Me: I’m going to find out who Tiffany’s landlord is and make sure she’s evicted.
Tinsley: Don’t do that for me. It’ll be fun to keep showing up and making her crazy.
Me: Okay. For you, anything.
Tinsley: Will you wear one of my thongs while you play poker?
Me: What?
Tinsley: Just checking your boundaries.
Me: Come early and have breakfast with me?
Tinsley: Will you be in your boxers?
Me: If you want me to.
Tinsley: What did Claire say when she left?
Me: I have a feeling she texted you first.
Tinsley: What did Claire say when she left?
Me: She’ll be stopping by unannounced at some point, and I better not be balls deep into you. What did she say to you?
Tinsley: The first part. No threats of you being in balls deep, though. Has she walked in on you before?
Me: More than once, when we lived together. The second she could move out, she did. But I walked in on her once.
Tinsley: You would have had sex with me at the bar in front of everyone if I let you.
Me: No, I respect you too much for that. I don’t want to share you with anyone.
Tinsley: It’s after midnight. 169 days.
Me: Breakfast is at 9. See you then. I’ll be dressed.
Tinsley: Goodnight.
Me: Counting the days.
Chapter 10
Tinsley
Landon was in my dreams again last night. I release a deep sigh.
As promised, he didn’t walk around in his boxers yesterday, and I was able to get about five hours uninterrupted coding done at his place before meeting up with Chrissy last night. She had so many questions about Landon, and I had no answers other than saying we’re going to be friends only for the next six months. Chrissy seemed skeptical, to say the least.
I stretch, debating on getting out of bed. It’s Monday, so I know I have to eventually… For the last year, I’ve been working from home, which can be lonely, but working out has been my saving grace. I don’t want to go to the gym, and I know if I don’t do it as soon as I get up each morning, I won’t go—despite all my best intentions.
I throw the covers back. As summer creeps in, it becomes colder in San Francisco. The fog pulls over the city and wraps her in a cold gray blanket.
I can do this.
I throw my gym bag over my shoulder, along with my computer bag, and head downstairs. Yolanda Martinez is waiting for me in front of the Suburban.
“Hello! Nice to meet you,” she says as I approach. She extends her hand and gives me a firm handshake.
Yolanda is my height, with short, glossy black hair, and carries herself as if she might have been in the military. She’s dressed like someone from the tech world—jeans and an American Rejects T-shirt. She’ll blend in well as a friend I’m hanging out with rather than sticking out like Greg would following me around. I need to thank Jim for finding her.
I smile. “Hello! Thanks for getting up so early to join me at the Y.”
“No problem,” she says. “I love it when clients want to hit the gym, because I usually get a workout, too.”
“Off to the Y then,” I tell her.
“I understand you’re a swimmer?”
I nod. “Is it okay if I swim?”
“Absolutely. I’ll do my best to keep up.”
I shake my head. “Slow and steady wins the race.”
She chuckles as we navigate the streets of San Francisco.
She moves the large Suburban around as if it’s a sports car. Yolanda is not talkative, but that’s fine. My head is full of thoughts. I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on with my computer, and I can’t get rid of that ache of desire for Landon.
Just a few minutes later, we walk into the pool area, and I push off to start my forty-five minutes of swimming. Yolanda seems to have no problem keeping up with me.
When the end finally comes, we pull ourselves from the pool.
Toweling off, Yolanda turns to me. “You do this every day?”
I shake my head. “I wish I could, but I try to do it at least three times a week.”
“You’re not slow and steady; you’re fast and determined.”
I smile. “Thanks, but I swam with Olympic swimmers. They’re fast.”
Yolanda laughs. “Lead the way.”
After a quick shower and a little bit of prep, we head out of the locker room. As we exit, I spot Tomas. If I had to bet, I’d say he was waiting for me.
“Hey! Great to see you.” He goes in for a hug as we approach.
I watch Yolanda out of the corner of my eye. She’s ready to take him out if I give her the signal.
I put my hands on his shoulders, so he gets nothing but arms. “Good to see you. I’m glad you got to meet Claire and Landon the other night.”
“Yeah, me too.” He looks me over. “Do you have time for coffee?”
“Sorry, I don’t. We have a staff meeting this morning, and I can’t be late.”
Tomas touches my shoulder, which seems like an invasion of my personal space. Huh. When Landon does it, he lights my body on fire.
“Maybe you can make it up to me later?”
It’s time to let him down a little more clearly. “I already told you, I’m seeing someone, so I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He seems surprised. “Why did you invite me for drinks?”
“We’re old friends from college. I thought you might like to meet Claire.”
“Oh.” He looks crestfallen. “I didn’t get that.”
