It’s after midnight, and I smell like death. “Not happening. Some of us are exhausted after working doubles.”
He follows me out. Unfortunately.
“Please,” he begs. “Just for an hour. It’s just Silk. Okay? I’m trying to stay away from all the good women, so if they think I’m there with a date and hit on me, obviously they’re not good. There are a lot more good women out there than you realize.”
“You realize how fucked up that sounds?” I ask him, but suddenly I’m stopping and glaring at my car that has a flat tire.
“Looks like you need a ride,” Maverick drawls. “And guess who will be happy to oblige if you give him one hour of your time.”
“I hate you,” I tell him as he grabs my backpack from my shoulder and tosses it over his.
“That part isn’t important. One hour, Bella. Maybe less.”
I glare at the cheeky ass who is beaming at me. “One hour,” I begrudgingly agree.
He lights up and tosses my bag into his car that is parked beside mine.
“And you had so better not be the reason my tire is flat.”
He swats his hand in a dismissive gesture as we both get in his car.
“I’m not that desperate, but I’ll call Rye to have someone come take care of it. They’ll even drop it off at your house. And I’ll buy all your drinks as payment.”
“No. You’ll just owe me one,” I tell him. “And I’m definitely going home to shower and change first.”
He curls his nose like he’s disgusted. “As if that was ever not an option.”
I flip him off as he laughs, and I sit back in his seat, ready to get this night over with so I can crash.
Maverick pulls into my yard and then follows me inside. He looks around, seemingly curious about my small house, even though he’s been in here a few times before. He’s not a snob though, so he never acts like he’s unimpressed or anything.
“Hey, that looks like Ethan’s,” he says randomly, pointing out the one thing Ethan Noles has left at my house.
It’s his black T-shirt that says “Fuck Me Running” on it, and maybe I’ve worn it to bed a few times. Okay, so every night I wear it.
“That’s from a guy I dated,” I tell him, technically not lying as I head toward the back. “Do not go through my things.”
He shrugs as I plug my phone into the wall to charge, and I head into the bathroom to get ready, hoping I don’t fall asleep in the damn shower.
Chapter 27
ETHAN
It’s late when I finally get out of the office, but I count on Bella still being awake, since she said she had to stay late again.
I call her phone, but it’s not her voice that answers.
“Hello?” some fucking guy asks.
“Um… Is Bella there?” I ask, confused as I pull my phone back and check to make sure I’ve called the right person.
“Yeah,” he drawls, sounding oddly familiar. “She’s in the shower. Is this—”
“Who the fuck is this?” I ask, past the point of pissed off.
“Who the fuck is this?” he parrots, and I almost feel him grinning.
Instead of answering, I hang up, trying not to crush my phone in my hand. Yeah, sounds like she’s a tired girl. I’m gone for a few days, and some guy is answering her phone while she’s in the shower.