Page 96 of Unhinged

She shakes her head, wagging her little ponytail. “My mother is not happy and wants me to come home.” What?

I try for nonchalance. “Are you going?”

“Maybe to visit soon, but I have to finish my internship.”

I nod. “What did your brother say?”

“Not much. What did he say to you?”

“Not much.”

Simone giggles. “Ricky said more to me than Finn. He asked me to go to dinner with him.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah. He said my brother is totally cool with it.” But I’m the fuck not.

“You’re not going, are you?”

Simone’s grin is doubtful and…pretty. “Why wouldn’t I? This is what I had wanted.” She then giggles again, and I want to play it on repeat. “I can’t believe he asked me. As soon as Candi starts her shift, I’ll leave to get ready for our date.”

I prop my hands on the bar, realizing they’re shaking. “Are you seriously going out with him? You just went on a date.”

“So? I’m having fun.”

“What happens if you and Tesco want to become serious? You can’t.”

“Who says? You and I agreed we can date whomever we want. You’ll be with your girlfriend, anyway.”

“I don’t care about her right now. I’m talking about you going out with any guy who fucking asks.”

“Greg, do you hear yourself? You sound like a jealous…”

“What? Say it.” I need to hear it.

“No, because you’re not that.”

“You can’t sleep with Rico Suave tonight. That’s part of our agreement.”

“I wasn’t planning to sleep with him, Greg. You can date anyone you want, and I won’t say a word about it.”

“I don’t need to date every night of the week.”

“Neither do I!”

“We only have four more nights before two weeks are up, and you’re giving them to other guys?”

“You’re working.”

“So are you! We can always spend the nights together, but you don’t want to.”

Simone looks past me. “There’s Candi. Night.”

She walks away from me, and I growl, “Simone!” but she disappears into the kitchen. I spin around, sending my hands into my hair. What the hell? Why did it feel like Simone just stomped on my kidneys? It’s my fault I let myself get lost in this shit.

Milt asks, “Are you going to be okay, Greg?”

Inhaling, I shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I laugh and grab a glass and a bottle of whatever is closest. I fill the lowball almost to the top and chug the brown liquid. It burns now but will numb soon.

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