Page 39 of Only You and Me

“I need to know who the guy you were seeing is. You said it ended amicable, but I still need to check into it.”

“It’s not him,” Trina says and moves to climb out of the vehicle. She has the door open and is halfway out when I gently grasp her wrist.

“Trina…”

She sighs and doesn’t turn her head to look at me when she answers. “It’s Darren. From plarning.”

CHAPTER12

BEN

Fucking Darren? Ryan Reynolds look-a-like Darren?Fuuuck.

What happened to being shocked at his obvious interest in her in the photo?

I’m so caught off guard by Trina’s confession of who the ex was that I’m stunned still and don’t shake it off until I realize she’s almost at Emily’s door. Damnit, now I won’t be able to get to talk to her before we go in.

I jump out of the driver’s side of my vehicle, shut the door, and press the lock button on my key fob. When it beeps to alert me that the car locked, my eyes are on Trina, who’s now made it to the porch and is looking back at me. It’s clear she doesn’t want to have this conversation, so she whips back to face Emily’s door and grabs the handle, pushing the door open and disappearing through it.

When I make it in behind her about thirty seconds later, I’m pleased to see that she has the decency to wait for me inside the foyer. I open my mouth to speak, but I’m silenced when her slender hand covers my mouth.

“No. We aren’t having this conversation here. Actually, we don’t need to have it at all. You’ve got the information you need. I can assure you there were no red flags. He’s been nothing but a perfect gentleman since things ended.”

I mumble against her hand, and she raises her eyebrows at me.

“Not a word. Promise?” Her hand is still over my mouth. Resigned that she won’t tell me anything, I nod.

When she removes her hand and turns to walk toward Emily’s patio, I hiss, “Fucking Darren.”

Trina spins her head to look at me, a warning in her glare but a smile threatening to escape the tight hold she has on it.

I toss my hands up in front of me, my symbol to assure her I’m done talking about it.

I follow Trina through the house and when we’re in the dining room, Trina yells out for Emily. “Em, I’m here! Where are you?”

“We’re out on the patio. Grab a drink and come out,” Emily calls back.

Once we do as directed, I’m pleasantly surprised to see Fitz is here, too.

“Hey guys. I hope you don’t mind that I brought company,” Trina says as she walks out onto the patio and sits across from them.

“Of course not. Welcome.” The surprise in Emily’s voice is obvious and when Fitz turns to look at me, he almost chokes on the sip of his beer he just took.

I chuckle and shake his hand before hugging Emily and taking the remaining seat across from her and Fitz.

“Emily, I didn’t mean to crash your appointment with the realtor and your dinner. Trina and I had some things we were working on, and it ran late so we didn’t have time?—”

“Oh, my gosh. Don’t be ridiculous. You’re always welcome here.” Emily swats at the air in my direction, waving off my comments.

And for a solid fifteen seconds, silence ensues.

I can’t help but release a throaty laugh. “Really? Neither of you are gonna acknowledge that you’re totally wigged out seeing Trina and me show up together? I’m really disappointed by that.”

Now I’m laughing even harder, despite Trina throwing a stern glare in my direction.

Emily giggles. “What?” She places a hand across her chest dramatically. “You two don’t hang out normally? I hadn’t noticed,” she deadpans.

Trina rolls her eyes as Emily and I keep up the back and forth, amusing ourselves, and Fitz, based on the smirk he’s wearing. But apparently Trina has had enough.

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