Robbie’s eyes are huge, and he’s looking at me like he’s never seen me before.
“Look, I didn’t mean to say it like that, but… Christ, it’s not exactly a secret that I like sex, is it?” I demand.
Robbie doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. Just stares at me, frozen.
“Wow. I broke you by evenmentioningsex, huh?” I huff out a laugh. “You were the one telling me that I deserve someone all in. When I find that person, they’ll deservethat from me too. My love and loyalty, my attention. Andsex. All the sex. So much sex.”
At length, Robbie swallows, but it looks like it costs him. “And you… you can’t be my person if you’re being their person.” I can practically see the thoughts whirling behind his eyes. The pain. He nods once. “Got it.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I’m panicking, and I’m lashing out. I’m saying all the wrong things, as per usual. But I genuinely don’t know what else to do in this moment besides fall at his feet and beg him to consider morphing into a bisexual with a fondness for bossy bottoms.
“So what does that mean for us?” Robbie asks quietly. “How can I make this okay? I love you, Ames.”
Just not the way I need you to.
Tears sting the back of my eyes. “I don’t know,” I admit. “I don’t have all the answers here?—”
A knock on my office door cuts me off, and one of my servers pokes her head in.
“Ames? There’s a guy up front asking for you.” She lowers her voice and bounces her eyebrows. “Acuteguy.”
Dear god.Somehow, I managed to forget all about Auden and our date. Doesn’t that just figure?
“Thanks, Xenia. Coming.”
“Yay,” she squeaks and shuts the door.
Robbie watches me with an odd expression. “A guy? Areyoualready dating someone else too?”
Fuck. I don’t want to talk to Robbie about Auden yet. But here we are, so I bite the bullet.
“I am,” I inform him. “A college friend of Eliza’s. We went out last night, and I like him. A lot.”
“But… you always said you’d never let your sister set you up.” Robbie’s words are tinged with surprise and disapproval. “You said there’d be all kinds of expectations if you did. You said it’d only embolden her to further matchmaking.”
I huff impatiently. “Yeah, well, I say a lot of shit, Rob. I changed my mind, okay?” I grab my coat from the back of my chair and squeeze past him without touching him, which requires some maneuvering, given his bulk.
He grabs my wrist, foiling my efforts. “Ames. Can we finish talking? Please?”
I can feel each of his fingers like it’s searing through my shirt into my arm.
I was so close. Just twelve freaking hours from freedom.
I’m not sure which of us I’m more angry at.
“Not tonight.”
I don’t give him a chance to reply before I pull my arm away and head for the front of the restaurant. I also don’t turn my head to see if other diners clock Robbie stalking behind me, though they probably wouldn’t notice anything amiss if they did. Just more Ames and Robbie, best friends forever. Nothing to see here.
Auden stands by the host stand. He’s about my height but not as muscular, and his dark jeans and green sweater fit him to perfection. His blond hair’s a little windblown, his cheeks are pink with cold beneath his dark-framed glasses, and when he sees me, he smiles with genuine enthusiasm and interest.
Xenia was right. Heiscute. And I refuse to let any lingering feelings for the man behind me fuck this up.
“Auden, hey!” I greet him with a hug.
Behind me, Robbie clears his throat in a pointed “Ahem.”
