Page 23 of The Stud Next Door (Frisky Business 3)
“Caleb’s coming over?” I arch a suggestive brow.
Scarlett shrugs innocently, holding her phone tightly to her chest. “He’s a good friend of mine, actually. We’ve known each other since college.”
Interesting. I’d assumed Scarlet first made friends with the girls in the group. I didn’t realize Caleb was one of her oldest friends.
Maren gives her an appraising look, perching on the edge of the couch. “You guys have been hanging out a lot,” she says delicately. “Anything going on there?”
“With Caleb?” Scarlett’s eyebrows jump. “God, no. Can you imagine?”
A mischievous grin spreads across Maren’s face. Apparently, she can imagine. But not knowing Caleb’s personality well, I have no idea what exactly she’s imagining.
In the few interactions we’ve had, he seems funny and chill. But now I’m wondering if he has a revolving bedroom door of a past like Connor apparently did.
“I invited a few people over to see the new place,” Scarlett says, waving one hand.
My stomach leaps. To Scarlett, “a few people” probably means the majority of her friend group. The majority of her friend group means the men of Frisky Business, and the men of Frisky Business means Connor, who I haven’t seen or spoken to since he kissed me on his birthday.
Yeah, let’s just say that’s one detail I’ve left out of this girls’ evening so far. Not that I think Maren and Scarlett would disapprove. Quite the opposite.
I just don’t think I’m ready to spill the tea with them about Connor yet. Especially not when I still haven’t found a solution to the whole “I’m leaving you and your baby girl in a few months” situation. Nope, I’ve made my bed. Now I’ve just got to lie in it. Even if that means lying in it alone.
“Okay, so . . . pizza toppings?” I say with a smile.
“Get the roasted garlic, four cheese and truffle oil, and two of the Turkish lamb pizzas,” Scarlett says. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Lamb pizza?” I ask.
Scarlett lobs a serious look my way. “Believe me, it’s the best thing you will ever put in your mouth.”
“True story,” Maren says with a nod.
I place the order on my phone and select delivery, because who in the heck wants to go out right now?
“Pizza has been ordered,” I say.
“Thanks, girl,” Scarlett says a second before her phone buzzes, and she lets out an excited squeal.
“Hellooo?” she answers, her voice an excited singsong. Her face falls slightly. “Oh. Sure, I’ll let you up.”
Maren and I give her the same curious look. “It’s Connor,” Scarlett mouths with a halfhearted shrug.
I can feel Maren watching my face for a reaction, but I’m too busy wondering if Scarlett’s excited reaction was because she thought it would be Caleb.
Scarlett disappears down the hallway, her footsteps fading before the distant sound of a door slamming alerts us that she found him successfully. Their footsteps approach quickly, and my heartbeat races to catch up with them. When Scarlett bursts through the door, she has her hostess face on, all bright smiles and warm sashays.
“Our first guest has arrived,” she sings again, waving for Connor to enter.
Speak of the devil, and apparently he will appear with a bottle of rosé. How thoughtful.
Connor steps through the doorway looking as gorgeous as ever, his dark hair pushed back off his forehead, a gray T-shirt revealing the subtle outline of his muscles. His green eyes find mine within seconds, and a shock wave of heat passes through my core.
Down, girl.
Yes, he’s attractive and fit, and did I mention before how long it’s been since I’ve gotten any? But none of these thoughts are the least bit helpful right now. I’m only here for a short time, and I’m certainly not going to get wrapped up in anyone before I leave the country. And least of all my new boss.
“Wow, nice place, Scar,” he says, surveying the kitchen briefly before his gaze lands on Maren, and then me. “Hey, Maren. Hi, Jessa.”
I smile weakly at him and wave.
Oh my God. Did I just wave at him? Sweet Jesus, kill me now.
I’m never normally this awk-weird, but ever since we woke up tangled together in that hotel bed, I’m majorly off my game. And now add making out to the mix, I’m acting like a thirteen-year-old crushing on the most popular boy in school.
Yep. Kill me now.
Scarlett whisks Connor away to give him the grand tour of her new place, which will probably take all of two minutes. While they’re gone, I turn to Maren, who’s still eyeing me with playful suspicion.
“I’m thinking it’s definitely time for a drink,” I say quickly. “Are you with me?”
She nods and takes my hand, leading me into the kitchen. “So, you wanna talk about it?”
Maren’s been the sweet one from the beginning, someone I know I can talk to about these things. She knows better than anyone what it’s like to have complicated feelings for someone. Maybe it would be a good idea for me to open up to her. To talk to someone about the craziness swirling around in my head. Girl talk would do me a world of good.
