He huffed in amusement. “Friday.”
I pouted but agreed. I’d take all the time he’d give me, even if I’d always want more of it.
We got to our feet, and he watched me very closely, seeming to be anticipating something. I wasn’t sure what that was, but after I winked at him, he rolled his eyes and turned to pick up his clothes.
Then we were getting dressed again. Me in my casual jeans and hoodie with my gym’s logo, and him into fitted suit pants that looked expensive and a dark red shirt that looked equally expensive. Everything about him was polished and sophisticated.
Maybe I should go shopping.
“You go first.”
I frowned. We couldn’t even walk out together? “Oh, okay. Umm… I’ll text you soon?”
He nodded, gesturing his head toward the door to hurry me along.
As I walked out of that room and up the stairs to the open night, I had one thought, one goal in mind—getting him to be mine, not just in that place, but always. I’d never felt like this with someone before. Even in my longest relationships, I hadn’t felt a pull toward them the way I did with him. Harpy. My prince. My new purpose.
“You better put that away before Ma catches ya,” Rachel said from the doorway, and I quickly shut the screen off and shoved my phone between my leg and the arm of the couch.
She blinked at me. “What are you hidin’?”
“Nothin’.”
“Uh-huh. Now the truth?”
I chewed my lip. Under normal circumstances, I would have told her I was seeing someone by now. It felt wrong not to, but my situation with Harpy wasn’t exactly normal circumstances.
I couldn’t explain it without her asking more questions, and then I’d need to lie to her about the club, and how we’d met, and I wouldn’t lie to my family about anything.
“I can’t tell you yet.”
“Why not?”
“It’s… complicated.”
I saw her eyes light up and knew immediately that had been the wrong thing to say. She practically pranced over to the sofa and bounced down next to me. “Now youhaveto.”
“No, Rach.”
“Come on, Bear Bear. You know I can keep a secret!”
I raised my brow at her.
“Well, I will this time.”
“No, I’m not telling you shit, ’cause then you’ll go to Ma because youse tell each other everythin’, and then she’ll be in my ear nonstop about when she gets to meet him and why I—fuck.”
There were practically stars in her eyes. “Him?” she almost shrieked. “You’re seein’ someone?”
“Shhh!”
“Oh, right,” she lowered her voice. “Tell me, tell me everythin’.”
“I can’t!”
“Why? What’s so complicated about it?”
I groaned. “Nothin’. It’s just… it’s not… well, it’s just casual right now.”
