“First of all, that was research—you know this,” she fires back. “I went on those awful dates and let those men into my bodyfor the plot.” She jabs a finger at her chest. “And second, former barista, remember? I have standards.”
Her grin turns sly as she leans against the counter. “Also, I’m not the hero here. Word is that title belongs to James.”
I sigh. “I’m guessing Anna filled you in on last night?”
Gemma wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
“Nothing happened.”
Gemma slaps her palms on the bench, rolling her eyes. “Boring!”
I zero in on the takeaway bag. “What’s in there?”
We both smirk and exclaim in unison, “Croissants!”
Anna doesn’t bother knocking as she lets herself inside. Shrugging off her jacket and slipping out of her shoes, she looks over, eyes snagging on the takeaway bag. “Gemma, if that isn’t a bag of fresh croissants, I will fucking riot.”
“She brought coffee too,” I say.
Anna looks to the ceiling and mutters, “There is a God.”
Gemma extends her hand, offering Anna the cup of liquid gold, which she gratefully accepts. At my first bite, the crispy pastry coats my mouth with sweet, buttery goodness, and I release a long moan.
“That good, eh?” Anna asks, taking a bite of her own.
I give her a sidelong glance, my words muffled by a mouthful of croissant as I reply flatly, “It’s been a while.”
I quickly chew and swallow before shifting my focus to Gemma. “Now that we’re all here”—I gesture toward her ankle—“what happened? Why are you limping?”
“So, remember that guy from last night?” Gemma begins, catching both Anna’s and my attention. “Well, he took me back to the hotel he was staying at. He accidentally fell on my ankle when he tried to move me mid-intercourse. I’m pretty sure he sprained it.” She calmly takes a large bite out of her croissant.
My eyes widen before Anna and I burst into laughter.
“That’s almost as good as the vibrator story,” Anna says.
“Would you like some frozen peas?” I offer.
“You can stick your peas, smart-ass. Laugh all you want, I’m not the one who left the bar with myex-fiancé’s brother,” she replies, pinning me with an accusatory glare.
I side-eye Anna—damn her for telling Gemma. “Nothing happened!”
Anna pops her hip and purses her lips. “I call bullshit.”
Letting out a sigh, I run my fingers through my still-damp hair, gathering my thoughts before speaking. “Okay, fine … something happened.”
“I KNEW IT!” Gemma yells, rubbing her hands together. “Start from the beginning.”
I take a steadying breath and recount the details of Lucas turning up with a date and how James ended up bringing me home. Their eyes just about fall out of their sockets when I tell them about James brushing my boob, cupping my core, and getting hard before he bailed.
Frowning, I cast my gaze downwards, consumed with guilt as my body buzzes from the memory.
Gemma places a comforting arm around me. “What do I do?” I whisper.
I stand in the middle of the kitchen, confused and exposed. It’s clear James and Lucas aren’t close, but if anything had happened last night—and if I’m being honest, I would’ve let it—would I have made things worse between them? The question picks away at me. I never meant to come between them or cause pain, yet here I am, feeling like my actions and words confessed to James can do only that.
“I think it would be best to pretend that the incident never occurred. You won’t have to see James again. I’m sure neither of you anticipated that happening, and he’s probably feeling just as guilty as you are. It’s normal to seek comfort from someone familiar, especially when you’re hurting. And, in reality, nothingactuallyhappened between the two of you,” Gemma says, always the voice of reason.
“Gemma,” Anna says firmly, “you know I love you, but I disagree.” She turns to me, her expression earnest. “I think there’s something between you two. I’ve seen the way he looksat you,” she adds, covering my hand with hers and giving me a reassuring smile.
