The Art of Dating

by Messe, Ellie

  ME: Can you bring this to Devina’s apartment, please. The girls are still asleep so don’t knock. Message me, and I’ll come open the door.

  CALEB: ETA 15 min.

  Setting my phone on the arm of the couch, my fingers idly run through her hair. Last night was easily the best night of my life; it was better than losing my virginity, greater than seeing my name engraved above the headquarter’s doors, and destroyed the night in Cancun after graduation. Seeing Devina so carefree and radiant stole all of those moments. She really has no clue how beautiful she is, you’d think a mirror would be enough but man...ugh, she’s breathtaking, and I wish she’d just see it already.

  Her hand squeezes tighter around my ribs, her hips slightly grinding against my leg. What I wouldn’t give for her friend to be anywhere but at our feet right now. I’d add a little pressure and watch her come alive, the second her eyes would open I’d roll her over, kissing her tequila flavored lips until neither of us had any air left in our lungs. My hands would rid her of her clothing, my mouth memorizing every dip and curve of her body until she was begging for me. I’d give her everything that needle dick prick doesn’t; I’d fuck her until she was mine, wipe out every thought, no, the very existence of him from her mind. Treat her the way she deserves to be treated.

  A soft hum escapes her lips pulling my thoughts to reality. Oh hell, I’m going to snap my zipper in half if I don’t get my thoughts together, all she has to do is open her eyes, and my dick would be the first thing she’d see. On second thought..no, no, too much. She’s blinded by the idea she wants that bastard and seeing my junk is sure to push her away.

  My phone vibrates with a message from Caleb; I don’t need to read it to know he’s outside her door. Adjusting my hard-on for the second time, I turn to face the gorgeous creature in my arms. It’s almost painful to wake her, but if she continues to nuzzle into me like this, I’m going to end up ruining everything, and it’s entirely too early in the plan to deviate now.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I wake up to my bed jerking underneath me.

  A male voice whispers while fingers gently run through my hair, “Hey, pretty girl.”

  It sounds a lot like Logan, but that’s crazy cause Logan wouldn’t be in my- oh my God. My eyes shoot open,

  He smiles when my shocked eyes land on him. “You drool.”

  “I do not.” Oh hell, my head hurts.

  “Sure you do, that’s how I know you were dreaming about me.”

  “I’ll kill both of you if you don’t stop talking.”

  Looking down at the foot of the bed, I see Amy sprawled out at our feet. I say our feet because the way I’m wrapped around Logan, it’s hard to tell who’s limb belongs to who.

  Quickly untangling myself, I mumble an apology while rolling over to my side of the bed.

  “How are you holding up?” I ask the lump known as Amy to avoid looking at Logan.

  “Miserable. What about you?”

  “A little better than you.” My choice to avoid looking at Logan is void by curiosity as he sits up, his hand openly adjusting himself while he stands, making a b-line for the front door.

  “Thank you.” He says, opening the door, “I’ll call when I’m ready.”

  I hear a male murmur from the other side before he closes the door, in his hands is a blue box.

  “Is someone here?” Amy drawls against the mattress.

  “I had Caleb bring the cure for hangovers,” Logan says from the counter.

  Opening the box, the scent of greasy breakfast food fills the room, turning my stomach. I’m not the only one, Amy forces her nose into the blanket while groaning. “That’s going to make me puke.”

  "Me too, take it away."

  “My God.” Logan stares at me, “Did you just turn down food?”

  “I’m pretty sure I drank half the bar last night,” I groan while my stomach churns.

  “It works, I promise.” He says holding a plate out to me.

  “I don’t want it.” I mock cry. “I’m gonna puke.”

  He sets the plate down on the mattress beside me, just seeing the pile of scrambled eggs is enough to make me gag.

  Wrapping my hand around my mouth, I skyrocket off the mattress and into the bathroom, dry heaving over the toilet. I hear Logan laugh as he approaches the still open door, “You need something to throw up.”

  “Fuck off, Logan.”

  Hearing the tap turn on, the tell-tale sound of a glass filling with water sounds as I continue to dry heave. He sets the glass of water next to me on the floor and leaves, closing the door as he goes.

  Knowing he has a point, I take the glass and drown myself in the tepid liquid, moving the cup just in time to empty my stomach.

  Oh, this is miserable, now that I’ve started I can’t stop.

  ”I’m dying,” I yell through the door, resting my cheek on the cold plastic seat.

  After managing to keep a glass of tap water down, I scrub my face and arms with cold water. This is why I don’t drink, sure it’s a blast while you’re out but the day after is always the same.

  “Where’s your toaster?” Logan asks Amy when I come out of the restroom.

  “I left it at Devina’s apartment.”

  “You have an apartment?” He asks as I climb back onto the bed.

  I shake my head, “No, it’s Cole’s.”

  “That she’s still paying rent for.”

  “Amy!” I scold, kicking her bare foot.

  “Well, you are.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You’re paying rent on an apartment you're not even living in?”

  “I haven’t taken my name off the lease yet; I keep forgetting.”

  “She thinks if she kicks him out he’ll never come back.”

  “You’re so much prettier with your mouth shut.”

  “Wait,” Logan says, stepping out from behind the counter. “You said he was living with that girl.” I nod, “So you’re paying for your ex-boyfriend and his mistress to live together?”

  “I’m not paying for them to live together.” I defend, picking at a piece of egg, “I just forgot to inform the office I’m no longer there.”

  “Why haven’t you just called them?” He presses further.

  “I don’t know.” I say in agitation, “Probably because it’s a great apartment and the rent isn't crippling. If he moves out, I could lose it.”

  “I keep telling her to kick him out; he’s not even on the lease.”

  I glare at Amy while Logan takes her side, “I agree, it’s your apartment.”

  “Well, your goal here is to get us back together, so what’s the point of kicking him out if he’s just going to move back in?”

  “Because you’re paying for it.” He says almost appalled, “None of this is going to work if he thinks he can have you back at a drop of a hat.”

  “But…” I say slowly, “He can.”

  “Men want what they can’t have.”

  “You must be dying when you’re around me then.” Amy mumbles.

  “Every day.” He smiles in her direction.

  A nasty feeling blooms in my stomach, I feel almost jealous. But that’s preposterous; I want Logan, I’ve always wanted Logan- Shit, I mean, Cole. Wide-eyed, I glance up at him like he might have heard my thoughts. He’s in the room, I probably just replaced Cole’s name because he’s here.

  Tipping my head down, I avoid looking at him as I push my food around my plate. My nausea has more or less passed, but I still don’t have much of an appetite.

  “You know I’m going to have to rectify this right?” Logan says from the kitchen.

  I look up at him, “Rectify what?”

  “Him living there. First, we’re going to need to work on your seduction skills.”

  My face scrunches up, “Why?”

  “Because I need you to be alluring and uninterested, not stare at him like a love-struck puppy.”

  “Who says I can’t be alluring and uninterested?�
�

  Amy chuckles while Logan gives me an incredulous glare.

  “What?”

  “Fine,” He says standing, “Show me what you’ve got.”

  “On who? You?” He nods, “I’m not going to flirt with you.”

  “Come on, don’t be a wuss.”

  “I’ll do it.” Amy volunteers with a laugh, though she refuses to get up after saying it.

  “What’s the worst that can happen?” He smiles at me.

  “You could fall in love with me.” I tease, throwing a piece of egg in my mouth.

  “Highly unlikely, have you seen the way you look in the morning?”

  "Well, if you're that unimpressed with my bed head, you're more than welcome to crash at your own place." I smile sweetly at him.

  “It was a little hard to get up and leave when I had a drunken heap laying on me.”

  I blush at the memory of me curled around him, “Could have just pushed me off.”

  He shrugs, “It was the only position you wouldn’t snore in.”

  I sigh in annoyance, “I don’t snore.” Amy and Logan laugh at the same time, causing my cheeks to redden further. “I hate you both.”

  “It’s not like you were calling the ships home or anything, though with the amount of spit dribbling out of your mouth I wouldn’t be surprised if they were able to dock right here in your living room.”

  Amy laughs hard before groaning, her hands squeezing the sides of her head. “Ow, shut up guys, I can’t laugh right now, I think I’m still drunk.”

  “For your friend's sake, we’ll get a raincheck on your flirting lesson.”

  “I don’t need a raincheck or a lesson. I can manage just fine.”

  “Can you?”

  Throwing my arms up from my lap, I growl. “Yes, Logan. I’m not completely worthless; I managed to get Cole didn’t I? And let’s not forget you asking me out.”

  “When?” He demands with a chuckle like the very idea is outrageous.

  Jutting out my chin, I meet his humored eyes, “At that speed dating thing you asked me out, twice. Oh, and then the night of the masquerade.”

  “Correction, you asked me to dinner.”

  “Correction to your correction, I told you that you could tag along after I turned down your date.”

  He goes silent, his eyes unfocused as he tries to recall that night, “I think you might be right, I stand corrected.”

  “And don’t you forget it either.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  “Stop fidgeting.” Logan scolds for the third time since I learned about today’s plan. Two and half weeks ago I admitted that Cole was living in my apartment, apparently that has to change.

  We’re currently in the elevator of my old apartment after Logan convinced the office aide to print an eviction notice. My heart pounds with nerves and guilt; my gut says this is a terrible idea.

  “What's the plan?” He prompts for the second time.

  “I’m to remain silent. If I’m spoken to, I smile politely and wait for you to reply. I’m not allowed to look at him like a love-struck puppy, and if he isn’t alone, I’m to pretend not to care.”

  He nods once, “Right. And what’s the goal?”

  “To appear indifferent.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because men want what they can’t have,” I answer just in time for the elevator to stop.

  “Good girl. Here we go, ready?”

  I chew on my lip, nodding and take the first step into the hall.

  “Trust me.” He says low, resting his hand on my lower back, “Which one is yours?” I point to the far left door, “Breathe.”

  Sucking in an exaggerated breath, I let him lead me in front of the door.

  “Fix your face.”

  Shaking my head out, I push my shoulders back. “Ready.”

  Logan’s fist comes down against the door in rapid, almost angry raps.

  “I’m not ready,” I say in a small panic.

  Fingers wrap around mine, giving me a tight squeeze, “Yes, you are. Trust me.”

  The door pulls away from the frame to reveal the blonde skank. Logan releases my hand and offers it to her. “Hello, I’m Logan Devitt,” pulling away, he opens the flap of the manilla envelope and lifts the eviction note, “This is Devina Anderson, we’re here to talk to a,” His eyes look over the paper, “Cole Hewitt.” He eyes her expectantly when she doesn’t answer right away.

  “Like, Devitt Network, Logan Devitt?”

  “In the flesh. Hewitt?”

  “Oh, um. One sec.”

  Closing the door halfway, she calls for him over her shoulder. Taking a silent breath, I hold my features stoically in place as he opens the door, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Beads of water run down his chest, disappearing under the white fabric. Realizing I’m staring, I immediately lift my eyes to his.

  “Devina?” My heart squeezes painfully; he only calls me by my name when he’s mad. I smile, but it’s saltier than I was aiming for. Looking me up and down, he rests his gray gaze on mine, “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m Logan Devitt.” Logan extends his hand forward once again.

  “As in Devitt Network,” Monica whispers, almost in a scold.

  Peeling his eyes off mine, Cole gives her a passing look before shaking Logan’s hand.

  “Cole Hewitt.”

  “I’m well aware.” Logan’s tone is professional acid, his demeanor almost calling a smile to my lips. “Are you aware you aren’t on the lease?”

  “What?” Cole looks to me before giving Logan his attention.

  “Yes, see this apartment is in Miss Anderson’s name,” Logan produces a sheet of paper from his envelope, handing it to him. “We have financial records of her continued payments here,” Producing another sheet; he hands it over.

  “What is this?” Cole asks me.

  “And this,” Logan goes on as if Cole never spoke, “Is an eviction notice. You have forty-eight hours to vacate the premise. Any personal belongings left in the dwelling after your allotted time will be considered forfeit of ownership.”

  “This is bullshit!” Cole seethes, fisting the documents in his hand, “This was our place, Dee.”

  “And now it’s mine.” I know I wasn’t supposed to reply, but up until the eviction notice he wasn’t able to take his eyes off me, cementing the fact that Logan’s plan is working. It made me a little giddy.

  “My lawyer is on standby if you have any questions or concerns,” Logan tells him, handing over a business card.

  Cole refuses to break eye contact with me, so Logan hands the card to Monica instead.

  “We’ll be refurnishing so don’t be shy with the furniture.” I smile, pulling away from the door. Logan’s cheek twitches, following my lead. Once my back is to the door, a bright smile spreads across my face. I call the elevator, not even feeling the need to turn around.

  “That was...empowering,” I admit once the elevator doors close.

  “You deviated.” He scolds, but his tone isn’t angry, it’s more amused even if he’s trying to hide it.

  “Yeah, but I rocked the hell out of that situation.”

  “I agree.” A smile finally blesses his face, “So, when will we be refurnishing?”

  “Shut up,” I laugh, “It just came out, plus it probably drove him crazy. Did you see the way he was staring at me?” Clasping my chest, I swoon against the wall of the elevator. “It’s working.”

  “You should never doubt me.” He smirks, stepping forward when the elevator doors open, “My plans always work.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “Ew,” Amy gags, “It smells like ass and gross pussy in here.”

  Huffing, I turn to glare at her. “Not funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be.” She admits, looking over my empty bedroom.

  Cole managed to clear the majority of the apartment when he left yesterday. I’m left with the couch, my bookshelves, and an abundance of boxes conta
ining all my stuff. I’m not sure what I was expecting to find, the idea of having my clothes still hanging from the closet, and toiletries still in their rightful place seems far-fetched and stupid, yet I was still surprised to find them thrown haphazardly into boxes and crammed into the closet.

  I’m lucky to have Amy and Logan’s help today, she assisted in packing up my belongings from her house and agreed to help me ‘wash the stank’ out of my apartment, whatever that means. Logan was our ride back and forth between Ames’ apartment and the furniture store where I was able to acquire new furniture. I’ve been saving for a new apartment, now that I’ve reclaimed my old one, I had more than a pretty penny to splurge at the store.

  “Oh, the guys are back.” Amy claps, moving behind me.

  “What are you so excited about?” I ask, picking up a box of books. “It’s just Logan and Caleb.”

  “I know, but they’re both wicked hot.”

  I scrunch my face, “Caleb’s not hot, he’s old.”

  “I prefer a Silver Fox.” She winks.

  “Are we talking about the same person?” I whisper, hearing Logan and Caleb talking down the hall, “Caleb doesn’t have gray hair.”

  “Ugh, whatever, you’re ruining my fun.” She complains, walking out to join the guys with me in tow.

  Emerging into the kitchen, Amy clears her throat, “Remember when you agreed that Logan’s wicked hot?”

  My face falls of any emotion while a burn unlike I’ve ever felt sinks into my cheeks. Caleb and Logan both stare at me while Amy sashays towards them, “I did not.”

  “Yes, you did. I said they were both wicked hot and you agreed that Logan was.” She smiles a cocky grin over her shoulder. My options are to admit I think he’s cute or have Amy out me that I said Caleb wasn’t and hurt his feelings.