“No, not naked, but I am with a man.”
“Really? Show me.”
She sighs, and I expect her to tell Gail to get fucked. Eleanor doesn’t take instruction from anyone. When you’re the smartest person in the room, taking orders is difficult.
She flips the screen, switching to video and moving her hand to the window, angling both of us in the shot. A pretty blond- haired, blue-eyed woman squints at us.
“Damn. Where did you find him?”
“Miami.”
“Technically, I found you,” I correct.
“Gail, meet Hunter, myrescuer.” She emphasizes the last word like she finds the whole idea of being saved preposterous.
“Wait, Ellie… Hunter? The Hunter?” Gail asks.
Ellie? She quickly sets the audio to private so I can’t hear the other side of the call. I smirk.Too late, Ellie.
“No, well, yes. I suppose that’s technically correct,” Eleanor answers. A full minute goes by as I realize the possibility I got under her skin the way she got under mine. My mouth curls into a grin. Eleanor likes me.Likes me,likes me.
“It’s complicated,” she mutters.
Let me uncomplicate it for you, temptress. I like you, you like me. We should give into that, and see where it takes us.
“No, I didn’t ask him.”
Ask away. I’m an open book.
“A few weeks at most.”
We’ll see about that.
“I made a mistake,” she whispers.
Not yet, but I am here to help you make questionable decisions when it comes to me and me alone.
“Sure. Two days.”
What’s in two days?
“Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t complete that homework with a pushy biker breathing down my neck twenty-four seven.”
I can breathe elsewhere if you prefer.
“Absolutely not.”
I think I like Gail.
“Fine, I will try. That’s all I can offer right now, especially when my choices of partner are limited. Two days. Bye, Gail.” She lets her phone fall into her lap.
“Who is Gail?”
“My therapist.”
Oh, that makes sense. “What’s your homework?” I don’t expect her to tell me, but there’s no harm in asking.
“She is helping me to form emotional connections and be more available.”
