Chapter Twenty-Two
Cierra
“Come on, tellme!” Kelsey chided playfully, leaning back on the couch with a beer. “I know when you’re hiding something from me. Out with it!”
I tipped my head back and stared at the ceiling, a grin curling my lips when I thought about exactly what it was I was keeping from her. Yeah, the whole thing was a total mess, but that wasn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy indulging my little inner monologue about Trace whenever I got the chance.
It was the first time I’d really seen Kelsey since Trace and I hooked up the previous weekend; I guessed some part of me knew if she found out she’d be furious with me, and I didn’t want to face up to that. She still seemed pretty hung up on him, and I felt like a grade-A asshole for going behind her back to indulge whatever it was Trace and I shared, however intense it was and however much I enjoyed it.
“It’s really nothing,” I assured her. “Just a crush. That’s all.”
She leaned in. “Is it that Cory guy? What’s he like? Is it time for me to Facebook stalk him to see if I approve?”
“No, really, it’s fine.” I waved a hand.
“I can’t believe you’re actually dating someone again. It’s been so long since you were with someone you actually seemed to like.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault that most of the men in this city are trash.” I didn’t want to be having this conversation. I wanted to steer us somewhere else entirely, because I knew as long as we were on the subject, there was a chance that I’d let something slip, tipping her off that something had happened—hell,washappening between Trace and me.
“So true. Most of the men in this cityarefucking trash.”
I eyed her for a moment. She’d called me earlier in the week, sounding emotional, but I couldn’t figure out why. As far as I knew, she was still seeing Chandler and dating a few other guys, so I wasn’t sure what was up with her. One thing I’d bet on was it involved a man; Kelsey’s whole life revolved around men.
“What’s been going on with you?” I asked, and her head snapped up from where she had been picking at the beer label for the last minute or so.
Her eyes met mine, then darted away. “Nothing. I’ve just been….” She trailed off just as I had earlier, leaving the words hanging in the air.
“Go on.”
She shook her head. “Nothing, really.”
I held my hands up. “Whatever you say. Just know I’m here to listen if something’s bothering you.”
She nodded, and for a few minutes, a thick silence filled the space between us. I lifted my beer toward my lips, letting it dangle in the air for a second before I spoke. “What was Trace like when you dated him?” I took a big gulp in hopes it would calm down my jitters.
Kelsey frowned. “What do you mean? Like, in what way?” She crumpled the beer label in her hand. “You probably know him better than I do. You guys work together now.”
I half shrugged. “Yeah, but not really. I mean, he runs the company and all that, but I’m just downstairs trying to keep things moving.”
“What do you want to know?” She gave a small sigh and her lips puffed out. Finishing her beer, she cracked another, immediately taking a sip.
“I don’t know.” I ran my fingers through my hair. I just wanted to talk about him. I couldn’t get him out of my mind, and even though I put on a brave face, I was crazy about him. And he acted as though he liked me. The passion and heat we had between us didn’t seem to want to leave us alone. All I wanted was to see and spend time with him. I hadn’t felt this drawn to a man or this crazy about one in forever.
“Well, you know I think he’s a giant asshole.” There was an edge to her voice. “He’s mean and manipulative, and I wouldn’t wish him on my worst enemy.”
“Right, good to know,” I muttered.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why? What do you think of him?”
“I only know him as my boss. He’s smart and seems to care about us—his employees.”
“I don’t know how he is as a boss, but he’s a jerk when it comes to women. I think his goal is to fuck the under-thirty-five female population in San Francisco.” She laughed dryly, but her gaze never left my face. “Do you have a crush on him? I wouldn’t blame you. He’s damn good-looking, and believe me, he knows it.”
My heart jumped into my throat and I put the empty beer bottle to my lips, pretending to drink from it.
“You wouldn’t be his type anyway,” Kelsey said as she flipped her hair over her shoulders.
“What do you mean?” I asked, dread weaving through me.
