Page 204 of The Last Good Man

Oh, crap.

You know that saying about not shitting where you’re eating.

The idea of spending time with himwas stupid, and forgetting about it is even worse.

I’ll need to fix this, but I don’t want to do it now.

Him showing up at my door is not a good sign.

It’s my fault that I forgot about it, but it’s not like I stood him up at a bar or a restaurant.

He only crossed the corridor, for fuck’s sake. I’m sure he can go back and see about his life, leaving me alone.

Yes, I’m angry, maybe unjustifiably so, but I am.

I will apologize tomorrow morning.

Heneeds to go now.

Hedoesn’t do that, though,and raps on the door again, startling me. He is beyond insistent, and I’d hate to feel my landlord’s wrath again because I’m causing so much trouble.

All right.I need to take care of it right now.

Grabbing my phone, just in case I need to call for help, I go straight to the door.

“Coming,” I bark.

No longer tiptoeing, I reach the door, unlock it, and swing it open as if there’s a fire in the house.

Marlowe watches me with stern eyes. What I like even less than being ghosted is being berated.

“I’m sorry,” I say before hehas the chance tospeak. “I completely forgot about our meetup. Today is not a good day,” I say, aiming for an easy way out. “I had a long day at work.”

I hate myself for saying that and then… continuing?

“Maybe some other time?” I murmur.

He looks down as if he knows I’m naked underneath and lifts his eyes, oblivious to my words.

“Dry your hair and put something on. Or not. I’ll be waiting for you,”hesays bossy, and I resent bossy.

“That’s not going to happen,” I say, standing my ground.

He lifts an eyebrow at me––I’m sure his tough, macho look works with some women––and crosses his arms over his chest, looking me up and down.

“No need to get angry with me,”hesays.

Seriously?

He taunts mewith his blatant disrespect, and I should know better, but I snap.

“This is not me getting angry,” I say.

His smug smile makes me clench my hands into fists.

He laughs derisively when the door to the building buzzes someone in,anda dark silhouette walks in.

We both look in that direction as Jax drops the door closed and pushes his eyes to us.

---