A week and a half has passed since Tristan fucked me from behind. I haven’t been able to look at the sofa the same way since.
Which is a pity considering I’ve been stuck at home. I’ve put myself in a self-imposed exile.
It’s calmed Ren down, who left with Roma for their Alaskan cruise. Abe checks in, but he agrees with my idea of playing it safe, which is in line with his pacifist ways.
Tristan and I come to Leon’s severaltimes a week. He works out with his guys, while I hit the treadmill until Adeline swings by for a chat. Tristan doesn’t say anything when he trails after us during our coffee run. I notice his shoulders don’t relax until we get back to my flat, though.
I’ve spent a lot of time reading. Lennie sends me book recommendations regularly, which is her way of saying she agrees with Ren and Abe. Everyone wants me to hide, and I guess I’ve given in.
I have a much better work-life balance than Ren, but after a week, I’m itching to do something. To go back to work. Ren believes I shouldn’t take on any more contracts. Part of me hopes Tristan would find me a child rapist to kill or something, but he hasn’t obliged.
Adeline’s knees sway as she lies on her back. “Everything okay with having a guy at your place?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s very protective, even when we’re at the gym.”
Normally, he’s making Luis do an insane amount of push-ups.
“That’s just what he’s paid to do.”
“Paid to stare at you all day?”
I’ve let my hair out of the ponytail I wore, a scrunchie around my wrist. The hair moves as I roll my head, not understanding the lilt of her voice.
“He likes you.” Adeline’s grin should be infectious.
It makes me nauseous.
We’ve got a routine, Tris and I. He gets up a smidgen before I do, just enough time to throw in a load of laundry or check one thing off my chore chart. He likes cooking, so he’s on breakfast duty. I try to help him with the dishes, but he normally picks up after himself as he cooks.
We workout, get coffee, come back home, and reset. Settle down with a book.
Ren gave him crap about only liking self-help books, buthe admitted he likes fantasy. I told Ads, and she started sending recommendations, which he’s begrudgingly taken up.
He gets a lot more phone calls than I do. It’s not always business. His family calls him a lot, asking for help.
He tries to keep it private, but he was on the phone the other day with an auntie, discussing a leaking kitchen sink.
With Ren on vacation and Ben and Abe busy at Fujimori’s, the group chat has gone unusually quiet.
I’ve tried to occupy my time with helping Len plan the wedding. She’s got her dress fitting coming up soon.
“Do you like him?” Adeline asks, not letting me off the hook.
She’s just being nice. I can’t imagine she’s never heard the rumors, the teasing, about my crush on the Ghost.
“Do you?” She elbows me softly.
“He’s all right.”
“Hang on, wait a second. Have you two slept together?”
I’ve done my absolute best to ensure there are no awkward, weird vibes hanging over us. Luis does most of the talking when we’re all in the SUV. Tristan and I still talk, albeit politely.
It’s a certain instance and a certain lingering request that has been deemed completely off-topic.
Adeline shouldn’t be able to identify that something has happened between us. But she must be blessed with some innate romantic power because her brows lift, picking up the scent of a secret.
