Page 38 of Crave Me

“Oh, come on, Sol,” I say. “The losers I’ve dated have at least had jobs.”

I open the door leading out to the porch and dump the tray into the recycling bin. I shut the door slowly when I catch the way she’s looking at me. “Evan’s not a loser,” she points out, like I don’t already know.

“No, he’s not,” I agree, quietly. I place my palms on the granite counter and bow my head. “Did you hear us last night?”

Her eyes widen as she hurries forward to whisper. “No, did you hear us?”

I grimace. “No, and don’t go there. That’s my little brother you’re talking about.”

She giggles. “I get it. And believe me, I’m not going to shake the visual of Angus and Molly any time soon.”

“Neither will I,” I say, making a face.

I wash my hands and fill another pitcher of orange juice. Evan and I had sex. Lots of it. Lots of amazing sex. He’s decent with a great job and an even better personality. And he already met my brothers. Jesus God, how the fuck did all this happen? I’ve only known him a handful of days.

Sol comes around the island and leans her back against the counter. “What’s wrong? He’s nice.”

“I just met him, Sol. We’ve been out twice and already spent the night doing it like the zombie apocalypse came and went and it’s up to us to repopulate the human race or whatever the fuck. Things are moving way faster than I’m used to.”

She gives me a one shoulder shrug. “So slow them down.”

“Slow them down? Aren’t you listening? We had enough sex to make up for the year I went without it, and right now he’s in my dining room sitting down and eating a meal with my family. I think it’s a little too late to shift into park.”

“I’m not saying come to a full stop,” she says slowly. “Not that either of you could swing it.” She laughs when I frown. “In case you didn’t notice, he can’t keep his eyes off you. He likes you, Wren.”

“I like him, too,” I admit, wishing it didn’t suck to say it. “But he’s a corporate giant and I’m me.”

“And I’m studying for my doctorate in psychology and Finn’s a fighter.” She holds out her hands. “Doesn’t mean I don’t love him.”

“I didn’t say anything about love,” I remind her.

I tug the long sweater I’m wearing over my skinny jeans, ready to head back to Evan. But Sol’s question keeps me in place.

“So it’s been a year, huh?”

Shit. She had to go there.

“Since Bryant then?” When I quiet, she leans in, lowering her voice. “Wren, what did he do to you?”

“Nothing worth mentioning,” I say. She doesn’t believe me, not with the way her features shadow with disappointment. But as assertive and Philly as Sol can be, she’s also kind and respectful. She knows I’m not ready to say more.

“Okay,” she tells me cautiously.

I sigh when she continues to eye me. “Come on,” I say. “I have to get back to Evan before he runs out of here screaming.”

She smiles softly. “I hate to break it to you, Wren, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Not with how screwed up this last year has been. But I can’t admit as much to Sol. She’s a professional counselor, but she’s my friend and brother’s girlfriend first. She wouldn’t hesitate to run to Finn or my family if she thought I was in trouble. And Bryant is definitely trouble.

“Maybe,” I say, trying to play off what I’m feeling. “But only because he has manners, unlike the rest of us.”

I walk back into the dining room with Sol trailing me. Evan stands when he sees me, and I’m sure he’s ready to tell me he has to go. But then he smiles, and sits when I sit, staying for the remainder of the meal and quietly observing the rest of us lunatics mouthing off.

“Fuck you, Angus.”

“For shit’s sake, it was the best play of the night!”

“Get your head out of your hairy ass.”

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