Page 60 of Under My Skin
I try to make my voice sound lighter than it feels. “Yeah, she is. I’m sure everything is fine. The lease is just almost up, and I haven’t been there to clean. I just want to try to get my security deposit back if I can help it.”
“Oh? Um, yeah. Of course, I’ll stop by today or tomorrow.” The surprise in her voice doesn’t slip past me. When I was living with her, I never had to worry about the condition of the apartment, but those were simpler times.
“Thanks.”
There’s a slight pause, and I have a feeling she wants to ask more about Jasmine, but I’d rather not get into it right now. If everything in the apartment is fine, then there’s no need to worry her about my living arrangement.
Allison laughs. “So, are you sure you’re only staying for hot friend’s shop and not for hot friend?”
I bite my nail, unsure of how to respond. Last night was incredible. Unexpected and a little stupid, but holy shit was itincredible.
She doesn’t even wait to finish her next bite before calling me out on my silence. “You like him, don’t you?” She swallows. “Wait, did something happen between you two?”
Even though she can’t see me, I still cover my face with my hand when I say, “So much.”
Allison squeals. “Lucy! Have you been holding out on me? When? How?How much?”
“Enough,” I say with a grimace.
She gasps. “Does your brother know?”
“Nope.”
“But it was good?”
“So good.” The words come out like they’re my best kept secret. “As in the best I’ve ever had.”
Allison cackles into the phone. “I’ll make sure Dina doesn’t mention it to her cousin.”
“Can we not bring up all my one-night stands in the same conversation, please?”
“You mean all two of them?” She takes another bite. “You harlot.”
I laugh.
“Plus, this one doesn’t have to be a one-night stand. You’re there for another week. When did it happen?”
I brace myself for her response when I say, “Last night.”
“Oh, you have plenty of time to bang it out a few more times.”
I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “You make it sound like he’s part of a to-do list.”
“I mean . . .” She drags out the words. “He could be.”
I glance toward the open door. I may only be able to see the wall of the short hallway, but there’s no sign of life in the apartment. My brother left for work a couple of hours ago, and Everett was gone before then. He said the shop is closed on Mondays, so I’m assuming he went for one of his early morning rides and just hasn’t come back yet.
“I wonder how he feels about the whole thing,” I mutter as I push myself up and sit cross-legged on the bed.
“You haven’t talked to him?”
Absently smoothing down the comforter beneath me, I say, “We haven’t exactly had the chance. Last night, Simon was here when we got back, and I haven’t seen him yet today. What if he regrets it?”
She talks through another mouthful. “If it was as good as you say it was, I doubt that’s the case.”
“I don’t know,” the words drag a little. My thoughts jumpback to the conversation I had with him two nights ago. It felt like he had already put me in a box labeledSimon’s sisterand nailed it shut. If he regrets last night, he’s probably feeling guilty, and the last thing he needs is to add more fuel to that flame.
“You’re going off the rails, aren’t you?”
