Page 67 of Free Agent

TEN

AURORA

“The dating pool definitely has piss in it.”

“Piss? Oh you sweet hopeful baby. Something is floating, and it’s most definitely not a candy bar.”

I busted out laughing with Hollis and Shan, fully amused by their back and forth over their dating woes. We’d been at dinner for the last few hours, and I’d been listening and laughing, dropping my opinion in every now and then, but not actually commiserating.

Same as usual.

Just for a different reason this time.

Before, I couldn’t relate because I was engaged, and not planning to re-enter the dating scene anytime soon.

Now, I wasn’t engaged… and was still not planning re-entry to the dating scene anytime soon.

Not even because of what options might be available.

Because I just wasn’t there yet.

And didn’t need to be.

It was approaching three weeks since Monty showed up to my house while Tatum and I were peacefully sleeping to piss me off. Tatum had done a decent job of defusing my anger once we finally were alone again—spread eagle on a countertop was an underrated distraction—but once he’d left, and it was time to get back to reality… I was pissed all over again.

Furious, even.

And the heat of that anger let me know I wasn’t anywhere near as “over it” as I’d like, and if I wasn’t really “over it”, it was probably best to actually give being alone a shot.

More than a shot.

A commitment.

No matter how good it felt to be wrapped up, and naked, with Tatum.

As if I’d thought him up, my phone buzzed with a text from the man himself, and I sighed. I hated how awkward it felt whenever he reached out, knowing how giddy it made me.

I should not be excited about three sets of eye emojis.

And yet…

I thought we talked about using your words? I texted him back, ignoring the response that buzzed back almost immediately. I waited several minutes, continuing my conversation with Shan and Hollis for a bit before I allowed myself to check it.

You like treating me like a wet rash so I gotta scope the scene first. – TW

A wet rash?

Damn.

I knew he was referring to my tendency to go days without responding to him reaching out, but I didn’t think it was like that.

I was trying to be cool.

That doesn’t feel like an exaggeration? I messaged back, then tucked the phone back into my purse.

Did I see the irony of that?

Of course.

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