“I’m good. Meant to ask you how that date went the last time we talked. You still seeing her?”
“No, it didn’t work out.”
“Ahh. Too bad. On to the next one.”
I chuckled. “Probably gonna wait until I’m fully healed.”
“They get those SOBs yet?”
“Yep, they’re going to do some quality time.” The police had swiftly made arrests, and with the entire attack on camera, they’d pled guilty to assault and a whole host of crimes.
“Why dontcha come down here and recuperate? They musta given you time off.”
“They did, but I don’t want to take it. Better to keep busy.”
Always sharp, Bill zeroed in on my words. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing. I just started, and I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot.”
“You’re a great lawyer. They’re lucky to have you.” Bill had always been my staunchest supporter.
“Thanks.” A text popped up from Weston, and my heart slammed. “I, uh, better get going. Lots of stuff to go through, like the mail and my fridge. I’ll talk to you soon.”
My palms were sweaty when I picked up the phone to read.
Couldn’t wait for me to come home to say good-bye at least? There are still some leftovers in the freezer.
I gnawed on my lip.
I had Christine and Omar help me. The food is for you. She gave me more.
The texting stopped after that, and I decided to do what I’d told Bill—go through two weeks’ worth of mail, which turned out to be mostly advertisements, catalogs, and some other junk. My fridge had plenty of lunch and dinner food but nothing for breakfast and no milk for coffee, so I placed a delivery order. I changed out of my suit and into shorts and a T-shirt, figuring I’d have a drink, sit out on the terrace, and watch the lights ofthe city come up. My apartment was small, but the view was killer—floor-to-ceiling windows brought the bridges and Statue of Liberty right to my face wherever I turned. It didn’t get any better than that.
The buzzer rang. “Brenner?”
My delivery must have come faster than usual. “Yeah, John. Let them up.”
“Oh, okay.”
I waited by the door and opened it at the softrap.
Weston stood in front of me.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
That cocky grin surfaced. “I ran out of parmesan.”
Chapter Sixteen
Weston
Had I made a mistake? Coming home to find the apartment empty and Brenner moved out, I’d blown up, cursing him for leaving. Eventually I’d stopped ranting, pulled my head out of my ass, and thought about it like a rational person. I’d acted like the spoiled, petulant brat he’d always accused me of being.
Brenner wasn’t some hookup I’d never see again or a mistake I’d made while drunk. I’d known exactly what I was doing when I’d sucked his dick. This was more than lust or desire. It was a feeling of rightness. I wanted him. Maybe the reason I’d pushed him away all those years ago was because I’d known this was who I was and hadn’t been ready or able to accept it.
Now I had to own up to this—to me. Brenner was a successful attorney, not a scrappy foster kid with something to prove. Nor was he someone I had to protect. The man was smart and quick and could handle himself. The truth hit me like a punch to the jaw: I wanted him with me. I liked having someone to sit and talk with after the workday was done. I missed our banter over dinner and his smartass comebacks. Once we’d stopped acting like dicks to each other, we’d discovered that a lot more brought us together than separated us. I walked through my apartment, and it felt empty…hollow.
And so did I.
