I came back into the house with Gizmo trailing behind. “Then, we’ll meet here for dinner tonight?”
It wasn’t really a question. Things had changed in our relationship last night. I wasn’t sure if it was because we’d finally moved forward physically or because I had accepted that I was going to stay in La Playa no matter what. Either way, we weren’t dating casually anymore.
“I can grab a pizza or something,” he suggested.
“Mama Tammy was right, you don’t cook anything, do you?”
“Nope.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Let’s go to Tiny’s then. Dominic and I can meet you at six-thirty.”
“It’s a date,” he said, kissing my lips before heading upstairs to finish getting dressed.
I pushed all thoughts of Talia out of my mind as I poured a cup of coffee into my travel mug. Instead, I thought about Jeff. Hearing from him last night was a shock, and his threats were causing lingering anxiety, but I couldn’t live in fear any longer. He might have money and resources, but he was only human.
I had to abandon thoughts of him as some kind of boogie monster. That was giving him too much credit.
Twenty-One
Trainer
“Are you whistling?” Swole asked as she came into the garage where I was working on my bike. It was almost due for a tune-up, and I liked to stay on top of that. It was basic motorcycle maintenance.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said without looking up at her. I just hoped that she didn’t recognize what I had been whistling.
“Wasn’t that something from a video game? Mario, maybe?”
Yes, it was. The Bowser’s castle music was stuck in my head all morning.
“It’s Dominic’s favorite video game,” I said. “And he’s really good at it.”
“Typical seven-year-old.”
“He’s almost eight, actually,” I told her. “Next month. Erica wants to have a party.”
Swole stopped on the other side of my bike and looked down at me with a bemused expression.
“What?” I asked snippily.
“You, that’s what. You’re crazy about those two.”
Yeah, I was. But it didn’t exactly feel manly to admit it. I’d catch shit from the single guys in the club if they caught me swooning like this.
“Why are you here?” I asked, not even trying to pretend I wasn’t changing the subject.
“I brought my bike. I’m noticing a squeak in the front brake. It seems to be working fine, but the sound can’t be a good thing.”
“No, probably not.”
Swole was one of the few members that didn’t work on her bike. She’d change the oil, or something else that was basic, but anything else was handled by me or Ryder. Standing from my crouched position beside the bike, I walked over and grabbed a couple of beers from the mini-fridge. Popping the tops off, I handed one to Swole.
“I’ll take a look. Might not get to it, until tomorrow though. I’ve got plans this evening.”
“Hot date?” Swole smirked.
“Why are you giving me a hard time?” I asked, exasperated.
“I’m not, asshole.” Swole rolled her eyes at me. “I like Erica. You’re a good match.”
