I blew out a hiss of breath. “If that’s losing, I’m a damn moron for spending my entire life competing to win.”
• • •
We slept pretty late the next morning and were still in bed playing around at eleven when Georgia’s phone rang. Maggie’s name flashed on the screen, so she swiped to answer while I sucked on her neck.
“Hey.”
“I think Gabriel is losing his shit.”
I hadn’t meant to listen, but I heard the words loud and clear since I was currently on top of her with our heads so close. Pulling back, my eyes met Georgia’s. She frowned.
I got up. “I’m going to take a shower.”
I heard half the conversation as I walked to the bathroom.
“What do you mean?” And then a pause before, “Why would the receptionist tell him that?”
I probably could’ve heard the rest of it from the bathroom, but rather than eavesdrop and ruin my mood more, I took an extra-long, hot shower. When Georgia had first told me about her open relationship, I figured it was the perfect arrangement. We could enjoy each other for a few months, and then, probably when things between us started to wane anyway, I wouldn’t feel bad leaving her high and dry when I left for California. Besides, the other guy wasn’t even in the country, so that would make it easy not to remember he existed. But the more I got to know Georgia, the more the other guy who wasn’t even in the country was still somehow too close. I was starting to understand how the women I’d dated the last few years felt. Two people agreed to a physical-only relationship, some light fun without strings attached, yet one ends up wanting more. Only this time, it was me holding the short stick. And it royally sucked.
My fingers were pruney by the time I finally came back out of the bathroom. Georgia had put on a T-shirt and looked lost as she stood at the window staring at the city below.
When she heard me, she turned. “Sorry about that.”
I rubbed my wet hair with a towel. “Nothing to be sorry about.”
“Maybe not technically, but it still feels wrong to discuss another man on the phone while I’m here with you.”
I said nothing.
She frowned. “Gabriel texted me a few times yesterday. When I didn’t respond, and I wasn’t answering my office phone, he called the main number at my office. Apparently, the receptionist told him I was on vacation for two weeks and asked if he’d like to speak to Maggie. When they transferred him, he gave Maggie the third degree. She told him she’d pass along his message, but that was all she would say.”
I nodded.
“Should I call him and tell him I’m seeing someone?” she asked.
“I don’t know, Georgia. I don’t think I’m the right person to give you advice on how to manage things with your ex-fiancé. I’d probably tell the guy to go fuck himself. You don’t try to track him down while he’s busy fucking other women, do you?”
Georgia frowned again.
“Yeah, like I said, not sure I’m the right person to ask.”
I headed back to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came out again, she was still at the window. I walked up behind her and rubbed her shoulders.
“I’m not trying to be a dick, Georgia. It’s just…I know this is supposed to be only a summer of fun, yet I can’t help but feel territorial when it comes to you, whether that’s right or wrong. I also care about you, and I don’t like the idea of some asswipe stringing you along and then suddenly showing some interest when you start to pay less attention to him. He sounds like he’s just playing games.”
She turned around. “I do understand it’s weird to talk to you about it. Do you think we can pretend Maggie never called and enjoy our day? The last thing I want is to put a damper on our fun. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t want to go to work, or even check in with the office. I love being in this little bubble with you, and I don’t want it to end.”
I forced a smile and leaned in to kiss her. “What phone call?”
The smile that spread across her face made my chest hurt. “Thank you. Actually, I’d like to thank you properly.” She reached for the towel tucked at my waist and gave it a quick tug. It fell to the floor, and suddenly I really couldn’t remember any phone call.
CHAPTER 17
* * *
Georgia
The next week flew by way too fast. Max and I did just about every touristy thing in New York, and then some. It made me sad to think that in just a couple of days, I’d be going back to work. Tonight we were venturing out of the city—not too far, only to New Jersey—to watch a hockey playoff game with his teammate Tomasso and Jenna, his wife, whom I’d sat next to a few times watching their games.