Page 24 of First Comes Forever

“A day in which you ask me for something?”

I shrug. “Fine, you got me. I need a favor.”

Cici gives me a sly smile as she rubs her hands together. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this. What do you want and what’re you offering?”

I point to the coffee cup in front of her and the bakery box. “I offered breakfast.” She raises her perfectly manicured dark brows, telling me she’s unimpressed. I continue, “And an entire week, insult-free.”

“You can do better than that, Adam. Stakes are too high.”

“Says who? How do you know I’m not asking you to water my plants while I’m out of town?”

Cici holds up one finger. “Because first of all, you don’t have plants. You couldn’t keep an idea alive, let alone anything that needs sunshine.”

“Rude.”

“Second of all,” she says, her middle finger joining her first in a peace sign, “you want something big. It’s the only reason you’d corner me at the beach house with your tail tucked. So what’d you do? Did you ditch any more meetings or throw any more unsuspecting single moms in front of the paparazzi today to pose as Chase’s lover?”

Sighing, I reply, “No. That was a one-time thing.”

“Talk fast, Adam. I’m losing interest.” Cici flashes me her teeth, eating up every single minute of this.

“Fine. So you know Amani—”

“No.” She closes the bakery box and slides it back in front of me. “Nope. Not happening.Hell no.Not worth your cruller bribe.”

“C, come on. Plus, you already ate one. That’s worth at least hearing me out.”

She seems to consider my response and then rolls her wrist, telling me to continue.

Damn, I can’t believe that excuse worked.

“I ran into her at Chase’s birthday party in the bathroom…” When Cici narrows her eyes at me, I clarify. “Nothing happened.She was feeling sick. We just talked briefly. She left in a hurry.”

“If you had a chance to talk to her and couldn’t seal the deal, doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” Cici’s smile grows mocking, making it really hard to maintain the imaginary truce flag I’m currently waving.

I blow out an aggravated breath and try to keep my snarky replies buried deep.Honey, not vinegar. Cici is the key right now.“She said something cryptic like she was interested but in a weird place in her life, so I let it go. But then a couple of days ago, I happened to run into her at Elm community when I was dropping off my keys—”

“Wait. You still have your condo at Elm? Why the hell?”

“Yes.” I widen my eyes at her. Cici knows I used to live there with my ex-wife, but she also knows I hate talking about it. “It’s a good investment property. Will everyone please stop asking about it?”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine, continue.”

“Amani was having what looked like a psychotic break in her car, which had just crapped out on her. Which is why I missed the Aim meeting, by the way.” To my utter shock, Cici’s scowl transforms into a soft, sweet smile. “What? Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“Fine. You’re forgiven.”

“Just like that?” I ask, my tone conveying my skepticism.

“You ditched the meeting to comfort Amani? I like that version of you much better. Sweet, smitten Adam gets a pass.”

Okay, great. I’ll take it.“Anyway,she said she was debating moving home to Denver, which is why she didn’t renew her lease, but she was really disappointed by it. So she’s carless, about to be homeless, and then there was the—” I stop myself abruptly, realizing that Amani probably doesn’t want me telling people she was trying to have a baby. “Look, I want to help her, but I don’t know how to read between the lines, I guess. You helped her with PR when she first moved here, right? And you guys are still friends? Do you know what’s going on with her?”

Cici’s dark, manicured brows pinch as she gives me a quizzical look. “If you two are dating, why don’t you just ask her?”

“We’re not dating. I took her onone dateto Luna’s.I think. Actually, I’m not sure what the hell that lunch was.” All I know is I’m pretty sure she never wants to see me again. I drove her home, and she didn’t even let me walk her to her door. She even left behind two twenty-dollar bills for lunch. She didn’t say anything, just tucked the bills into the cupholder and fled.

“You took her to Luna’s?” Cici’s eyes pop into wide circles.

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