Chapter 23 #2
When I try to chug it, she gently pries it out of my hand.
I’ve changed my dress three times. I finally settled on an emerald-green satin number with a plunging neckline and ruching.
My heels are gold and so is my purse. Hemi helped me with my hair.
It’s in an intricate ponytail. On purpose.
Tristan is a little obsessed with my neck.
“Little sips, sweetie. We don’t want you on your back before the date even begins.” Hemi squeezes my shoulders. “You’re smokin’ hot. You don’t need to change.”
“You look great,” Tally agrees. “I wish I had a butt like yours.”
“You’re gorgeous,” all three of us say in unison.
Tally opens and closes her mouth a couple of times before she ducks her head and says, “Thanks. A guy I went out with last year told me I have a flat butt.”
“That guy is an idiot. I’m glad you’re not dating him anymore,” I say.
“If you need me to vacate the premises for the night, I can stay at my dad’s,” Hammer offers.
“I’m not sleeping with him tonight.” It comes out sounding like a question.
“You need to do what feels right for you, but considering what he did the last time you had sex, leaving him hanging tonight might be the better move,” Hemi suggests.
“You’re right. I know you’re right.” Sex is what got us into this mess; having it tonight won’t solve our problems. Even if it will feel good.
“What happened last time?” Tally asks.
“He came, and she didn’t, which happens sometimes. But she was literally in the middle of an orgasm, and he pulled out and finished on her thighs and left her hanging on purpose,” Hammer explains helpfully.
Tally’s mouth drops open. “Oh my God.”
“Seriously. We are all going to hell for corrupting Tally,” I say.
“At least we’ll be there together,” Hemi reminds us.
“Why are you going out with Tristan again when he did that to you?” Tally looks baffled.
Her confusion is understandable.
“I gave him an hour’s notice that I was moving.”
“You only gave him an hour’s notice?” Hemi seems shocked.
Maybe I failed to share that part. “Yeah, but to be fair, things were pretty tense the week after Flip found out, and he didn’t do much to help smooth things over.
” Apart from invite me to sleep in his room when Flip brought home a couple of ladies they’d tag-teamed before.
“None of us were talking, and I didn’t want to be responsible for imploding two decades of friendship.
Besides, they’re teammates. They needed to be able to sort things out, and it wouldn’t happen with me living there.
” I take a deep breath. “I feel like this dinner will be more of a therapy session than anything else. So yeah, jumping back into bed when that’s the reason things went so sideways seems unwise. ”
A knock on the door has me panicking all over again. Hammer rushes to open it.
“Oh, hey, Daddy.” She twirls her ponytail around her finger. “Hi, Hollis. What’s up?”
“We thought we’d check in. Tristan mentioned a big date tonight, so I wasn’t sure if you’d be on your own for dinner.” Roman lifts a hand and waves. “I see your girl gang is all here and accounted for.”
“You look nice, Rix.” Hollis gives me the thumbs-up.
“Thanks, Hollis.”
“So do you Peggy, I mean Hammer.” Hollis’s gaze darts to Hammer and then around the room. “You all look nice.” He doesn’t seem to know what to do with his hands. He crosses his arms, then uncrosses them and tucks his thumbs into his pockets.
There’s a collective murmured thanks from the girls.
“You could have texted,” Hammer says.
“We were on our way to the diner and thought we’d extend the invite. You’re all more than welcome to join us. Except you, Rix. I doubt Tristan will be all that inclined to share you.”
“That’s kind of a relief, actually.” The words are out before I think them through.
Hollis coughs into his elbow.
“That’s…yeah.” Roman nods.
Hemi snickers.
Tally looks confused, God bless her.
“Uh, we’re going to hang out and watch Chris Hemsworth movies, but thanks.” Hammer gives her dad an expectant look.
“Okay. Well, you girls have fun tonight.” They can’t seem to leave fast enough.
A minute later there’s another knock on the door. Hammer opens it enough that she can see through the crack. “Geez, Daddy, what now? Oh, hey, Tristan.”
“Daddy?”
“It annoys him,” Hammer explains as she opens the door.
Tristan stands on the threshold dressed in a blue suit. Not navy, but a deep royal blue. His shoes are black and polished. His shirt is pale pink, and his tie matches his shoes. He looks delicious, and I approve.
As soon as his eyes land on me, he strides across the room. He’s holding a bouquet of peonies in one hand. He stops about a foot away. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
His free hand rises, and his fingertips skim the edge of my jaw until his pointer reaches the hollow behind my ear.
His thumb follows the line of his fingers in reverse, traveling all the way to my other ear.
His palm settles against my throat. He steps in closer until our faces are inches apart and his knee touches my thigh.
His eyes are on my lips. “You look fucking gorgeous,” he murmurs.
“Wow. That’s some unreal chemistry,” Hammer says.
“Seriously,” Hemi agrees.
“Is he choking her?” Tally whispers.
Tristan drops his hand and steps back. “Sorry. Hi. You look amazing. I brought you flowers.” He thrusts them at me and glances toward the girls, who wear a mix of expressions. Tally looks scandalized, Hemi knowing, and Hammer seems envious.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.” I bring them to my nose and inhale. “How did you get up here, anyway?”
“Hollis and Roman were going out as I was coming in. I probably should have texted. I didn’t think everyone would be here.” He gives the girls a constipated smile.
“They’re my support team.”
He bites the inside of his lip. “I don’t know that you needing a support team to get ready for a date with me is a good thing.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date. And I’ve never been on a not-secret date with my brother’s best friend who was railing me on the downlow for two months until Flip found out. Just a lot of never-before-experienced variables.”
“That’s legit.” His tongue drags across his bottom lip. “I’m nervous, too. I’m probably better at railing you than I am dating you.”
“You’ve had a lot more practice railing me, so it makes sense you’d be better at it.” I pat his chest. “Should we give this whole date thing a fair shot? You can’t get better at it if you don’t try, right?”
“That’s some good logic.” He glances at the girls, who have taken front-row seats to all this awkwardness. He opens his mouth a couple of times, but nothing comes out.
“We see you, Tristan.” Hemi’s smile is downright evil.
He frowns. “I don’t know what that means.”
“Have a good time! But not too good a time!” Hammer winks.
Tally looks shellshocked. Poor thing. “We’ll put your flowers in water.”
“Thank you.” The girls come in for a hug and whisper words of encouragement.
I grab my purse and usher Tristan out the door.
Being alone with him in an elevator is a test of my restraint. We’re both used to deflecting feelings with sex. Thankfully, another couple joins us, so I don’t have to worry about humping his leg on the ride down. We do the polite, Canadian thing and talk about the weather.
Tristan is parked out front in the ten-minute spot. He opens the passenger door and holds out his hand. I slip mine into his and lift my dress, so it doesn’t get stuck in the door. Once I’m settled, he rounds the hood and drops into the driver’s seat.
His nostrils flare as he inhales. “Fuck, I missed the way you smell.” He runs his hands down his thighs. “Sorry about what I did in front of the girls. I just saw you, and I wasn’t thinking, and I haven’t touched you in a week, and you look amazing, and yeah.”
“You can join me, Hemi, and Hammer in hell for corrupting poor little Tally.”
His eyes flare. “Why? What did you do to Tally? She’s not even eighteen.”
“We didn’t do anything. She’s been around for some NSFW conversations. Anyway…” I wave my hand. “Enough about that. Where are you taking me tonight?” I’m not ready to deal with the heavy stuff, yet.
“It’s called Scaramouche. I’ve never been there, but Dallas and Ashish said it’s a great place to take a date.” He pulls out of the spot and heads for the exit.
He stretches one arm across the back of my seat. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah, it’s okay.”
“I missed touching you,” he says.
“I missed you touching me,” I admit.
“How’s the new apartment? How have you been?”
“The new apartment is nice. Having a bedroom with a door obviously has perks, and I have my own bathroom, so I don’t have to worry about falling into the toilet in the middle of the night if I forget to make sure the seat is down.” Yup, we’re avoiding the hard stuff for now.
“Did that happen a lot when you were living with me and Flip?”
“A couple times. Falling into post-drinking pee-water has a way of sticking with you, though.” I tap my temple.
“That’s fucking gross.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Sounds like the move has been good for you. Better than living with me.” His thumb sweeps back and forth along the nape of my neck.
“Living with you had some perks.” I adjust my position so I can look at his profile.
He’s gorgeous. Just so pretty. And so filthy between the sheets. I remind my vagina that we are not letting him near her tonight, not after what happened last time. We need to deal with feelings first.
“And some pretty serious downsides,” he says softly.
I let that go for now. “How are you and Flip? Hammer said you two got into it during practice?”
Tristan frowns. “Haven’t you talked to him?”
“Not really. I’m pretty pissed at him, so I’m waiting on an official apology that isn’t him inviting me out for East Side’s in a text message. If we’re here, I guess you two have resolved your issues?” I motion between us.