Page 29 of Dr. Stone
And yet… now I was hearing he hadn’t dated anyone since. Jace, the man with the reputation for always moving on, still hung up on me? At least, that’s how Ash always described him—a total player. But here he was, apparently stuck.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t wished, more than once during my night out with Titus, that it was Jace sitting across from me instead. Go figure—he was there, watching, like he was ready to compete for my attention.
The girls were right. I’d be a fool not to enjoy every second of this. So that’s exactly what I planned to do. It had been far too long since I’d felt this beautiful, this wanted.
Even if nothing came of it, I was grateful. After the hell I’d been through this past year, I deserved this win. I deserved to feel alive again.
FOURTEEN
Andie
Today was a much-needed,slow-paced day at the gallery. I’d been up all night with Brandon, who was cutting his molars and spiking a high fever. He barely slept, which meant I barely slept—maybe an hour or two, if that. At least my poor boy could get to nap at Julia’s today while I dragged myself through the day, still praying my last two cups of coffee would finally kick in just in case a client walked in, and I had to flip on the sales switch.
“All right, I’m heading out for the day,” Ash said, leaving her painting studio.
I smiled, grabbed a Kleenex tissue off my desk, and used it to gently remove a brush stroke of tan paint that must’ve gotten away from her while she worked on her latest masterpiece.
“There, got it,” I chuckled, balling the tissue into my fist. “Did you and the paintbrush get into an argument again?”
“Always,” she beamed. “I know you hardly slept last night, so if nobody comes in within the hour, just close early. I’msorry I need to leave early today, but the kids have dentist appointments.”
“I’ll be fine. If I go home now, I’m just going to go to bed for the rest of the day, and that would suck.”
“I remember those nights. They always seemed to happen when Jake was on-call at the hospital,” she said while she shouldered her purse.
“Which reminds me,” I said. “After I came down from my ego-boost the other day at the beach?—”
“Don’t tell me that you went home and overthought everything?” she said, bummed as if someone had told her that her favorite reality television show was just canceled.
“It’s not that I’m going to reject the idea of whatever those two men are up to, but I’m just having a hard time with the idea of dating two men at once.” I shook my head, feeling like an idiot. “I shouldn’t be talking like I’ve already been asked out by both of them already, but you know what I mean, right?”
“I understand, but just think of it as something fun and exciting to do whenever it happens,” she answered.
“It’s easy for you and Avery to encourage me because you’re both safe and sound in loving marriages.” I folded my arms and smiled at her, “As I said, I’m not going to reject it, but I’m also not going to be the billionaire boys’ play toy, if you know what I mean.”
She grinned, “If there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that. I suppose that’s why I find it so amusing. With the fiery personality you’ve had since that night on the yacht, Jace and Titus will be shocked when they throw their egos out there for you toplaywith.”
I rolled my eyes, “What happened to the Ash who was terrified to see me walk off with Jace? That Ash didn’t want me to get hurt, you know?”
“She watched you transform into a firecracker who is full of life. So, I say have fun with it. I would’ve told Jake to back his friend off if I thought you’d get hurt. Instead, I see two men absolutely fascinated by the mere memory of being in your presence, and I love that for you. Keep it casual if you’re worried about getting hurt, sweetie.”
“I’ve just never experienced something like this before, and I don’t know how to navigate it.”
I stopped myself. I sounded like a fool, rambling on about this again.
“We should’ve never told you and just let it all happen naturally,” Ash said. “Just take your knowledge and use it as a weapon to stay ahead of them. If Jace asks you out on a night that Titus has already beaten him to it, decide who you’d rather hang out with that night. Like a normal person who isn’t committed to anyone.”
“It just feels wrong.”
“It feels wrong because you were committed to one man in a serious relationship for a long time. Now, you are as free as a bird with two handsome men who will be vying for your attention. Run with this and have a little fun with it. That’s all Avery and I were saying.”
“I guess so,” I relaxed a little more. “I suppose I’ve been making myself feel like the star of the next season of The Bachelorette.”
“I had a feeling you would go home and overthink everything,” Ash said. “Just remember that no one is forcing you to go make out with Jace at lunch, then lock lips with Titus at dinner.”
“All right,” I said. “Now, get out of here, or you’re going to be late for your appointments for the kids.”
“Like I said, close up early if you’d like.”
