“Right.”
“How can you forget the name of someone you dated?” I shove a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. Because right now I need all the sprinkles I can get. How can he care that little about who he dates?
“Yeah, Reed.” Rita turns to look at us. “How can you forget someone you dated? It’s almost like she didn't exist at all.” I nod in agreement. I wish that was true.
“I’m busy. I can’t remember everyone’s name.” He grabs the sprinkles. “You need more.” He shakes them into my bowl.
“You can never have too many,” I agree, taking a bite of my ice cream. He nods in agreement. We sit in silence as we both eat. I try to think of something to talk about but I’m suddenly nervous. I’m working myself up. I see him all the time. Why am I being weird now? Oh, because now I’m trying to seduce him. That’s right. As you can see, that’s not going too well for me. I can barely get him to talk, never mind anything else.
“You have something.” Reed reaches with his thumb, swiping below my bottom lip. “Ice cream.” He brings it to his mouth, sucking it clean. My heart races. That did not just happen.
“Ahh!” I scream when my phone rings. Both Rita and Reed look at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Sorry.” I grab my phone. “Gotta go.” I rush out of the kitchen before I make a bigger fool of myself. I answer the phone. “I failed,” I grumble. God, I suck at this.3ReedThe scotch burns my throat as I swallow it down in one gulp. I close my eyes, trying to relax. My whole body is strung tight. Dinner was hell. I don’t know what is going on with Tinsley. After she practically ran from the kitchen, she’d gone quiet. She came back to dinner a few hours later and we both ate in silence.
Normally she goes on about her day, sometimes just chattering to fill the silence. She usually tells me everything she did that day, but tonight she’s different. I’m on edge because I’m used to her lively stories after a long day at the office. I look forward to hearing every single word that comes from her beautiful mouth.
I'm curious to know who called her. Her demeanor seemed to change after that. That had to be it. She was happy when I got home. She took my tie off and made me a bowl of ice cream. Then I touched her. Her lips are even softer than her skin. Again she smelled like vanilla. I always thought vanilla was plain. Boring even. Then Tinsley came along and now I have a small obsession with it. Or maybe it’s her I have the small obsession with.
I drop my glass down on the table next to me. It isn't doing shit to calm me down, so what’s the point of having another? “Sir, I’m heading out.” Rita stands in the doorway to my office. I glance at the clock. It’s a little after nine.
“Is she still in her room?” I ask. She went there straight after dinner. Her cell phone was glued to her hand. Who the hell was she talking to? She was jittery about it, which put me on edge. What if it’s a guy? She hates men. She is scared of them. Maybe she’s over that now. It should make me happy if she’s beaten her fear of them, but I’m a bastard so I’m not.
“Yes.”
I nod, standing up. “See you tomorrow.”
Rita looks like she wants to say something else, but she doesn't. I wait until I know she’s gone before I exit my office. I make my way towards Tinsley’s room. I’m quiet as I listen to see if she’s awake or what she might be doing. No sounds come from her bedroom, but I can see the light on under the door. I take a step closer, standing there.
“Fuck.” I run my hand down my face, making myself get the hell out of here.
“I found this on its way in.” Rita stands there with James who has a shit eating grin on his face knowing I wouldn't have buzzed him in.
“I’m not taking guests tonight.”
“Fuck off.” James follows.
“See you boys later,” Rita calls after us.
“What are you doing here?” I head into the kitchen. James makes himself at home, grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“It’s early. Let’s go out.” He takes a swig of his water.
“No.”
“What is wrong with you? I swear you're becoming a bigger asshole each year.”
“And when wasn’t I an asshole?” I sit down at the counter wondering how long James is going to be here. He can be relentless. I’d throw him out on his ass, but he is my only cousin. Which made him a pain in my ass that I was pretty much stuck with.