"We're not having this conversation." I delete the woman's picture and I block her number.
"I want beef pho," Piper says. "You should get it too. I'll show you how to fix it right."
"Isn't that the restaurant's job?"
"Sort of. You put in the toppings, so it's however you like. You have sriracha?"
"Yeah."
"Then that's it. Oh, and a Vietnamese iced coffee for me. It's sweetened condensed milk and iced coffee. It's good."
It sounds too creamy and syrupy, but now that caffeine, sugar, and casual sex are the only vices I'm allowed, I'm willing to consider it.
I call the restaurant and order our food. It will be thirty minutes until it's here. Fast for a holiday evening.
I leave my phone on the counter. Fuck, this is weird. This time last year, I was high as a kite, balls deep in some chick who didn't even bother to tell me her name.
And now I've got Piper in my apartment.
She grabs a glass from one of the cabinets and nods to the sink. "Do you mind?"
"No, make yourself at home." I wait for her to sit on the couch before I pour myself a glass of water. Don't trust myself to get close to her. I can't remember the last time I had a woman here and didn't come with her.
Don't think it's ever happened.
She turns on the TV and goes straight to the New Years Eve coverage, the one in Times Square where the ball drops.
None of the women who have been in this apartment would do that.
I can't help but let out a chuckle. She really is a sweet girl. This is how she should be spending her New Years—on the couch, watching TV.
Still, she's a pretty girl. I take a seat on the opposite end of the couch so my body doesn't get ideas about hers.
She waits for the show to go to commercial to speak. "So you and the blonde..."
"You're gonna keeping asking about this, aren't you?"
She turns her body to face mine. Her expression gets animated. "I'm curious."
I shoot her a please look.
"How does that work?"
"I'm sure Mal's told you about the birds and the bees."
"My parents gave me the talk when I was six. They're biologists. They love talking about primate mating habits. I understand how erections work. And I've... I'm just not sure how the whole groupie throws herself at rock star thing works. It's not like Ethan ever says yes to women in front of me. Or was she just some random chick at a party who didn't even realize you were famous?" Her cheeks flush. "You are an attractive man."
"You embarrassed about that?"
"No. You're hot. The dark hair, the dark eyes, the piercings, the tight jeans— you're the total package." Her cheeks and chest flush. "I don't mean... well I did see that you have a large... you're gifted that way."
God, she really is a sweet girl.
She's a breath of fresh air.
Most women are nervous around me because I'm famous. Not Piper. She's nervous because she has a crush on me. She doesn't exactly hide it.
"So, how does it go?" she asks. "Does she proposition you, then you check her tits, decide they're nice enough, and say yes?"