Page 16 of Falling Hard
"Rick, calm down. I just have too much on my plate."
He frowned, clearly confused by my about-face.
"You're supposed to be on my plate. In fact, you promised–"
"Rick, why don't you make us a drink?" I cut in, not wanting to hear any more sexual things, and needing a moment to use my phone.
He grinned like I’d told him to get a condom instead of a drink and went to do as I asked. Rick was pretty familiar with my house and knew where everything was. When I could hear him in the other room, I sent a text message. It was one I'd sent many times over the past fifteen years.
I need a hero. At my townhouse. ASAP. Life & death sort of shit.
After Rick returned, I politely shared a few drinks and light conversation, counting down the time when we finally heard my front door open. My hero was here. Luke walked in wearing a soft gray sweater that clung to his broad shoulders; his blond hair was left unruly.
As he approached, Rick looked from me to him. "Luke, what are you doing here?"
"I'm wondering the same thing, Rick," he said, then reached forward and yanked me up from my seat. "Mind if I talk to Olivia for a second?"
"Hey, wait a minute. Are you fucking her too? I don’t think I want a threesome with my old college roommate, no offense."
"None taken, Rick. I'm also not interested. I hate to share," Luke spat, then dragged me into the kitchen. Even though my feet moved, my mind was still back there processing his words.
"What the hell did that mean?"
Luke rolled his eyes. "Why am I here?"
"I need you to get rid of a man like you always do."
He shook his head. "After today, I'm retiring from the role of your emergency garbage removal man. Find someone else."
"Of course, I can fend for myself now that you've got your precious Silliene."
Luke shook his head. "Did you fuck him and text me to make sure he wouldn’t stay the night?"
I watched the muscles tense in his jaw.
"No. I just came back from the food festival with my girls and found him waiting."
"And you didn't invite him?"
I stared at him, searching for a familiar face. Right now, he felt like a stranger. Had we been growing apart and I didn’t realize it? "Are you slut shaming me right now?"
"Don't be ridiculous. It's just … texting me shows how little you care about me, and you've never seen me as a man."
I was floored by his words. "How? I've always called you when I needed help. That’s how this works. You have me, and I have you."
"I've never asked you to help me with women. Why? Because I respect you as a woman. But you? You've never once seen me as a man."
Earlier, Luke's voice was controlled, he was clearly annoyed but kept a even tone. Now it echoed off the walls of my kitchen as he jabbed a finger at me.
Staring at his face filled with rage, I spoke. "What else would you be if not a man? Why am I getting yelled at? I have no idea what’s going on."
"Hey. I'm out. I'm not sure what lovers' quarrel you two are having but it’s nothing to do with me," Rick said, interrupting our heated discussion.
Luke looked at me with visible anger. "There is nothing between us, Rick. You don’t need to leave."
"Nothing?!" I replied, matching his fierceness.
"Whatever. I'm leaving," Rick said, and seconds later, I heard the door slam shut.
