How to explain that to a woman who knows my history, has watched it go down, first hand.
Catching up to her, I take her elbow, “Okay, this is going to sound bad.” To my relief she faces me to listen. “Those were casual-sex things.”
“Things?”
“What’s a better word…casual sex acts?” Her lips tighten. “Everything is going to make me sound like a player.”
“Sound like?” she laughs, glancing around for Denise.
“Yes, I’m a player. Okay, sue me. I’m twenty-five. Life is short.”
She shrugs, “You’re right. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It’s your life. Live it the way you want.”
Relieved, I straighten up a little. “Exactly. I’m glad you understand.”
A sarcastic laugh ripples out as she says, “I’m such an idiot,” turns on her heel and sees Denise up ahead, walking with two other girls I think I’ve seen around, but don’t personally know.
Oh shit.
I do know one of them.
Intimately.
Under my breath I mutter, “Fuck!” Against survival instincts I go after her. The girl I had in a closet at a Highlands house-party about eight or nine months ago, turns to greet Maddie. There’s a smile on her face. They know each other. I pause, drag my hand over my face and keep walking.
All four women watch me slow down as I get close.
Closet-Girl, whose name I never got, barks, “Well, if it isn’t Houdini!”
My teeth grit. “Hello...”
“You don’t know my name,” she sneers.
“You never told me it.”
Her pretty eyes flicker as she realizes that’s true.
Just because she knew my name doesn’t make us even.
I turn to Madison who has now erected an ice castle and a moat complete with chomping crocodiles.
Tonguing the back of my teeth I gather my composure. “Madison, can I talk to you?” I ask loudly enough so that everyone present knows I am aware of her name, at least.
I’m not all bad.
Just part bad.
Her tone is negative zero degrees. “We’re having a conversation, Nicholas.”
“Can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?” Her naked eyelashes flutter. The lipstick she wore is probably on me now. “Madison, I would very much like to get to know you better.”
Her lips part in surprise. “What?”
Closet-Girl gasps.
Denise hushes her.
The other girl is silent and recording everything for future gossip.
With complete sincerity I keep my gaze on Maddie. “No games. No ulterior motive. Clothes left on. I would like to get to know you, and if you’ll do me the honor, I’d really like to take you out somewhere nice.”
Blinking at me she thaws on a stammering, “I…I…Really?”
“Just dinner. That’s all I’m asking.”
Denise smacks her arm and Madison glances over, quickly returning to me. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” I smile. “Seriously.”
She frowns and takes a really long time to say, “Okay.”
It’s a single two-syllable word that under any other circumstance wouldn’t hit me, but hearing that answer right now, after I’ve looked forward to seeing her again for month after fruitless month, its effect is powerful. I take a deep breath and lean closer to block everyone else out. “What kind of food do you like?”
“My favorite is Italian.”
“Perfect.” Pulling out my phone I unlock it, find the contacts and offer it to her. “Can I have your number?”
She thumbs it in, and hands the phone back to me. “Here.”
“Eight work?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll call for your address.”
“Okay.”
“There’s that word again.” Smiling, I repeat it back to her, “Okay,” and turn to the others. “Denise, good to see you.”
She grins at me. “You too, Nicholas. Well played.”
I lock eyes with Closet-Girl. “What is your name?”
“I kinda don’t wanna tell you now.”
“We both knew what we were getting into.”
She hesitates a moment, but finally agrees, “Yeah…we did.”
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” she mutters, glancing to her hands. “It was what it was.”
I turn back to Maddie. “I’ll call you in the morning. Looking forward to this.”
The last thing I see is Denise whispering in her ear.
My ride took off, but it’s all good because I’m flying home tonight.
CHAPTER 21
M ADISON
Denise hisses,“It’s almost eight!” as she shoves me into a dress that’s been ignored in my closet since she made me buy it from her store ten pounds ago. “Just put the damn thing on!”
“Too tight, stop it!” I push her hands back and she sighs, standing back for a peek.
Her eyes brighten.
Suspicious I ask, “What’s that look for?”
Turning to the mirror that’s nailed to my closet, I gape at curves that would drop any man’s pants in a hurry.
Denise and I slide approving gazes down my reflection.
She smirks and crosses her arms, “Still too tight?”
“I might pop out…” Spinning in a circle I smile, “But I’m okay with that!”
“Look at you! Damn!” Denise throws her head back on a laugh. “He is going to have a heart attack on your doormat! You see what I did to your eyebrows here.” Reaching over to trace them she explains, “You needed a little plucking, and then some penciling in to fill out the naked parts. And these lips! Honey, the best thing I ever did was give you that lipstick. Is this your color, or is this your color?”
“Definitely,” I breathe, shocked. “This is the hottest I have ever looked in my life.”
I grab Denise and hug her.
Fingering tight curls with a long yellow nail she saucily grins, “He is going to rip this thing off of you!”
“Oh no! I will not sleep with him tonight. I need to find out what his game is. That’s the only reason I accepted.”
She tosses my heels to me. “Maddie, you drive me crazy sometimes.”
I wriggle into them. “He comes from different stock than I do. Than most humans do! The man is perfect. His reputation however is not. At least he apologized to Alicia.”
“She was so fucking bummed.” Denise checks her reflection and finds it beyond satisfactory, throwing a cocked eyebrow over her shoulder. “I admired her for not saying her name.”
“Me too,” I mumble while pulling at the taut fabric stretched over my breasts. “I
