Page 32 of His Surrender
Emery and I hadn’t talked much since the first day of trial. I didn’t take it personally. We didn’t need our close friendship getting in the way of our jobs, and both of us could be hotheaded at times when pushed.
Sputnik walked around my feet, brushing up against my leg as I left the bedroom fully dressed and went toward the kitchen.
“I’m feeding you, you beast.” I grabbed his food from the cabinet and filled his bowl. He thanked me by bumping his head to my palm, and then I was forgotten as he started to eat. “You’re welcome.”
Seeing the date, I grabbed my phone and clicked on the hookup app Remi had first messaged me through. I didn’t have his number, so it was the only way I knew to contact him. I hesitated as I tried to type out a message.
What’s the point?Sure, I might like him more than most other guys, but that still didn’t mean I wanted a relationship or anything. Contacting him would just rub salt in his wound. Wishing him a happy birthday was friendly, though.
Me:I heard it’s your birthday today. Don’t get too wild celebrating tonight.
His response came moments later.
Jazz Guy:Wow. Didn’t expect to hear from you again. And what I do doesn’t concern you, Mr. Foley.
Me:Ouch. Back to being formal. Me being in your ass before should at least put me in the close acquaintance category.
Jazz Guy:Why does it matter? You said you just wanted sex from me, and you got it. You left super quick afterward too, so I assumed you wouldn’t contact me again.
I read his message twice, wondering why his words made my chest get a little tight. Did I feel guilty?
Me:Look… I’m sorry for bailing so fast that night and for not reaching out to you since then. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and say I hope you’re doing okay.
Jazz Guy:Thanks.
I typed out another message before I could overthink it.
Me:If you don’t have plans, I’d like to take you to dinner tonight. No one should be alone on their birthday.
As I waited for his response, I poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table, watching as the first break of light appeared in the morning sky.
Jazz Guy:Who said I’ll be alone? I actually have a date. But thanks for the offer.
He had a date? Why did that cause a weight to drop into my gut?
I didn’t bother sending a reply. I finished my coffee before grabbing my briefcase and heading to work. The trial would continue on Monday, and I had a lot of preparations to make: tracking down witnesses and working with them on their testimonies, filing a motion for more discovery from the defense, and speaking with the detectives on the case.
I couldn’t afford to be distracted by Remi.
As ironic as it might be, I was a little upset. He had moved on to another guy with ease—somethingIalways did—whereas I hadn’t even thought of hooking up with anyone else.
The tables had turned… and I hated it.
Chapter 8
Remi
I walked toward the band room that afternoon with the conversation with Jay from earlier that morning still bouncing around in my head. Why had he messaged me? It had been random and strange.
I’d like to take you to dinner tonight.
That didn’t sound like the same Jay I knew. But then I remembered his hesitation that night before leaving my apartment, and I wondered if I even really knew him at all. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my head all week, so when a guy I used to date reached out to me, asking me out for my birthday, I had jumped at the opportunity.
I kind of regretted it now, which was stupid. Ishouldn’tregret it. Nathan was a nice guy, and though the breakup had hurt me, I didn’t hate him for it. He’d moved away and was back in town for the weekend and had wanted to catch up.
When I walked into the band room, the students stopped talking in their excited whispers and turned their heads toward me. They sat in their assigned chairs, holding their instruments, all of them smiling.
“What’s going on?” I asked, all too suspicious.
