by E. L. Todd
“And she doesn’t care you’re an escort?” I found that hard to believe. Perhaps I was just paranoid after Alexia, but I wouldn’t want my girlfriend to be anywhere near another man.
“No. She trusts me. And she should.”
Seeing how happy my friend was only reminded me how depressed I was. Alexia was my tormentor, and no matter how much time had passed, she wouldn’t go away. Was I doomed forever? What did I do to deserve this?
“What about you?” He drank his beer and watched me.
I gave him the response I always gave him. “Nothing.”
“You’ve been saying that for almost two years.” There was a tone of disappointment in his voice.
I didn’t want to talk about it, not even to him. If I just pretended everything was okay, then everything would be okay. Wouldn’t it? Rhett was my closest friend but I couldn’t tell him all my thoughts and emotions. That would be…too girly. “Well, there’s nothing to tell.”
He didn’t seem convinced. “Harper is cute.”
“She is.” There was no doubt about it. That pretty blonde hair would feel good in my hand while I fisted it and kissed her hard on the mouth. She had the perfect height and perfect body. I’d always had a thing for short girls. It made sex a little awkward because I was so tall but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable.
“That’s all you’re giving me?” he asked incredulously.
“What?” I demanded. “I’m agreeing with you.”
“I thought something might be going on between you.” He searched my face for a reaction.
“No,” I said immediately. “I figured it would piss you off if I slept with her.”
“How’d you figure?”
“She’s Aspen’s best friend…who’s your girlfriend…” Did he really not see where I was going with this?
“I’m not talking about sleeping with her and never calling her again,” he said. “Why don’t you just ask her out?”
“Like, on a date?”
“No, deep sea fishing,” he said sarcastically.
Dating was the last thing I’d ever do. Relationships were stupid and I wouldn’t put myself in that situation again. I wished I could start sleeping around again, and eventually that day would come. But for now, I wasn’t there yet. So, there was nothing I could have with Harper at all. “She’s not my type.”
He put his beer down on the coaster and sighed. “Okay, this has gone on long enough.”
“Huh?”
“We need to talk about what happened with Alexia. I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up on your own, but the wait is over.”
My heart kicked into overdrive and my palms were immediately sweaty. Did I not fool Rhett into thinking I was happy and moved on? Did he see right through everything? Did I have a false sense of security this entire time? “There’s nothing to talk about.” I spoke so quickly I was borderline incoherent.
Rhett didn’t back off. “Dude, what happened?”
“Nothing,” I said defensively. “We broke up. End of story. The end.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re really pissing me off right now. Just talk to me. I’m not going to judge you if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You’re really pissing me off right now.”
“Did she cheat on you?”
He hit the nail right on the head but I wouldn’t admit it. “I don’t talk about my personal life because there’s nothing to talk about.” I slid out of the booth to leave.
“Then why are you running away?”
“I have a slut to fuck.” I threw my cash on the table.
“I know for a fact you haven’t slept with anyone in over a year. You think you’re fooling everyone but you aren’t.”
I froze on the spot and suddenly felt weak. Did my plan completely backfire? Was I going around spreading lies when in actuality everyone knew I was talking out of my ass?
“Every time we’re at a party together, you throw me at some girl and pretend you’re hooking up with some chick, but when I find you, you’re always doing something else. Why are you hiding from me? Just talk to me. How long have we known each other?”
I felt defensive that he knew my secret. But I would never admit he figured anything out. “You’re totally off your rocker, man.”
“Yeah?” Disbelief was in his voice.
“I can’t even count the number of chicks I’ve been with. But that’s none of your business. Why don’t you just get off my case? Maybe you’re happy in a relationship, but that doesn’t mean I need to be in a relationship too. Not everyone is the same.” I knew I was being unfair to my friend but I was too upset. It was easier to forgive someone for being wrong than for being right. I walked off without another word.
“Troy.” Rhett calmly tried to get me to come back.
I kept going and walked out into the cold night air.
At lunchtime, I went to a nearby diner that had the greasiest and most delicious hamburgers in the world. Today was a cheat day, and I knew exactly what I would eat on my cheat day.
I walked inside and headed to the counter where I picked up my order. After I paid for everything I waited for them to return with the food. The curly fries alone were enough to make me come all the way down here.
While I was waiting, I scanned the diner and my eyes fell on a cute blonde sitting alone in a booth. With one hand, she held the huge burger and took a massive bite. Her eyes were downcast on a magazine and she wasn’t even paying attention to what she was doing. A pickle fell out of the burger and fell on the plate. She didn’t even notice.
Then I recognized her face.
It was Harper.
She wore dark denim shorts and a white top. Her skin was slightly tan from being outside, and her hair was pulled up in a casual up do. Her bright eyes looked dull as she concentrated on the words she was reading.
Since I was waiting for my order, I decided to pay her a visit. “Hey, sweetheart.”
In mid-bite, she looked up at me. Slight surprise was in her eyes. After she recognized me, she took a big bite and chewed for a long time.
“You look like one of those hot chicks on those Carl’s Jr. commercials.”
She finished chewing then swallowed. “Like those models have ever had a burger in their life.”
“Maybe you can be the first.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
“Thank you for the compliment but I prefer to be a little chunky and be happy instead of starving myself.”
“A little chunky?” I asked incredulously. “You’re a perfect ten, sweetheart.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“I haven’t found a nickname yet.”
“Well, you better pick one out soon. I’m about to knee you in the balls.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You would be doing a disservice to all the women in Manhattan.”
She rolled her eyes. “Like any women have seen your balls…”
I bypassed her comment. “You want to be the first?”
She gave me an annoyed look that clearly said, “Go to hell.”
I chuckled. “What are you doing?”
“Eating,” she snapped. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Alone?” I asked. “Don’t have many friends, huh?” A teasing tone was in my voice.
“I’m on my lunch break,” she said. “And I’m too hungry to wait until I get my food to the office.”
“What do you do anyway?” I asked. It never came up so I didn’t have a clue.
“Interior decorator.”
“I didn’t know that,” I blurted.
“That’s probably why you asked…” Sarcasm was in her voice.
“That’s pretty cool,” I said sincerely.
“Yeah?” Distrust was in her eyes, like I was about to make a joke.
“Yeah,” I said.
The worker came over with my bag of food. “Here you are, man.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed it and set
it down. “Since you don’t have any friends, can I join you? I feel bad making you eat here all by yourself.”
“How sweet of you,” she said sarcastically.
I moved into the seat across the table and devoured my food. “This place has the best burger ever.”
“A cheap diner?” she asked incredulously. “You really need to try the upscale restaurants here.”
“Too snooty for me.” I grabbed my burger with both hands as I shoved it into my mouth.
She watched me eat, a disgusted look on her face. “Did your parents not teach you any table manners?”
“At least they taught me not to stare.”
She rolled her eyes then returned her gaze to her magazine. Then she picked at the fries on her plate.
We sat in comfortable silence. I ate while I watched her across the table. I noted the curve of her lips, the quality that always got my attention. Her upper lip reminded me of the curve of a bow. They looked so soft and full. I had the distinct feeling she was a good kisser. Too bad I would never know.
“Look who has a staring problem now.” She kept flipping through her magazine without directly looking at me.
“What else am I supposed to look at?”
She tossed a magazine at me. Home and Whole.
I cocked an eyebrow. “If it’s not Playboy or Maxim, I’m not reading it.” I didn’t subscribe or read either one of those magazines, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Maybe you should branch out a little bit. Just some friendly advice…”
I grabbed her magazine out of her hand then put it down. “How about you talk to your guest instead of ignoring him?”
“You’re the one who sat down uninvited.”
“No, I asked if I could join you.”
“And what did I say?” she challenged.
Actually, she didn’t say anything. But I wouldn’t admit I knew that. “How long have you been a designer?”
“A few years,” she said. “My business didn’t take off until the past year, however.”
“You have your own office and everything?” I asked in amazement.
“Yeah.” She looked at me like I was the first person to show any interest in her profession. She was practically on guard, waiting for me to take a jab. “You really think that’s cool?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked seriously. “Opening up any kind of business is hard in Manhattan. The fact you did it is totally badass.”
Emotion overcame her face and she didn’t try to hide it. She seemed to be in shock, floored by the words coming out of my mouth. She suddenly stiffened then looked down at her hands, like she was remembering something.
What did I say…?
It reminded me of Nate and every other person I helped. She just wanted to be loved and accepted like everyone else. “Well, I think it’s really cool. You shouldn’t care what they think because they’re obviously idiots. You’re badass, Harper. And really hot.”
She gave me a genuine smile that reached her eyes. She was suddenly in a much better mood, like life had steamed inside her body and healed her. Like a wilted flower brought back to life with water and sun, she held herself high and proud. “Well, thanks.”
“No prob.” I kept eating, noting the sudden change in atmosphere. We were slightly hostile to one another before but now there was a comfortable connection between us. I studied her face while I ate, and even though she knew I was watching her, she didn’t make a comment.
“Want to see my portfolio?” she asked.
“You carry it with you?”
“It’s online,” she explained.
“Oh, yeah sure.”
She pulled out her phone then pulled up the website. “Scroll left. It shows all the apartments and houses I’ve done.”
I sipped my soda while I browsed. I wasn’t visually creative, and I always wore t-shirts and jeans because that was the only level of style I had. But I was immensely impressed by her work. Each residence had a unique style like it was carefully crafted for the owner’s needs. “You have are a real talent, Harper.” I handed the phone back.
She smiled. “Thank you. And thank you for not calling me sweetheart.”
“It’s temporary,” I teased. “Don’t get used to it.”
She put her phone back in her purse. “It’s astounding what people will spend on an interior decorator. It’s so much fun and it’s something I would do for free. The fact people are willing to pay someone to go out and spend their money is beyond me.”
“At least it worked out in your favor,” I noted. “Do what you love and never work a day in your life.”
“Wise words, grasshopper,” she said in an Asian accent.
I smiled because she sounded so cute in the attempt. “I just bought a beach house in Connecticut. You want to decorate it?” I was the laziest person in the world when it came to decorating a house. Only the bare minimum was there now; the couches, TV, and bed.
Her jaw dropped and her eyes were wide. “Are you fucking serious?”
I tried not to laugh at the shocked expression on her face. “Yeah.”
“Like, oh my god, I would love to.”
Her excitement was infectious. For some reason, her happiness gave me happiness. “But I’ve got to be honest. I have no idea what I want so I’ll be difficult to work with.”
“I’ve had worse so don’t worry about it,” she said quickly. “This is so exciting! When do you want to start?”
I shrugged. “Whenever you want. You probably should see the house first, right?”
“I would love to!” She was a whole new person when it came to her passion. She was bright and bubbly, not sarcastic and moody. I liked both sides of her, but I particularly liked this side.
“Cool. You want to go tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that’ll be fun,” she said. “But I don’t have a car. I’m assuming you do?”
“Yep. It’s an essential for my job—showing up in a fancy car.”
“Awesome,” she said. “When do you want to pick me up?”
“I’m off tomorrow so it’s up to you.”
“How about noon?” she said. “I do most of my work in the morning.”
“That’s fine with me,” I said. “I sleep until eleven anyway.”
She didn’t make a jab at my laziness like I assumed she would. She took out a piece of paper and a pen. “What are the dimensions for your house?”
“You think I know that off the top of my head?”
“You know the square feet, right?”
“Seventeen hundred.”
She wrote it down. “That’s a good size. Why did you buy it, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Retirement. I’m going to rent it out as a vacation home. The days it’s not rented out, I can use it. It’s a win-win.”
“Smart idea,” she said with a nod.
“Thank you. I’m not as stupid as I look.”
“I never thought you were stupid,” she blurted. “A little annoying and cocky, sure. But never stupid.” She gave me a teasing smile then packed her things in her purse.
I liked seeing her smile. “I think you’re the first.”
“And I think I won’t be the last.”
I pulled up to the curb in front of her building and she got inside.
“You drive a Maserati?” Awe was in her voice. She felt the dashboard with her palm then stared at the shiny gizmos in the center console.
“Girls spend all their money on make up and clothes. Guys spend it on cars.”
“This is a sweet ride,” she said. “Very nice.”
“Thank you.” Her compliment made me feel warm. “I have to have a nice car so I can show up to parties and events in style. But it’s nice to have a regular person show some interest.”
“Regular person?” she asked in offense. “I’m anything but regular.”
I left the curb and joined the traffic. “True. My mistake.”
She pulled out a notebook and pen. “Tell me
the kind of things you like.”
“Blondes, big boobies, tight pussies—”
“You know what I mean, Troy.”
I gave her that cocky smile that annoyed her. “Be more specific next time.”
“Tell me the kind of things you like for your home.”
“I could give the same answer…”
She swatted my arm playfully, making me laugh. “I’m being serious.”
“Okay, fine.” I finally stopped chuckling. “I like dark colors, like black and gray. I have a more sophisticated taste. I’m not a fan of the modern look, you know, with red couches and a purple rug.”
She made the notes. “Duly noted. Anything else?”
“I care more about comfort than looks.”
“Good. That’s important.”
“And I want the room to feel comfortable. You know when you walk into a room and you just feel at home?”
“I do.”
“Well, that’s what I want. More people will want to rent the vacation home if they love the way it makes them feel.”
“Excellent marketing skills.” She made a few more notes. “I guess I’ll have a better feel when we get there.”
“You packed a bikini, right?” I asked.
“This is work, not pleasure.”
“Come on, I want to see that perfect ten body in a skimpy fabric that barely covers anything.” I nudged her playfully in the side.
She rolled her eyes but she was smiling at the same time. “No, I didn’t pack anything.”
“That’s cool,” I said. “I’m good with skinny dipping.”
“We aren’t skinny dipping,” she argued.
“Be a little adventurous for once in your life.”
“How do you know I’m not adventurous?” she countered.
“I can just tell.”
She released a sarcastic laugh. “You obviously don’t know me very well.”
“Then skinny dip with me.”
“In the ocean?” she asked incredulously. “People will be around.”
“I have a pool.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“I’ll change your mind…”
We pulled into the driveway then headed to the front door.
Harper examined everything with a designer eye. She was particularly impressed with the white fence porch. “This is really nice.”