“I’ll go when I’m good and ready!”
He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “If you love her at all, you’ll get out of Amber Ridge and give her the space she needs.”
“You can’t—”
“Ican. Apologize to her, then go.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond, just got up and returned to his booth, hoping like hell she did as he said.
CHAPTER 14
“You slept together?”
Aspen huffed as she coated her toenail in pink polish. “Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?”
Aspen eyed the phone on the coffee table. Her best friend was on speaker, but they still had to compete with the rain outside to hear each other. “Like we did more than just sleep. We didn’t. He carried me to bed. I was half asleep and feeling sorry for myself, so I asked him to stay. And he did.”
“Of course he did. When a beautiful woman asks a red-blooded male to sleep in her bed, he’s not going to say no.”
“He’s been torturing me ever since.” A week had passed since that morning. An entire week of torture. “Three times, I’ve caught him walking around shirtless, his perfect washboard abs out for the world to see. And yes, before you say it, I know this is his house, but I just feel like shouting at him to cover up his glorious body.”
Callie laughed as if she was joking…she wasn’t.
“Where is he tonight?” Callie asked.
Aspen’s gaze went to the window. It was dark and wet. “Working. I just hope he doesn’t get home too late. The storm’s expected to be bad.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m warm and dry. But unfortunately, it had already started raining when I realized I don’t have food.”
“Jesse wouldn’t have left you at home in a storm without food or a car.”
No, he wouldn’t. Her gaze shifted to the note he’d left on the counter…the one about the pasta he’d said she was welcome to help herself to in the fridge. “I don’t want to eat his food.”
“Why not?”
“He already gives me cheap rent.” Like dirt cheap. She’d actually fought him on the amount, but he’d refused to accept more. “I can’t eat his food too.”
“So you’re just going to not eat?”
“Of course not. It’s Cheap Tuesday at Burt’s Pizzeria. I ordered a pepperoni.” She finished her little toe and capped the bottle of nail polish.
“Wait, aren’t the pizzas there supposed to be really bad?”
“Reallybad. I’m intrigued and kind of excited to try it.”
“You’re such a weirdo.” Callie sighed. “I miss you so much.”
Aspen lifted the phone and leaned back on the couch. “I miss you too. How’s the morning sickness?”
“It’s awful. Lock made this curry the other night, which I usuallylove, but the second I stepped into the house, I got sick just by the smell of it. He’d spent so much time making it, but the second I reappeared, it was gone, the windows were open, and there was a takeout menu on the counter.”
Aspen cringed. “I’m sorry. But on the bright side, you’ve got yourself a good man.”
“The best.” There was a small pause. “Are you doing okay with your mom there?”
