“What are you thinking about?” he asked, as our limo pulled up to theloft.
“That chocolate soufflé,” Ilied.
He winked. “Metoo.”
As we walked up to the loft hand in hand, I was high on amazing date magic and first-time sex with not a care in the world. I was sure that nothing could bring me down from that high—until I turned the corner and saw Brisk walking into the apartment with a blonde on hisarm.
Ohfrick.
Brisk brought a girl home. Heneverbrought girls home. Neither did Nox. It was like a code. Maxine was really the only one who paraded her conquests around theplace.
“Hey, everyone! This is Stacy,” Brisk slurred as I stepped in behindhim.
Ronnie was sitting on the couch with her reading glasses on, her eyes puffy and red like she’d been crying, and she was clenching the remote control in an iron grip. Maxine and Nox were gone, probably swimming or something, and Jeremy must’ve been in his office with Mr. Hansen, because only Josephine sat on the couch withRonnie.
She was the first to recover and act natural. “Hello, Stacy,” Josephine welcomed thenewcomer.
Stacy didn’t look as drunk as Brisk, but her hands were all over him. “Hi,” she purred in a sultry voice to rivalMaxine’s.
“Did you guys get a few drinks?” I asked, leaning in to sniff Brisk. He knew better than to get hammered; it would totally make him sleep, and once he got to the Dream Wars he’d be somewhat drunk. Not the same level, but you didn’t feel right. It was like anesthesia, some of it making it across to your system. He’d getkilled.
Brisk glared at me. “Yes we did,Mom.”
I rolled my eyes. “That was stupid, Brisk. Drink some coffee and let’s go for awalk.”
He gave me a sly grin. “No, thanks, Kit. I’m going to give Stacy here a tour of mybedroom.”
Stacy giggled and started to pull him to thestairs.
Ronnie’s eyes went wide and I stood there frozen, unsure of what to do. He was a damn adult; if he wanted to take a girl to his room, he could. Besides, Ronnie had passed on that, and it wasn’t fair to keep him single if she didn’t wanthim.
“Fine, pass out and get eaten by a giant. See if we care!” Ronnie snapped at him from her place on thecouch.
He just waved her off as he slipped up the stairs with blondeBarbie.
Holy shit. That justhappened.
I looked at Ronnie, who was staring at theceiling.
Josephine stood. “I think I’ll let you two girlstalk.”
She made a face at Damien, and he cleared his throat. “Right. Metoo.”
They left together, slipping out onto the expansive balcony where there was a hot tub and minibar.
I kicked off my boots and fell onto my knees before my best friend. “Ronnie. I know you. I know you better than you know yourself. You love that beefcake up there, and the way I see it, you have twochoices.”
She pinned me with a vulnerable gaze, tears threatening to spill over. Unless a cat was dying, Ronnie didn’t cry.This shit isserious.
“One, you continue to live life as you have been, scared of loving him, and continue to push him away. We leave right now, get a hotel room, and you move on. Let himgo.”
The tears fell then, silent rivers down hercheeks.
“And two?” she said in a hollowvoice.
I stood. “We rip that bitch off him and you tell him how youfeel.”
She sighed. “I’mscared.”
