“I, uh, just that... I have to pee.” I didn’t fault him one bit for the look of utter confusion on his face. “Be right back,” I blurted out, then I whipped around and hustled to the bathroom. As soon as the door closed behind me, I braced my palms on the counter and stared at my reflection.
“What the hell was that?” I hissed to myself. “You have topee? Seriously? Way to chicken out, Bradbury.”
The door creaked open, and a second later, Lennix stepped through, pushing the door closed behind her. “Hey, you okay? I saw you sprint in here like your ass was on fire.”
“I... God, I don’t know. I just freaked out.”
Understanding blanketed her expression. “Because you’re in love with him?”
I nodded in agreement, my lips pinched between my teeth. “I almost told him. Then I freaked out and ran in here like my ass was on fire. He probably thinks I’ve lost my mind.”
“No, honey. I’m sure he thinks you have a bladder infection or something.”
I shot her a look. “Not helping, Lenni.”
She giggled, then sobered. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll behave, I promise.”
“Appreciated,” I said flatly.
She crossed over to me, resting her hips against the counter beside me. “So what’s the problem?”
My eyes bugged out at her question. “Wha—what’s the problem? How about the fact that we haven’t even been dating two months.”
She shrugged like it was no big deal. “People fall in love on different timeframes all the time.”
She had a point. But still. “Okay, then there’s the small inconvenience of him living in a totally different state.” I began pacing the length of the bathroom, raking my hand through my hair. “He’s not staying, Lenni. His life is in DC. His job, his friends, everything that matters.”
“I’d argue not everything,” she stated, giving me a pointed look. “You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, but what if I’m not enough?”
Her eyes filled with sympathy. “You’re enough, babe. Trust me. The way that man looks at you, it’s written all over his face. You’remorethan enough.”
“But—”
She held up a hand, cutting me off. “Look, you can keep spinning out like this, driving yourself crazy, or you can be honest with him. Tell him, how you feel.”
“He’s not staying,” I repeated, moving to lean against the vanity at her side.
“Well, he won’t if he doesn’t think it’s an option.” She bumped her shoulder against mine. “Not telling him you love him isn’t going to make the feelings go away. All it’s going to do is leave you with all kinds of regrets.”
Turning to look at her, I gave her a tiny smile. “Look at you, being all wise and stuff.”
She blew out a dramatic sigh. “It’s hard being this brilliant all the time, but it’s my cross to bear.” We both laughed, and I leaned over to rest my head on her shoulder. “Just talk to him,” she said gently. “Tell him the truth. You’ll never know what could happen otherwise.”
“Okay.” I pulled in a deep, fortifying breath, then blew it out past my lips. “I’ll go talk to him.”
“That’s my girl.” As I passed, she smacked me on the ass hard enough to make me yelp. “Go get that hockey stud, tiger.”
I narrowed my eyes at her as I massaged my stinging butt cheek. “I’m going to get you back for that.”
She shooed me out of the bathroom, taking me by the shoulders and forcing me out the door. “Less talky, more walky.”
We separated at the mouth of the hall, her heading toward the bar while I went the opposite direction toward the pool tables. I breathed in for three counts, then out for three. “You got this, Bradbury,” I muttered to myself. “You can do this. Just open your mouth and tell him the truth. That’s all you have to do.”
Just as I reached the two steps that led up to the section where the pool tables were, a flash of red caught my eye, and when I looked over, my heart fell right out of my chest and onto the ground at my feet.
A woman I didn’t recognize was standing right in front of Tanner. No, that wasn’t right. She waspressed up against him. Their bodies so close there wasn’t even a chance of light getting through.
