Page 4 of Torrid Love
“Hey, Dom, you’re finally back.”
“Rod, how are you?”
“Good. Did I wake you up?”
“No, I’ve been up for a while. I got your text message. I was going to answer after coffee.”
“No problem. I’m sure you’re still a little tired.”
“That’s the understatement of the century. I’m so jetlagged, I don’t even know what planet I’m on. Is this Pluto or Mars?”
I laugh. “I hear you. When I came back from Australia two months ago, I thought I woke up on Jupiter. Are you going to be able to stay awake until tonight?”
“I might have to take a nap if I want to make it to Zoe’s birthday party. I wasn’t planning ongoing since I just landed, but she insists. She also invited me to dinner—just her and her best friend—before we head out to her party. Something about thanking me.”
“It makes sense. You’re responsible for her big break.”
“It was just an introduction,” she says.
“It’s much more than that and you know it.”
She doesn’t answer.
Thanks to Dom, Zoe secured a phenomenal job at my brothers’ TV production company. Dom would never take credit where credit’s due. She’s so self-effacing.
“Will you stop by Zoe’s party?” she asks, changing the subject.
“I’ll head there the second Eddie’s yacht docks.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Remember how Eddie proposed to the so-called love of his life after a three-day sex marathon?”
“Don’t tell me. It wasn’t love ever after.”
“It was a shotgun Vegas wedding that lasted seven days. The six-month waiting period has elapsed and his divorce was finalized on Monday. Since she’s already loaded, she didn’t ask for a dime, so it ended up being a smooth divorce. Eddie says her father is relieved.”
“I don’t blame the man. At least she isn’t pregnant.”
“Yeah, I don’t see Eddie as the father type. The guy isn’t wired for commitment.”
“One could say the same about you, Rod.”
“I never professed otherwise, Dom,” I snap. I know who I am and I’m upfront about it. I don’t need a reminder from my best friend. “Anyway, back to the divorce. Eddie invited a bunch of us to celebrate his newfound freedom by chartering a yacht.”
“The usual suspects will be present?”
“No doubt.”
“Kudos to Eddie. Nothing like getting back on the horse,” she says.
“Yeah, well, Eddie loves women.”
“Just as much as you do.”
It’s not like I can deny it, but her snarky tone annoys me. She’s been throwing those digs at me since before she left. I thought we were past that.
“How was the training?” I divert.
