He turned back and resumed staring at the ocean, not even offering me a cup of coffee before he booted me to the curb.
Feeling fifty pounds heavier as I trudged up the stairs, I went back up to the bedroom and got myself dressed. I, at least, needed a pit stop in the bathroom before he kicked me out, and when I caught what I looked like in the mirror, I winced. My hair screamedjust fucked, mascara was smeared under both eyes, and don’t even get me started on the foul taste in my mouth. I did the best I could to wash up, smoothed down the chaos of my hair, and rummaged through the medicine cabinet to find toothpaste to use with my finger. A lone brown prescription pill bottle sat on the bottom shelf with a few shaving supplies. I tried to shut the door and ignore it, but I failed and instead reached in and turned the plastic enough to see the information on the label. Temazepam.Huh.I only knew it was to treat insomnia because it was one of the drugs the doctor had offered to prescribe for me when I’d had trouble sleeping after everything happened in college.
I returned downstairs and searched around for my purse. Jagger was still in the same spot, but when he heard the zipper on my bag, he turned and got up. I didn’t wanthim to see the hurt on my face and wasn’t sure I could hide it, so I buried my face in my phone as he came up to me.
“I’m just checking my messages to see if anyone has noticed I’m MIA at the house, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
He didn’t respond, so I kept scrolling. I had a million messages from Miles but none from Mom or Edmund, so maybe I’d be lucky and they’d both slept in. As per usual, my mother wouldn’t likely see the light of day until early afternoon, but Edmund was usually an early bird. I tossed the phone back into my bag and continued avoiding eye contact. “Looks like I might be in the clear. Or at least they haven’t called a search party for me as of yet.”
I chanced a glance up and found Jagger staring at me. Still he said nothing, and it made me feel awkward. “So, uh…I guess I’ll see you at work next week?”
He nodded.
I walked to the door, trying to ignore the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t had many sexual interactions with men who weren’t my boyfriend—oranyfor that matter. Maybe this was the norm. Maybe this was the aftermath of a hook-up. But when Jagger still didn’t speak as I opened the door and stepped outside, I couldn’t help myself.
“Did I do something wrong?” I huffed. “Should I not have fallen asleep here last night?”
Jagger shut his eyes and shook his head. “I’m just busy, and my mind has been elsewhere with work all morning.”
I would’ve bet my last breath that he was full of shit, yet I let him have his lie and forced a smile. “Try to enjoy some of the nice day between all that work.”
Jagger pushed his hands into his pockets and watched me walk to the car. I unlocked it and started to fold in, butthen I remembered the pill bottle in the medicine cabinet and stopped. “By the way,” I yelled. “How did you sleep last night?”
Even from fifty feet away I could see the wheels in his head turning. “Solid,” he eventually said. “And you?”
“Good.” I smiled. “I’m glad.”
***
I parked in front of Edmund’s house, rather than pulling into the driveway, so the noisy gravel didn’t announce my arrival. The front door was unlocked—the way I’d left it last night—and I hoped that was a sign that no one was up yet. Gently pulling the door shut, I thought I might be in the clear. Until I found Brendan and Colette sitting on the couch.
I jumped, and my hand flew up to cover my heart. “God, you scared the shit out of me.”
“We wouldn’t have if you weren’t sneaking around.” My stepsister grinned. She popped up from the couch and walked over, hooking her arm with mine. “You dirty rotten stay-out. Tell me all the details.”
Meanwhile, Brendan glared at me. “Where have you been?”
Seriously?My lips twisted in disgust. “None of your business.”
He frowned. “You could at least be courteous and let the people you’re with know you aren’t coming back so they don’t worry.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sorry,Dad.”
Colette waved him off. “Ignore him. He’s just cranky because my dad’s snoring kept him up. But I want all the details. Did you hook up with Jagger? You never cameback after driving him home. That house he lives in is the most expensive real estate property in all of Montauk.”
I wanted so badly to look at Brendan and say, “Yep, the very rich, very gorgeous,very well-hungman fucked my brains out, and, oh by the way, his dick is twice the size of yours.” But I didn’t want to compromise Edmund’s relationship with the boss. So instead, I shook my head.
“A friend from work invited me to go out in the Hamptons at the last minute. It was late by the time we got in, so I crashed on her couch.”
Brendan’s eyes narrowed. “Her? Edmund said all the other interns are men.”
“I didn’t say it was an intern.” I shook my head. “And why am I answering you? I can do whatever I want.”
Colette grinned. “I hopewhatever you wantwas hot.”
Shouldn’t these newlyweds still be in bed?I looked over her shoulder at the hall that led to the bedrooms. “Is anyone else up? Edmund or my mom? Patrice?”
Colette shook her head. “Your secret is safe with us.”
