19. David
19
David
D rew gave me the side eye as I stepped out of my truck, Rowdy under one arm.
He shook his head. “You’re a lunatic.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re driving around in that truck with a rooster to make a woman happy. Meanwhile, you make me knock the dirt off my boots before I get into it.”
“Rowdy doesn’t wear boots,” I said simply.
“No. He just shits wherever he wants,” Drew countered.
That he did. I couldn’t deny it.
Luckily he’d gotten that all out at the shelter. He’d been so excited to see his goat friend for a play date it had knocked the shit right out of him. Except for a stray feather, my truck cab had escaped the journey unscathed.
I shook my head at the whole thing. But it had made Heather ridiculously happy and that made it all worthwhile.
“So, when are you seeing Lucy again?” I asked Drew.
If he was going to razz me about bringing Rowdy to see Heather, I sure as shit could give it right back to him about Lucy.
He narrowed his eyes and glared at me. “This coming from the man who left Heather’s bed and then immediately drove right over to see her again?”
It wasn’t immediate. I dropped her off at her car, then came back here to shower, eat breakfast and grab Rowdy. And I’d do it all over again.
Drew couldn’t get to me today. I was in too good a mood. But I could see I’d already annoyed him plenty.
Though I didn’t know why he was so cranky. Lucy might have been gone by the time I got home this morning, but there was no doubt there had been some wild action between them last night.
The big old hickey on Drew’s throat was proof of that.
My lips twitched as I spotted it again. Staying here with him was really starting to feel like I’d time traveled backward well over a decade to our college days.
But I had to remember I couldn’t get too comfortable here. Work was waiting for me at home. Probably more things to deal with now than there had been before thanks to that damn video.
I’d loved the video when I first watched it last night. Really I had. Heather had nailed it on the first try. But I seriously hated with every fiber of my being this extra public attention and the fact that I’d willingly invited it by asking marketing to post that damn thing.
But Heather said going viral was good. I had to trust her to know her business. I sure as hell didn’t know anything about PR.
I pulled out my cell. I had become obsessed with checking the damn stats.
It was a compulsion. I felt like an addict as I refreshed the screen and waited for it to load. No wonder people were always on their phones. The damn things grabbed and held on to you like a drug.
“How many views have you got now?” Drew asked.
I’d bitched to him this morning for the short time I’d seen him so he was very well aware of what was happening.
“Too many,” I said, and then groaned as the number appeared. “Getting close to half a million now.”
He let out a long slow whistle. “Half a million people seeing me. Wow.”
Him? I laughed. “Self centered much?”
“You should be happy.”
“That’s what everyone keeps saying. I’m really not sure why.” I was about to scroll through and see what new and horrible comments the past hour had yielded when the cell in my hand rang.
“Oh, look. An actual business call.” I’d kind of forgotten I used to get those. Back before Hermosa Beach and Heather had turned my life upside down. “Hello, this is David Strickland.”
“So, when do I get a video? I could use the press. It’s John Martinez, by the way.”
I mouthed a curse. “John. Sorry. I was supposed to be there this past week, wasn’t I?”
I knew the answer to that without asking. I’d planned to meet with Anna, spend a night or two max with Drew, and then head directly to John’s place on my drive back to Texas.
Those plans had changed. Heather had changed them.
“It’s all right. I’ll be here whenever you get here. Just figured I’d check in.”
“You were perfectly right to do so. I’m, uh, easily waylaid nowadays.”
“Going viral will do that to you, I guess.”
“I guess. This is my first time so . . .” There had been plenty of bad press from the mainstream news when the China thing happened, but it hadn’t been on social media, as far as I knew.
“But seriously, you need me for the next video, I’m your man,” John said.
“You got it. I’ll tell my PR girl.” I saw Drew react to that with a raised brow.
I didn’t care about his judgment as much as I should. I liked the idea of Heather being my girl in any manner. PR girl. Girlfriend . . .
Damn. This thing between us was going to get tricky fast. The proof I had to get back to work and to Texas was right in my face with this phone call. I’d been shirking my responsibilities. It couldn’t continue for much longer.
“So how about I give you a call when I know my schedule better?” I said. “But plan on next week for my visit. Yeah?”
“Sounds good, boss. I look forward to it.”
I hung up with John and laid the cell down. I didn’t like planning my departure.
Judging by the look on Drew’s face, he didn’t love it either.
“You do know next weekend is that big adoption thing at the shelter. I figured you’d want to be there for that since you’re a benefactor and all,” he said.
“Shit.” I’d forgotten. The question was, why the fuck did Drew remember or even know about it? “How do you know about that anyway?”
“The girls were talking about it last night. Remember? Heather was talking about trying to get a bunch of the cast from New Millennia’s reality shows to come and promote it.”
Ah. That explained Drew’s interest.
“From your bikini show?” I asked.
“ Cold Feet . And yes. Plus a couple of other shows too. But they were talking about ordering a big banner with Strickland’s name and logo printed on it.”
“Really?” Where the fuck had I been for all this?
Drew shook his head. “I had a feeling you weren’t really listening. You were just kind of staring at Heather and nodding.”
“Hey, it was loud in there. I couldn’t hear anything.”
“Yeah, that must have been it.” Drew snorted. “But don’t you want to be there for it? Should be a good press opportunity.”
I laughed. “Now you sound like Heather.”
“Hey, there are worse people to sound like.”
“I guess you’re right.” I drew in a breath.
This did throw a wrench in my plans to visit John. I didn’t want to leave. Hell, I’d like to stay and enjoy sweet Heather all week long. But I also had to deal with some work shit.
Maybe this event was a good thing. An excuse to come back soon and see Heather again.
Yeah. I liked that idea.
I’d head to John’s farm Monday, and then on to home in Texas during the week when Heather was busy with work. Then I’d come back to Drew’s in time for this weekend thing at the shelter.
That I was even considering this was evidence I was nuts over this girl. That I wasn’t worried about that fact proved it. Completely nuts . . . and it didn’t feel so bad.
“So, can you put up with me if I come back here for this weekend?” I asked Drew.
“I think I can handle that.” He shot me a look over his shoulder as he reached for a spoon to stir whatever he had on the stove. “Maybe I’ll even come with you to the adoption thing. You know, now that I’m internet famous and all.”
I rolled my eyes as Drew grinned, seriously enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame.
Internet fame . Christ. Drew could have it. I sure as shit didn’t want it.