Page 64 of Temptation at Randy's

Arlene watched me for a second, her pupils dilated. She tried to hide the way my words affected her, but it was no use. We both knew it, but it didn’t stop her from leaning back against the counter as if she could play the unaffected role easily.

“Romance really is dead these days.”

I snorted. It was a good thing she hadn’t timed that delivery while I was drinking. “You really like to make things harder for yourself.”

I had no plans to make anything harder for her—not today, at least—but she didn’t need to know it. And hearing those words had her gasping and spluttering, which was always fun to accomplish.

“That is so unfair! I’ve done nothing.”

“Sure you haven’t.” I blew her a kiss before I pushed my ass off the stool. “Just meet me in your room, okay? I swear I won’t be mean.”

I really wouldn’t be. Today was more about me—in a convoluted way—than it was about her, but I needed a second to myself before I could set everything in motion. I didn’t think I could be faulted too much for it.

“You always say that,” I heard her grumble.

I still heard her footsteps up the stairs, though, so I didn’t worry too much. Maybe we could talk about her newfound inner brat some other day. Or later today, if I didn’t end up as emotionally exhausted as I feared I would. Preparing for all scenarios was important. Gay had drilled that into me.

Well, I already knew as much, but she had a way with words. It had to be the civil rights lawyer in her. I was low-key scared for her subs, not that Cin looked like someone who would struggle to push back.

Ifound Arlene in the room as I’d asked her. She was wearing the same big sweatshirt she’d had on when she greeted me by the door and was just lounging against the headboard of her bed. That worked with me, so I just sat cross legged beside her. As uncomfortable as it usually made me, it was important that they saw me this one time.

“Is everything okay?” Arlene sat up, a frown settling between her brows. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”

Fuck.

Okay, so I didn’t have my best game face on. I shook my head, trying to shake the nerves out as well.

“No, I’m fine.” My fingers found hers. She’d gotten a manicure a couple of days ago after going in circles about it for way too long. It had reached the point where I was about to send her the money for it. Who knew financial advisors could be so stingy and anxious about their finances? “I’ve just been thinking about things, and since I can’t post them online anymore, I figured you were the next best thing.”

Arlene rolled her eyes. The thing was, when she rolled her eyes, she did it in a way that read as… fond. It made me warm inside. She followed it up with a soft chuckle.

“You can be such an idiot.”

“Hey!” I gasped. “You’re supposed to be the nice one here.”

“And you’re avoiding the subject you brought up to begin with,” Arlene pointed out.

Sometimes I hated that she could be as observant as I was. It was an awful trait to share with someone. Did not recommend.

“Okay, okay.” I pretended to huff, but there was no heat to it. “In short, I want you to see me.”

The phrasing made Arlene frown. I hadn’t expected anything less. “I… don’t see you?”

“I mean, you do.” She saw more than most people who hadn’t been in my life for years now, and more than she would say out loud.

I knew that much. It didn’t deter me the way it should have.

Actions spoke louder than words, though, so instead of talking myself in circles like I knew I could do when I didn’t feel in complete control, I sprang into action.

Arlene stood still as I grabbed my oversized button-up and pulled it over my head. It draped over the floor—I might’ve yanked it with more force than necessary—but I didn’t care. I could ask Arlene to let me run a quick load of laundry later, or I could borrow some of her clothes. It worked either way.

Anyway.

I supposed she was waiting for me to say something, but I wanted to get the clothes out of the way first—before I lost all courage to do it. I’d hate myself so hard if that happened.

My heart sped up as I kneeled there, in front of her, completely exposed. It wasn’t like it usually was, though. I didn’t feel sick, or the urge to hide and cover up and keep my body away from anyone’s eyes.

It helped that Arlene kept her gaze on me for the most part. She wasn’t making it weird or going into that headspace where lust was the only thing that existed.

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