Page 69 of Sweet Little Thing

I didn’t go to the kitchen or look anywhere else for him, but I did stand at the door and wait in case he was lurking somewhere and decided to show himself. After several silent minutes, I opened the door and left the apartment.

Drinking three glasses of wine had been a terrible idea. I never drank because I was a lightweight. I remembered everything, but I worried that the alcohol hindered my memory. Had I offended him, or worse, said something embarrassing? Like, spoke my thoughts out loud. God, had I said anything about how he looked? Stone wouldn’t have found my drunken ramblings about his chiseled jaw, corded arms, or broad chest entertaining. It’s possible he’d hate me for it. Even if I was a female and it was impossible to ignore how he looked.

When I reached the bottom floor, I saw Mack wiping his facewith a towel. He was sweaty and dressed in soaked running shorts and a T-shirt. A bottle of water sat empty on the floor beside him. Did everyone who lived here run? Was I the only one without an exercise plan?

He looked over at me and frowned, then smiled slowly. “You must be, Beulah.”

He didn’t remember meeting me. That was either embarrassing for both of us, or he was drunk that night, and I hadn’t realized it.

“Oh,” I said, thinking how to straighten this out. “Um, well, we did meet. The night of the party that Presley threw for Stone.” I wasn’t sure if that was rude or not, but acting like we hadn’t met seemed silly.

He chuckled. “No. I’d remember meeting you. A guy doesn’t forget that face. You met Mack. I’m Marty. We’re identical except for the birthmark on my left calf in the shape of a warped-looking heart. We tried changing our appearance to make ourselves look different over the years, but we outgrew it—no more piercings, weird hair colors, or glasses that aren’t needed. We just accept that we look alike and go with it. But I’m the smarter one. So, there’s that.”

Identical. Wow. I studied him for a moment and didn’t see anything that differentiated his appearance from his brother. Maybe I would find a distinguishing factor if I were around them more.

The entry door opened, and Fiona came in with a to-go coffee in her hands. She was wearing high-heeled boots that came to her knees and a skirt that barely covered her bottom. She looked like she’d just done a photo shoot for a magazine.

“Good morning, Beulah. Marty,” she said, knowing exactly which brother was standing in front of us. She had no problem telling them apart. There must be some trick.

“Morning,” he said less enthusiastically without sparing hermore than a glance.

“Good morning,” I replied.

She smirked. “Be careful with him.” Then she headed up the stairs.

That got awkward fast. I tried to think of a way to end the conversation and leave.

“She hates me, ignore her,” he said, grinning as if that was amusing.

“You fucked someone else when we were dating,” she called from the second floor.

My eyes widened in shock. I really wanted out of this conversation.

“We were on a break! Jesus, Fiona. Let it go!”

“I was in Italy, you bastard. Our break didn’t mean we could fuck other people!” She then slammed the door, and I stood there wishing I was somewhere else. Just not here.

He sighed. “It was a year ago. I had asked her to marry me. She said she needed space and went to Italy for work. I took it as she was breaking up with me. I got smashed and slept with an ex-girlfriend. But hey, I was honest with her about it. I told her the truth. She didn’t take it well.”

I nodded. “Obviously.”

He chuckled. “Old news. Anyway, it was nice to meet you. Don’t be a stranger. Shay, Fiona’s sister, hangs out with us often. The door’s always open.”

“Thanks,” I said, glancing at the door. “I need to go. I’ll be late for work.”

He was still grinning when he said, “Have a good one.”

“You too,” I replied then hurried out the door and to my car.

Stone’s Rover wasn’t there. I wondered where he’d gone. Was he hiding at Jasper’s pool house again? This time it was from me instead of Presley. I didn’t want to run him out of his home. He’d had enough of that.

If my being here was going to keep him from being comfortable, I didn’t need to stay. I hadn’t mentioned leaving to him again. He’d been adamant about me staying before but perhaps he had changed his mind. My welcome had run out. I’d talk to him about it tonight.

The drive to Geraldine’s was short, but my thoughts bounced from Stone and last night to Jasper at Geraldine’s yesterday to Heidi and the fact I needed to visit her. Since moving into Stone’s apartment I had only called Heidi twice, grabbing time to speak with her while Geraldine napped. During our last telephone call, I’d promised yellow and pink cupcakes on my Sunday visit. I needed to get to the store for the ingredients and maybe Geraldine wouldn’t mind if I made them at her house.

I rolled up to the gate and buzzed Geraldine.

“Hello,” came her voice over the speaker.

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