I shook my head, pacing the confined room like a caged animal.
“Are you going to give me a hint here or do I need to keep guessing?”
“He’s Ruck.”
“Huh?”
“Ruck! TapNext Ruck!” I stopped, my arms flying out in front of me.
She tilted her head. “The guy who sent the Hunchcock?”
I nodded maniacally. “Well, it wasn’t really his Hunchcock,” I started to explain, but realized we really didn’t have time for that.
“I think I’m still missing something? I’m not really understanding your panic here…” She paused, waiting for me to give an explanation.
“Well, I never really stopped talking to him,” I muttered, feeling ashamed to admit it out loud.
“Excuse me?” she asked, her eyes popping out in shock. “You’ve been talking to him this whole time?”
I nodded.
Cassie shook her head like she couldn’t process it.
“Listen, I’ll tell you all of the details later, but you need to act like you’re familiar with him.”
“With who?” She was still not catching on.
“Ruck!”
“Wait…who’s Ruck again?”
I was about three seconds away from pulling my hair out.
“Kline’s friend, Thatch! That’s Ruck!” I whisper-yelled.
“Okay, okay.” She gripped my shoulders. “Just take some breaths, G. Everything will be fine.”
I took a few cleansing breaths, calming my racing heart down.
“Just tell me one thing. Why do I need to act like I know him?”
I sighed, staring down at my feet.
“Georgia?”
“Because you’re still my profile picture,” I whispered in a rush, hoping she wouldn’t understand.
She started laughing and shaking her head in disbelief. “Remember this moment.” She pointed a finger in my direction. “Because you owe me. Big time.”
I nodded. “Anything you want.”
“When we get home, you’re going to explain why you’re still talking to other guys when you’re very happy with Kline.”
“I swear to you, it’s not like that.”
She quirked a brow.
“I promise. I really like Kline. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that. Ruck is dating someone. I’m dating someone. And we never make plans to meet in person.”
“Okay, I believe you.” Cass pulled me in for a hug. “Who knows? Maybe he won’t even know it’s you…well, me…fuck, this is confusing.”
I groaned. “How do I get myself into these situations?”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve got your back. I’ll distract what’s-his-face while you and Kline enjoy a night out.”
“Thank you.”
She handed me my clutch off the sink and moved toward the door.
I glanced at myself in the mirror, making sure I didn’t look as crazy as I felt. My makeup was still intact, not a hair out of place. All I needed was another drink, or five, to calm my nerves and I’d be good to go.
Maybe.
As I walked past Cassie, she whispered, “Just so you know, this is really screwing with my big plan of seducing your brother tonight.”
I rolled my eyes.
She held the door open for me. “Don’t worry, I’ll save it for another night,” she added, a smirk on her face.
“Good plan, you slutty turncoat.”
“Heyyy,” she slurred, hinting at less sobriety than I’d hoped for going into a situation like this. “I’m no fucking traitor and you know it. I’m getting ready to eye-fuck the shit out of this guy for an entire evening just for you.”
“No,” I corrected. “No fucking, eye or otherwise. Just talking. We’re friends.”
She smirked as we rounded the corner and the guys came into view.
“What’s his name again?” she asked, her eyes glowing like the last embers of a dying fire.
“Thatch,” I answered by rote, minutely horrified that another member of my work world knew I was a virgin—or that I used to be—even though he didn’t know I was me…I was Rose. Whatever. “Thatcher Kelly.”
“Mmm,” she moaned, fluffing her breasts into an even higher elevation in the cups of her bra and licking her lips.
“I’d thatch that.”
Fuckkk. I should have known. For Cass, it was all in the name. This was going to be one long-ass night.
“This place is unreal. You come here all the time?” Will asked as we walked into The Raines Law Room, dim lights and old-style sofas filled to the brim surrounding us.
“Not really,” I answered honestly, knowing it wasn’t really the place but the actual going that was the problem. “This is really more Thatch’s style.” The vibe was chill, but the allure was the drama. “The cloak and dagger, the limited access.”