Fall

It was hard not to be jealous — to crave what she had, and to be pissed at myself for tainting it.

With a sigh, she lifted the cup to her lips. “They said the orphanage is doing really well, and they’re flying back into the country to go to Seattle and see my sister, then driving back.”

“Soon.” My heart dropped.

Her eyes met mine. “Few days.”

I had a few days to play house before whatever we had was gone. I tried to keep my face emotionless, tried and failed as she reached across the counter and put her hand over mine. “I just want you to know…”

Oh great, another friend talk.

“You’re one of the best people I know… I just… I love your heart. That’s all.” With a shrug she picked up her coffee and walked back toward the shower… While I sat down and grinned smugly into my mug, maybe things would turn out after all.

I just needed to get my shit together, murder Smith, and try not to get run over by her dad’s car when I asked him for permission to date his daughter.

****

“You’re sure in a good mood.” Evan breezed into the room, threw on his jacket and snatched the keys from the counter.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.” He smiled. “It’s my half day.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m not leaving you alone. Smith comes in on Wednesdays to help.”

“Oh good, maybe we can take our pants off and see whose is bigger.”

“Right.” Evan snorted. “You’d probably lose anyway.”

“What the hell, man!”

“Kidding!” He waved goodbye and walked out the door. It wasn’t but five minutes when Smith came waltzing into the place like he owned it.

Which I guess in a way he did — or his family did.

He was talking on his cell. “I can’t wait to see you either, baby.”

And good mood gone.

“No, no, it’s fine. I think it will be good to talk.” His eyes narrowed. “Listen, I told you not to worry about her, we’re just hanging out…”

My ears perked up. What the hell? Was he cheating on Pris?

“Love you too.”

Holy shit. I was seeing stars. If he was talking to Pris I was going to jump off a cliff and impale myself on the sharp rocks.

“Bye.”

He tucked the phone back in his pocket and walked around to the cash register.

“So.” I cleared my throat. “Got a few girls on the side?”

“Shit.” Smith jumped a foot. “Do you always sneak up on people like that?”

“Depends.” I closed the distance between us. “Do you always cheat?”

“I’m not cheating.” He rolled his eyes. “I like Pris, she’s been a great distraction.”

“Distraction?” Seriously. Where did they keep the effing guns in this place?

“And maybe.” He shrugged. “It could turn into more, you know? But…” His eyes went all hooded and lazy like he was high. “My ex is in town and she… she wants to talk. I love her. I’ve always loved her. You don’t just get over your first love like that.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I said crisply.

He snorted. “That’s because you’re like the tin man, you possess no heart.”

“Coming from you? That’s rich.”

“Look, GQ, I don’t know what crawled up your ass and died, but it’s my business. Who the hell cares if I date Pris while I try to see if there’s something still there with my ex? I owe it to myself to find out. Hell, I owe it to Pris to find out. It’s not fair that I’m dating her and still half in love with Ang.”

“Ang?” I repeated in a low voice. “Short for,” I coughed. “Angelica?”

“You know her?” He smirked. Did the guy seriously not watch TV?

“Yeah,” I said casually. “I knew her. I used to bang her.” His eyes turned murderous, so I added, “A lot.”

“Funny.” His jaw clenched tightly. “She never mentioned you.”

“YouTube it. We made a sex video.” The lie fell easily from my lips.

That did it, he lunged for me, but luckily his cell phone rang. Swearing, he grabbed it and pasted a smile on his face.

“Hey, beautiful.”

I flipped him off.

“Sure Pris, actually I’m kind of busy tonight, but lunch would be great.”

That was it. I was going to set his car on fire.

Or put it in neutral and push it down a hill.

“Sure, sweetie. Miss you. Bye.”

“You’re a bastard.” I shook my head in disgust.

“Says the guy whose claim to fame is how many chicks he can bag in one night.”

“You forgot the million dollar movie deals.” I tilted my head. “And the one Oscar nom, but it’s cool. I know it’s hard to keep track of all the details when the list is so long.”

Smith’s smile was terse. “Look, I don’t care who you are or how much money you have, you know as well as I do that you’re the worst sort of guy for her.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but he kept talking.

“Jaymeson, you’re a movie star. You don’t belong here. She does. Leave her alone. Let her go to college, let her get married, get a dog, get fat and pregnant, have kids… massage her husband’s feet after a long day at work…” His grin turned smug. “Let her have that life and you go back to your whores.”