Thump, thump, thump, thump. Thump, thump, thump, thump.
“That’s it?” As if that fucking hot kiss had never happened? “I don’t think so, sweetheart. You can’t drop a bombshell like ‘We’ll see’ and lock me out, then rattle my cage with a polite fuck off.”
Ping.
Legs: I’m sorry I ruined the end.
That took some of the steam out of his irritation.
Ping.
Legs: And I’m sorry I called you an asshole.
He barked out a laugh as he parked in his assigned space of the garage and took the elevator up to his floor. That she’d use a backhanded apology to break through the wall she’d erected to freeze him out was just like her. This was her pattern.
If he’d learned one thing about Jo, it was that underneath all that tough girl exterior, she was soft and scared and riddled with insecurity. He also realized that, when the tough girl wall went up, especially when she was pissed, all he had to do was give her time to think—she wasn’t unreasonable—and once she collected her thoughts, she was fine. That or he could push a few buttons, make her laugh or pique her interest.
Avery let himself inside his condo before he called her. Stopping in front of the bank of windows overlooking the city, he searched the horizon in the general direction of her apartment.
She answered on the second ring, her voice soft and raspy, “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket, then his tie. Both landed on the couch on his way to the fridge to grab a beer. “When did you call me an asshole? I only heard fuckboy.”
“Mmm, a few times. All day really…in my head.”
“Ah.” He leaned against the island, twisted the cap, and took a long drink as he recapped the day, wondering which of his actions warranted the label.
“I hope my texts didn’t wake you.”
“Nah, I just got home.”
“I told you I’d meet you somewhere. You shouldn’t have to come all this way.”
“You’re actually not that far. I went out after I dropped you off, met a friend at Pulse.”
“Oh.”
The single syllable sank like a guilty weight in his gut.
Ah, fuck no. He had nothing to feel guilty about. And no reason to lie. This was the deal they’d made.
“Well, I won’t keep you then,” she said, her tone now sharp with disapproval and maybe a hint of jealousy.
“You’re not.”
“You should get back to yourfriend.”
Yeah, it was there, just under the surface. Jealous women were a big turn off…usually. “Icalledyou, remember?”
“Right, well…”
“Jo, I came home alone.”
Why the fuck am I explaining?
“It’s none of my business. I wasn’t thinking. I’ll let you go.”
“Why are you still awake?” he asked before she could hang up.
