Chapter 10 The Red Suits You #2
“Wow, I’m so lucky to have you in my life,” I say sarcastically. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I don’t think you have a choice.”
“I don’t want to be anyone’s charity case. I’ll figure—”
Banging on my window interrupts me, and I turn to see Poppy and Lacey.
“Let’s go, you two! I’m starving,” Lacey yells through the window.
I glance back over at Gray. “I’ll figure it out, but until then, let’s keep this between us.”
She nods, and we both make our way out of her car and into the restaurant. The last fourteen hours might have been weird as hell, but I’m with my girls, and I’m going to focus on them. I’ll deal with my living situation once my head isn’t pounding and my stomach isn’t grumbling.
____
Ava nestles into my chest, letting out a little hum as I stroke the back of her blonde curls.
“I’m so glad you brought her,” I say to Chloe, who is sitting across from me.
“I appreciate you holding her so I can eat.”
“Say we don’t mind, do we sweet girl?” I make a silly face, and Ava giggles.
“What’s it like living with the guys?” Gray asks Poppy and Lacey.
“Honestly, I love it,” Lacey says. “I mean, I miss Poppy, but it’s so easy with Jace and the hot as sin sex isn’t half bad either.”
Poppy takes a sip from her mimosa. “Honestly, same. Logan woke me up with his head between my legs this morning, so I’m not complaining.”
“Little ears, you two,” Chloe scolds.
“Oh, shit, I mean shoot. Sorry Ava,” Poppy says.
Chloe shakes her head. “Any luck with the apartment hunt, Wren?”
I glance over at Gray. “Oh, um, maybe, but I don’t think it’s going to work out. I might have to take one of you up on your offer.” Ava slaps at my face and babbles out a stream of consonants. “Does that mean I should move in with you?” I ask her.
“Wait, why did you look at Gray?” Lacey asks.
“I didn’t,” I say a little too quickly.
“Oh, my god. You’re lying. What’s going on?” Poppy questions.
My eyes bounce between my friends.
“Might as well tell them,” Gray says, shrugging her shoulders and sipping her water.
“Tell us what?” Chloe asks.
“I might have agreed to live with Tanner last night.” I wince as I say it.
Everyone stares back at me with wide eyes and open mouths. Our waiter returns to clear the plates covering the table.
“What in the actual fuck? I mean, frick. Sorry, Ava. So much for I’ll never live with him,” Lacey says, shaking her head as soon as the waiter disappears. “Come on.” She gestures her hand in my direction. “Tell us we were right.”
“It was a weird night,” I start.
“Like how weird?” She wiggles her eyebrows and smirks.
“Not weird like that. Weird that I hung out with him without any of you. We drank, played ping-pong, and then he slept on my couch.”
“We’re going to circle back to the couch. But ping-pong at The Local?” Poppys asks.
“Yeah, why?”
“Holy shit! That table is magic,” Lacey says.
“Truly,” Gray laughs. “I didn’t realize the table was involved.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Logan and I literally ran into each other while he and T were playing ping-pong. They had a bet that if Logan won, he could go home. If Tanner won, Logan had to stay. Logan won, but then we met and he stayed. Magic.” Poppy takes a sip from her mimosa.
“Exactly. You were there for my ping-pong story with Jace. Loser had to dance together. You and T kicked our asses, and Jace almost got me pregnant during that dance.”
“Y’all are ridiculous. That was the third game I’ve played with him at that table. I agreed to live with him, not fall in love with him. If anything, y’all are just proving that this is a terrible idea. We’re only friends, and I can assure you that’s all we'll ever be.”
“Ping-pong table says otherwise.” Lacey giggles.
“What was the bet?” Gray asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Tanner never plays a game on that table without some dumb bet being involved,” Poppy explains.
“Loser had to share why they were drinking alone.”
“And that somehow led to you moving in with him?” Chloe asks, confused. “I’m not following.”
The events of the night play in the back of my mind. The game. His admission. Those puppy dog eyes he kept flashing at me all night. The way his abs flexed this morning while he buttoned up his shirt. I take a deep breath.
“He works for the company that bought my building. And I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders. “I was desperate. He felt guilty.”
“Well, this just keeps getting more interesting,” Gray says, resting her elbows on the table and placing her chin on top of her fists. “You left out that little detail on the car ride here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have agreed, so I’m going to tell him today it’s not happening.”
“Might I remind you that he offered to cover your rent. You’re saving to start a non-profit that would help your brother and so many people like him. You need a place to live. It doesn’t seem like you have a lot of options,” Gray says.
“He’s paying your rent?” Poppy exclaims as mimosa sprays from her mouth.
“Nice,” I say, scowling. “It’s not that big of a deal. Friends help friends out.”
All four of them look at each other, and then back at me.
“Gray’s right. This does keep getting more interesting,” Lacey says.
“Technically, I have four other options sitting at this table with me,” I say, looking back at each of them.
“I rescind my offer,” Chloe says.
“I do too,” Poppy says, wincing. “Sorry.”
I look at Lacey and Gray.
“I’m going to have to agree,” Lacey says. “Looks like your only option is Gray’s couch or the big bedroom at Tanner’s apartment.” Ava giggles in my lap.
“Oh, you think they’re funny too?” I laugh. “I can’t live with him. I mean he slept on my couch last night, and I forgot and walked out of my room wearing only a bra and my underwear. That cannot happen again.”
“Wait, what?” Poppy asks. “How does this story keep getting better?”
I take a deep breath. “Y’all, I was so embarrassed.”
“Why? Were you wearing your period underwear?” Chloe asks.
“God, I wish. My ass would have at least been covered. I was wearing a matching red lace bra and thong set. He probably thinks I put them on for him.” I take a sip of my bellini and groan.
“Oh, he definitely thinks you put them on for him,” Lacey says with a laugh.
“What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to live with him until you have another viable option,” Gray says.
Cody and my dreams flash in my head. A pang of guilt washes over me.
“I’m going to live with him,” I repeat. Ava claps her hands. My four friends tap their glasses together in dramatic cheers, and I grumble.