken things off, but Luke had always been able to lure me back into bed.
Why?
The answer would likely require more time in therapy than I had to spend, but the bottom line was that he had a great smile and red flags that turned me into a Spanish fighting bull. Without a thought in my brain, I dropped my standards and charged. Regardless, Luke’s dick had never been worth the drama, and I would forever kick myself for taking so long to realize that.
“No,” I said, simply. “We’re not going there again.”
“Won’t be the first time you’ve denied me only to change your mind, but sure, I’ll play along. Tell me, Mercy, if you’re not lookin’ to hook up, why the hell are you calling?” When I didn’t immediately answer, he let out a sigh. “Oh. I get it. You want something, don’t you?”
And now I felt like a dick, exactly as he intended. “Just information.”
“Who am I, your personal search engine?” Luke snapped, his tone so full of disapproval, I could almost see him shaking his head. “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. You’re tryin’ to use me like Google. And after all I’ve done for you.”
Rather than reminding him of our sordid history, I stuck to the here and now. “I’m not having sex with you.”
“We’ll see. But if you want information, the least you can do is meet up with me for a drink.”
“But it’s just about?—”
“I don’t care. A drink or nothing.”
I wanted to bash my head against my desk. Mediocre sex had been one thing, but there was an extensive list of forms of torture I’d prefer over talking to Luke. The guy could charm a nun out of her habit.
“It’s common decency,” Luke added.
Ben was missing. I had no choice. “Where and when?”
