She laughs. “He does not.”
“I’m serious.”
“Well, men should look after their skin.”
“That’s just his dick, babe. There’s an hour-long routine for his face.”
She playfully slaps my arm, and walks into the master, flopping down on the bed. “You’re crazy.”
“It’s true, go take a look.”
She leans out of the door and stares across the hall at the shared bathroom. The others haven’t even ventured upstairs, they’re in the kitchen getting stuck into the booze, but Lo slaps my arm for making her look.
She sits back on the bed and pats the space next to her. I join her, lying back and staring at the vaulted ceiling. She rests her head on my shoulder and sighs. It’s getting harder and harder to be around her and not make a move that will possibly end with me cheating on my girlfriend and ruining what Lo and I have. I can’t tell her the truth though.
Somehow, I fell back into Annie, and it was familiar, like a well-oiled machine, but I never fell back in love with her. I’m not sure I really loved her in the first place. I’m in love with my best friend, and I’m too much of a pussy to tell her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lo
The trade show is held at an awesome estate right on the lake. The grand hall literally looks like something out of the Viking era, with stone walls, a vaulted central space big enough to house several booths—with more outside—and a forty-foot stone fireplace. Everywhere I turn there are people rocking wicked designs or insanely talented artists tattooing customers at their booths. So far, several models have stopped by our table to give Gabe their cards—all scantily clad, big-breasted women who come on too strong. It’s no wonder Annie was worried about the boys coming alone. Someone needs to remind them this event is about business and not having their dicks bounced upon by the endless bevy of beauties.
Not that Gabe is looking, mind you. Not that Gabe is even allowed to talk to other women since he and Annie got back together. Me included.
I sit beside Mace at the booth, letting him use my forearm as a canvas for an intricate Sharpie tattoo as Gabe, Tommy, Santa, and Logan work the room.
“Do you think I can have my arm back?” I drop my shoulder, trying not to move but desperate to get some blood flow back into my fingers.
Mace pauses his doodling and frowns up at me. “But I’m just getting to the coloring.”
“I’ll come back, I promise. I just need to stretch my legs.”
He gives me a cynical look and rolls his shoulders, putting the cap back on the Sharpie and tossing it on the table in front of us. “You know, you can just say you’re going to find Gabe.”
“Fine. I’m going to find Gabe.”
“He’s with Annie, you know?”
“Yeah, I kinda got that.” I glare at him as I get to my feet. “It isn’t like that between us.”
“Right.” Mace nods. “And you two haven’t been in love with each other since you met in that bar.”
“Mace—”
“Save the bullshit for Annie, Lo. You know, there are other guys—available guys—who you could date.”
I scoff and gesture to the room around us. “Well obvi. There’s a whole line of them.”
“I’m fucking serious.”
“Can we not do this here?” I ask through clenched teeth and glance pointedly at the cute goth couple going through The Family Business’s look book. I grab my purse and leave the booth, wishing I had the forethought to be a damn smoker.
I head out of the grand hall onto the lush green estate, hoping I’ll find someone out there with a cigarette. What I find is better—cute, tattooed boys puffing on a joint by a huge pine. A smoky halo floats above their heads and I inhale deeply and walk confidently right up to them. “Hi. I’m Lo.”
“Hey, Lo.” The guy holding the joint says, and the other chuckles. “Dude, what the fuck?”
“You said hey, Lo. Like halo. It’s funny, ’Cause she looks like an angel.”