And I can do it well.
I’ve been taking care of her since she moved in here. Not much will change, and whatever will is just a welcome bonus: mind-blowing sex and my status.
In a relationship.
Thalia’s still in bed, naked body covered with a blanket, her face half-buried between two pillows. She let her hair down, the mass of curls draped over one shoulder.
I crawl in beside her, oddly at peace when her lips swipe along my neck. She pushes me to my back and cuddles into my side, forcing my arms around her exhausted, hot frame. I don’t skip a beat, pulling her closer, holding onto the beautiful brunette for dear life.
This is just the beginning. The verystartof us.
“I guess I need to move out,” she whispers, ghosting her fingers up and down my torso, tracing every curve.
“Yeah, I guess you do.” I kiss her temple, then grip her jaw, twist her head up and find those perfect lips. She tenses a little, unsure if I’m joking. “You need to vacate the guest bedroom and move your stuff in here,omorfiá.”
TWENTY-TWO
Thalia
“GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT!” Cass exclaims on Friday at the end of our shift. “I want all the saucy details about you and Theo.”
The news about us spread like wildfire on Monday when Theo took me to work and made a show of kissing me outside the front door, where the cart girls waited for Cassidy to arrive and open the Club.
Despite her high absence rate, she’s the only one Jared trusts with keys, even though he’s the one being dragged out of bed whenever she doesn’t show up for work.
A pleasant heat rushed through me at Theo’s willingness to claim me in public instead of keeping our relationship a secret.
“Where do you want to go?” I ask, stripping out of the uniform and into a summer dress. “And who’s coming?”
“Same as last time, plus Kaya. We went to college together, and now she’s the new head of marketing at the Country Club. You might’ve seen her at the party last week.” She lowers her voice before shedding more light on the subject. “She’s the one who slept with Nico.”
Oh, the beautiful brunette. “Fine, what time? Are we meeting atTortugo?”
“No. We’re getting ready at your place.”
“You mean Theo’s place. I thought you hated him.” I stash the uniform in my locker. “You know I have to check with Theo if that’s okay, right?”
“Yeah, I know. Oh! Shit, I almost forgot!” She points to an obscenely large bouquet of red roses in a vase on one of the tables. “These are for you. I signed for them earlier.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I never pegged Theo for a man who sends his girl flowers.”
Neither have I. “Are you sure those are for me?”
“Is there another Thalia working here?”
“I guess not.”
“Exactly. You should be bouncing up and down, hugging those damn roses, and squealing. You’re one lucky bitch.” She glances at the flowers again, eyes dull, lips curling down slightly.
“Hey, listen,” I say, touching her arm. “If you ever want to talk about—” I trail off, unsure whether mentioning Logan is a good idea. “About anything, I’m here.”
She grimaces again, biting her lip, then curls her lips into a crooked smile, wrapping her arms around me for a brief hug. “Thanks, babe, but there’s not much of a story here,” she sighs, defeated. “I’m okay. It’s just taking an extraordinarily long time to rid the feelings, you know? Logan and I... I thought we were heading in the right direction, you know? But I messed up, and I’m paying the price.”
“There’s always a story. How about we grab a coffee sometime next week, and you can tell me all about it?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think talking is what I need. Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m tougher than I look.”
“You know where to find me if you change your mind. Just say the word.”
“Thanks, babe, it means a lot.” She kisses my cheek. “Text me once you get the go-ahead from your man.” She flings a bag over her shoulder and walks through the back exit to get to the employee parking lot.