“It’s nice. You grew up here?”
“Yeah. Well, no. Not in this building. We were a few blocks over. My sister and I sublet the place. Figured we’d hold onto it after I moved out just in case.”
“Smart. Real estate is no joke.”
“So.”
He turns and looks at me. “So.”
I motion for him to proceed. “Do you have anything you want to say?”
“I am still sorry for the way I acted, but I think there’s something more pressing we need to discuss.”
“What’s that?”
“Why I’m here in the first place. You said you wanted to see me alone.”
“I don’t know. I just did. I know where I stand with Vaughn.”
“And where’s that?”
“At the moment, it’s none of your business.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep.”
“So, you wanna keep sending my man saucy texts—”
“Saucy?”
“You heard what I said. You want to keep hitting my man up but you want me to stay out of it?”
I bite the inside of my lip and try to decide how long I want to let his foolishness go on. Of course, I’m not trying to carry on with Vaughn without Shaw. I know they are a package deal. Still, that notion goes both ways. Just because Vaughn and I get along doesn’t mean Shaw gets to just skate on bad behavior. I walk by him and take a seat on my couch. He follows, but stands in the doorway, watching me.
“Do you like me or not?” I say, knowing full well I sound like a teenager.
“Yes, Brook. I like you.”
“So then, what the fuck, Shaw? Why are you making this so hard?”
“Let the record show I was trying to make this less hard on you last week. You were the one dragging this battle of the wills out.”
“Yeah, sure. Fine. Whatever. Come over here and let me touch you.”
He laughs quietly, shaking his head, but that doesn’t stop him from crossing the room. He doesn’t join me on the couch, though. He reaches for my hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Where are we going?”
“To your bedroom. Unless you want me to fuck you on this couch.”
“Who said I wanted to have sex with you?”
He quirks his head back, staring at me, his eyes comically wide. “Maybe I read this wrong. But I thought I was coming down here for a kiss and makeup type situation?”
“Yeah, okay, fine. Let’s go.”
I head for the bedroom, but Shaw catches me and pulls me close into his arms. I look up at him, the intense look on his face shocking the breath right out of my chest. “I get it. You’re still mad at me, but stop acting like you don’t want this as badly as I do. I’m sorry, Brook. Do you forgive me?”
