“Natasha, shut up, or I’ll post daily reports about everything you fuck up at work.” Lincoln turned to me, voice clipped. “Nina, date’s over. I’m taking you home.”
I was out of patience and fucks to give. I opened my mouth, but Diego cut me off, voice effortlessly light. “Sorry, man. That’s my job tonight. She’s my date, I see her home safely. A rule of mine.” His hand never left me, his touch steady, grounding.
Lincoln’s gaze landed where Diego’s hand rested on me, his expression darkening. He shifted forward a step. “Then I’ll ride with you. Just to make sure she’s safe.”
Diego didn’t even dignify him with a look. Instead, he bent close, brushing his lips near my ear, and murmured, “¿Quieres que venga con nosotros?”Do you want him to come with us?
I shook my head, my answer loud for Lincoln to hear. “No.”
The words landed heavily in the silence. Lincoln stilled, his face caught between hurt and humiliation, with a wince was so pronounced, you’d think I punched him.
“Sorry, man,” Diego said. “Date isn’t over quite yet.”
Lincoln nodded once, sharp and small, as if conceding to both of us.
Diego squeezed my side lightly, guiding me past Lincoln without another word. Goosebumps prickled my skin as the tension thickened around us. Carmen was right: nasty redheads kept him company. I had insurance for the next three months, clients were coming, and I had this man holding my waist. Things were looking up, no matter what Lincoln did with Natasha after we left.
We walked in silence for a few minutes, through winding, lively streets. Different music styles from reggaeton, rock, and other latin rhythms gave soundtrack to our steps.
Diego did one of those manly handshakes plus shoulder bump with the bouncer at the place we went next. He ordered drinks and found us a private dark corner. The music was much louder this time.
“You’ve been quiet,” Diego said. “He’s not getting in here. Preppy guy in a pink button-down shirt? David will send him elsewhere. I told him to.”
I arched my brow. “Are you against men wearing pink?” I teased, eager to go back to the relaxed conversation we were having earlier.
Diego chuckled, the movement causing strands of hair to fall from behind his ears and brush his cheeks. “Not at all, pink and purple do wonders for my skin tone.”
I laughed.
“So…,” Diego said. “Now that we’ve gotten a glance at the clusterfuck that’s your love life?—”
“That guy has nothing to do with my love life.”
Diego tilted his head to the side. “You tell yourself that, amiga, but I’m a guy, he was about to burst an aneurysm thinking I was taking you home.”
“Maybe that’ll help him remember why he hates me since I don’t have a fucking clue.” Diego looked confused but didn’t push for an explanation.
He let out a long exhale. “I gotta tell you something.” This guy was going to let me down gently, but rejection was coming. “No, it’s not that. Believe me, you’re amazing, and I’d like nothing more than to ask you on another date and, eventually, more.”
His face hadbutwritten all over it.
“But I’m in love with someone else. I think. Maybe not love, but close.”
My eyes widened.
“Carmen doesn’t know, maybe she does. I swear she’s psychic or something.” Diego rushed his explanation. “But that doesn’t matter. We can’t be more than friends while I’m hung up on someone else.” He laughed, dark and self-deprecating, and dragged his fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands, until his half bun came undone, brown curls curtaining his eyes. “It’s a shame because I actually think we’d have made a great match.” He smiled again, that open, honest smile he had at the restaurant.
I found myself feeling relieved. I exhaled and grabbed his hand. Throughout the night, none of his touches had been sexual, he’d just been… candid.
“I guess you don’t choose who you love, huh?”
He nodded and winked. “Right back at ya.”
“I don’t love Lincoln,” I countered.
He let us stew in that silence, then added, “Maybe I don’t love Val. But I’ve fucked up with her and need a friend.”
I nodded. After a minute, I tilted my head toward the dance floor, and he took no time in leading me to dance the night away.
