I shake that thought off. No, not Carly. She’d spend ten minutes with Robin, and I bet they’d be best friends. She’s a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body. I’ll set up dinner so Carly and I can go out with Robin and her wife. I don’t want Carly to have a single doubt. I have a feeling I might be projecting or something. I’d want to kill any man near Carly. As much as I don’t want her to be jealous because there isn't a reason, I like thinking she’d get jealous over me.
I notice Reed taking in my office as I head back to my desk. “What?” I ask, feeling defensive all of a sudden. Does my office look like shit or something? I’ve never given a fuck what anyone thought of my office but me. I’m the one that has to be in it. Now I’m wondering if Carly is going to stand here with the same expression on her face. What if she hates my space?
Reed just shrugs. Only he would show up to my office to not talk. Fucking typical Reed. I’m guessing he’s not used to an office that might be a little inviting, unlike his own. Mine has a few pictures here and there of family and a signed ball I got from a game my dad took me to when I was younger. I think the more time Reed spends with Tinsley, the more he’ll change into a nicer person. Now that he’s finally letting someone close to him.
“What?” I finally ask as I sit back down. “Don’t you have a wedding to be planning? A girl to stalk?” Ha. Now I’m being a hypocrite.
“How the tables have really turned.”
I narrow my eyes at him. He is right. “Don’t act like you don’t have someone watching your woman.” He always does. Even when she didn't know. I think I’m stealing some of his moves now. He gives me another one of his shrugs. I let out a sigh, leaning back in my chair.
“It’s consuming, isn't it?” It is. He turns to look at me. “I’ve been mad at my father for years you know.” I nod. I knew that. Reed’s father became the shell of the man he’d been once he lost his wife. “I get it now. He does better than I would if I lost her.”
“Fuck. Don’t say that shit. You’re not going to lose Tinsley, but even still you’d never do that to any children she left you. I know you can be a cold bastard, but I know who you really are, Reed. You wouldn't do that to your child. You know all too well what it feels like.”
“You’re right.” He’s quick to agree.
“My parents. They have always been madly in love. I’m starting to see a trend with us Weston men.”
“When we fall, we fall hard?”
“Yes.” He shakes his head in agreement. “I say we come to terms with the fact that we’re just a little bit crazy. If we do that, then we can both agree it’s pointless to be sitting here when we could be sitting at the bar of my restaurant watching them with our own eyes.” Reed, smirks seeming to like my idea. “You didn't come here to try and fuck with me.” He gives me a look. I put my hands up, laughing. “Okay you didn't only come here to fuck with me. You’re killing time. Waiting.”
He stands from the chair in front of my desk. “Then what are we waiting for?”
“Not a fucking thing.” I stand, ready to go get my girl. The only difference between Reed and me is he already got the girl. I’m still trying to get mine to not think I’m crazy. OR at least not know I am until after I’ve gotten my hold firmly on her.14Carly“Do you realize we could end up with the same last name?” My pretty frozen drink pauses almost to my mouth. I had thought of that a few times. Each time I’d shove it right back out of my head. It’s as if my mom hears Tinsley when my phone vibrates on the table. We both look down at it. Tinsley snags the phone off the table before I can. “No. Not today. This is my day. She’s not putting you in a bad mood on my day.”
“Okay,” I agree, taking a drink of the mock margarita.
“So.” She puts my phone back down on the table. “Back to us having the same last name.” She beams at the idea. It does sound really kickass.
“Tonight is about your last name.”
She shakes her head no. “Not a chance in hell.”
“Tins. It hasn't even been a full week since all of this started. We should give it some time before we go getting ahead of ourselves.” I try to play it off. Her and Reed’s relationship is different. It may have seemed as though everything happened quickly once it started, but they’d known each other and loved each other for years.