“There’s no other way to say it. You closed down the waterfall and set up a romantic picnic, went to the Eiffel Tower—yes, we know all about it,” Asher says when I’m about to question how he knows. “And then have her stay in your hotel suite.Yoursuite. No woman apart from staff has stepped into your room. So, if that’s not catching feelings, I don’t know what is.”
I down the whiskey. The liquid burns the back of my throat, and I welcome the discomfort.
“It was an ass move leaving her with a note and letting her fly home on her own. I like Daisy; she’s a nice girl. Makes me wonder what she sees in you,” Lincoln says.
Lincoln isn’t wrong. What does she see in me? After leaving her alone and sending her home, she’ll probably hate me now.
I had to leave. When I woke up, she was snuggled in my arms, and I didn’t hate the feel of it, so I panicked. I’d organized her breakfast and trip home, and after that, sat in the bar until Lincoln and Asher joined me.
“What are you going to do about her when you get home?” Asher asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to apologize for being a dick?”
I frown. “Why would I do that?”
“So you can keep hanging out with her. Maybe start a relationship… that’s if she’ll have you after the stunt you pulled.”
“She would be stupid to,” Lincoln adds with a chuckle.
I throw him a filthy look. But he’s right. She would be stupid to want anything more with me. “I’m not apologizing for anything. She knew what the night was about. Knows it can’t go further. She doesn’t want more either.”
Asher raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? She’s not the usual type of woman you hook up with. She seems like a relationship type of girl.”
“Not what she told me. She wanted no strings. For years, she’s done the relationship thing and wanted to try something new.”
Both Asher and Lincoln give me a skeptical look. “If you say so,” Lincoln says. “Is she going to play the field for a whileuntil she’s ready to settle down? Good on her. I’m sure I could introduce her to someone who’ll show her a good time.”
My hands ball into fists. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I grit between clenched teeth.
Lincoln slaps the table and laughs. “I knew it. You do have feelings for her. Who knew you had a heart inside that chest of yours?”
“It’s kinda cute watching him fall in love,” Asher chuckles. “Never thought I’d ever see it.”
“Should we start planning his bachelor party? I’m thinking a few nights in Ibiza might be fun,” Lincoln suggests.
“Since we’re both his best friend, we’ll have to do a coin toss to see who’ll be his best man.” Asher digs his hands in his pockets like he’s searching for a coin. He pulls out a poker chip.
My jaw tightens. “Will you two stop? There is no relationship. I’m not falling in love. And there won’t be a bachelor party. For fuck sake, you’re like brainless teenagers.”
They both fall back in their chair and laugh.
“You should see your face.” Lincoln points in my direction. “I’ve never seen you look so scared.
“Is it so hard to believe this is more than a one-night stand? That you actually like Daisy a lot, and this could be something more?” Asher has stopped the teasing with his hard-hitting questions.
I rub my palms up and down my thighs. This conversation is making me uncomfortable. We don’t talk about feelings. Because we fucking don’t have them. They were ripped out of us at a young age. “Even if I did like Daisy as more than a friend, I’m not wired to have a relationship. You both know that. I fuck around. I’d only hurt her.”
“How long has it been since the first night Daisy showed up at the club?” Asher asks.
“About a month ago. Why?”
“And you’ve fucked how many women since then?”
My lips thin, and I stay silent.
“Zero,” Asher provides the answer. “The number of women is zero. If that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what does.”
