“You don’t have to apologize.” I let loose a hollow laugh. “You were raised in a world where you always knew where your next meal was coming from. I never went hungry, for the record.” For some reason, I needed him to know that. “It was just always a fear of mine.”
“You don’t have to explain why you feel the way you feel.” Frustration lined his features. “I’m being an idiot. it’s just … she’s going to give me an ulcer.”
A chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. “She can’t help herself. If she knew how upset she made you, she would try to adapt her behavior.”
“Try?”
“I don’t think she’s capable of not being who she is. When it’s a good trait, that’s not a bad thing. When it’s something like this, though…” I held out my hands and shrugged.
“Just don’t make eye contact with her. Maybe she’ll leave us alone,” he said.
He was dreaming, but I nodded all the same. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
WE MADE IT THROUGH DINNER BUT DIDN’Torder a second cocktail. Brody was desperate to leave. He suggested we find a different bar, but I was tired. It had been a long day. I was ready to go home—his home—and get comfortable. One of my favorite things to do was lie in his bed and share hilarious videos with him, shoulder to shoulder.
He paid, and for once, I didn’t argue. When it was time to make our escape, I hit the bathroom. He waited outside for me so Blair wouldn’t see him. When I left the bathroom, I found Blair in front of the hostess stand. She was between me and the exit.
Uh-oh.
“Hey!” I pasted a fake smile on my face. “I thought that was you across the restaurant. What a coincidence.”
“Yes, it was a surprise,” she agreed primly, bobbing her head. “You were with Brody.”
“Yes. We went on a tour to do some research and grabbed a bite to eat after. We’re heading home now.”
“Together?” Her voice was oddly thin.
“We live not too far from each other and shared an Uber,” I replied.
It was none of her business what we were doing. I wasn’t ashamed of my relationship with Brody, however undefined it was, but Blair was not the type of person I would share personal business with. Besides, if it turned out to be nothing but a fling, it would be difficult to explain later.
“Oh.” Relief blew through Blair like a summer breeze. “I guess that makes sense.” She leaned forward and gave me a knowing wink. “Why waste gas when you don’t have to?”
“Yes, I’m all about being green.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. I tried to do my part. That wasn’t why Brody and I were riding together, though. “I should probably go.”
She smiled. “I’ll see you at the next event.”
“Absolutely.” I was anxious to get away from her, and I found Brody waiting for me on the curb.
“Uber will be here in two minutes,” he said as I joined him.
“Great.” I slipped my hand into his without thinking and opted not to tell him about my run-in with Blair. “I’m ready to go home and see if I can find another crazy cat video for you.”
He laughed and kissed my cheek. “I love your cat videos.”
When I was strapped in the Uber and our driver was pulling away, I risked a glance back at the restaurant. Blair was on the other side of the glass door, watching us depart. I couldn’t see her face, but somehow, I knew she was frowning.
24
TWENTY-FOUR
Waking up with Bree was my happy place. She was grumpy from the second she opened her eyes, but it was adorable. We’d spent the night at her house, for a change. Mostly, we stayed at mine because Sylvia was at her house and could be a distraction. Bree said her mother had spent the last three nights out somewhere, however, so it was probably safe.
Unfortunately, this morning, Sylvia barreled in the bedroom to wake both of us, and she looked … well,manicwas the only word I could come up with.
“Hey,” I said, confused.
I jerked the covers up my chest to cover myself. Fortunately, I’d remembered to pull on my boxer shorts before falling asleep the night before. Bree was another story. She’d only bothered with her panties before passing out.
