Page 100 of Steamy Ever After

“Are you ending it between us?”

“Ending it? You’re acting like…” I shake my head, slamming my hands on my hips. “We’re not together, Joe. This is just boinking, remember?”

With narrowed eyes, he presses his lips together and stares at his reflection. Suddenly, the tiny bathroom feels like a cave and the tension between us sucks all the air away. I watch his nostrils flare, then his shoulders drop.

“You’re right. Besides, we haven’t even fucked, so…” He offers me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, and brushes past, barely touching me, but enough to knock me off balance.

I follow him to his bedroom. “Are you mad at me?”

He halts, spinning around to glare at me, and I realize I’ve waltzed into his room. I take a step back and stand in the doorway.

“I’m not mad at you.” He pulls a tie out of his top dresser drawer and wraps it around his neck, tying it with one brisk tug that makes my core spasm. “If you want to go on a date with the guy, do it. Why should I care?”

“Exactly. I didn’t think you would.”

Fixing his collar, he strides up to me, his lips pursed, his chest expanding with a deep inhale. He bends down, meeting my eyes, and I suddenly feel miniscule. “If you didn’t think I’d care, why’d you tell me?”

I shrug, not dropping his gaze. “I figured it would be the respectful thing to do.”

“Well, thanks for the courtesy.” Joe’s short, icy chuckle makes me clench my fists in response. “But honey, you’re not going to some guy’s place after one date.”

He brushes past me again, but I keep on his heels.

“You don’t know that. I might.”

“No way. You’re not the type.” He stops at the front door, gathering his keys and wallet, and I throw myself in front of him.

“And until a few weeks ago, I wasn’t the type to fuck my roommate, either.”

His grin dissolves to a frown and his eyes turn glossy as they drift over my face. I can tell he’s wrestling with his response, trying to decide if he should say what he’s thinking. I prepare myself for it all—the snarky wit, the arrogance.

“You’re a big girl, Jane. Do whatever you want.” He grabs me by the shoulders, moving me to the side, before storming out of the apartment, leaving me confused, breathless, and completely disappointed.

JOE

A day. I’ve had a day.

I hate going to the bar for drinks after work. And yet, here I am, drowning my pathetic self in a third gin and tonic, surrounded by the obnoxious sounds of people bitching about their shitty bosses and shittier jobs.

Despite the depressing vibes, there’s no way I was going back to my apartment. It’ll be too quiet without Jane there and would only remind me of where she is and what she might be doing.

I gulp a big mouthful of my drink.

I don’t know why Jane’s date is affecting me so much. We agreed we’d keep this casual, and it was always meant to be for fun. But if that were true, then why did the news of her date hurt me so much? And why am I still hung up on this, hours after hearing about it?

So what if she dates someone? So what if she goes out for dinner? It won’t lead anywhere. She’s Jane Donati, for Christ’s sake.

I drop my head.

She’s Jane Donati. Of course it could lead somewhere. How could it not? Any guy can see how great she is, and he’d be an idiot not to ask her on a second date or invite her back to his place.

There’s something about her, something that used to drive me crazy, but now makes her special. Endearing. It was always there, staring me in the face. I see that now. And selfishly, I was counting on Jane not seeing it for herself.

“I’ll have another,” I say to the bartender as he takes my empty glass.

“On me,” a pretty brunette says, taking the empty seat next to me. “Hi, I’m Amaya.”

She smiles, her lips thick and red. I smile back. “Joseph.”

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