Page 28 of Switch
I jump.“Stop looking at my screen.”
Daniel shrugs.“Curiosity.”
His grin widens when I send the only thing I can think of in reply to PJ’s message.You look amazing.
Because he does.And if I wish I were the one who got to take his clothes off of him at the end of tonight, if I hate that he’s going out to dinner with someone who isn’t me?Well, I’m the one who created this situation.
“You could tell him you changed your mind, you know?”
“Are you an actual psychic?Be honest.”
“With the look on your face, Fallon, I hardly need to be.”
I’m saved from having to say anything more by Tomás, the gallery owner, appearing at my side.“Fallon!I thought that was you.I’m so glad you’re here.”
He pulls me into a hug and kisses me on both cheeks.His hands stay clasped over mine as he holds me out at arm’s length, looking me up and down.“How are you holding up?”
My smile only feels sort of forced.“Doing great.”
Am I doing great?No.I’d love it, though, if I could run into people I know without the “How are you?”sounding like they’re expecting me to say I’m miserable.
“I can tell.You look great.”He gives my shoulder a friendly squeeze.“It’s wonderful to see you out and about.You know, I’ve been dying to reconnect.We should grab dinner sometime.I’d love you to come with me to check out the new Beal gallery downtown.Size up the competition, you know?Maybe there will be some new artists to scout.”
“Uh, maybe.It could be fun.Let me know when you’re thinking of going, and I’ll check my schedule.”Whenever it is, I doubt I’ll be available.
I’m only here tonight because Daniel cajoled until I agreed.Admittedly, I needed to see a friend.And okay, fine, I also didn’t want to sit at home doing nothing when I knew PJ had plans.
“Great.I look forward to it.”Tomás beams, and I kind of feel like an ass for lying to him now.Lucky for me, his assistant bustles over and whispers something in his ear, no doubt about some super important art-related emergency.
When he walks away, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“That was so painful to watch.Like a very gentle train wreck.”
I give Daniel my best “fuck off” glare.“At least he’s one of the few people who don’t think they need to remind me what a perfect couple Marina and I were.”
“That’s because he wants to get into your pants.”
“What?”Without meaning to, I turn to study Tomás, who catches me looking and gives me a little wave.
Oh.Shit.
“What, did you think that dinner and art gallery invitation was purely platonic?”
“Of course I did.You invited me out tonight, and I didn’t think you were trying to get into my pants.You’re not, right?”
“I’m married to my work.And no offense, but you’re not my type.”
No, last I checked, Daniel was working his way through every wide-eyed twink on the Gulf Coast.
“None taken.”
Across the room, Tomás has turned his attention to his assistant, making animated gestures.He’s handsome, and he’s got one of those personalities that seems to draw in literally everybody, so if he finds me attractive, I suppose I should be flattered.
“If I were going to date someone, he’d make sense.On paper, anyway.He’s successful.Good looking.Age appropriate.”
He’s not twenty-fucking-four.
“Don’t you dare.He’s Marina two-point-oh.That’s not what you want.”
