Page 115 of Bad Love

We go up to the penthouse, and my breath catches as I take in the expanse of space. "Wow. It's really beautiful inhere."

The foyer and drawing room would be perfect for the private party my client wants to host with a handful of investors. It feels like a residence, but with the glamor and sleekness few people in this city could afford—including myclients.

"Clutch, right? Hunter likes it too. Fun fact: that's where this whole bet camefrom."

Despite that I don’t like Nelson very much, my heart rate picks up as I wander around the space. “Really?”

Nelson snorts. "He said he could pleasure ten thousand women in three months. Hunter's dream. Logistically, this was the onlyway."

I swallow as I gaze out the floor-to-ceilingwindows.

"He wins, he gets the penthouse. The ultimate place toscore."

My stomach turns. I’m not sure what I thought the reason was for Logan having bet the company, but it wasn’t pleasuring thousands ofwomen.

Still, I don’t think Nelson’slying.

“Listen,” Nelson goes on, probably thinking the reason for my sudden silence is that I hadn’t known about the bet at all. “I like you, which is why I’m telling you this. Hunter’s interest lasts about a week. Shit gets hard, he getsgone."

I turn back to Nelson, folding my arms. "Logan's not going to disappointme."

Nelson’s flash of teeth delivers a hit of gold. "It's nothing personal. He disappoints everyone. Just askhim."

* * *

By the timeI get home, my day's gottenworse.

Blake:Your parents said Rory was here on the weekend. I missed giving him a birthdaypresent.

Kendall:You can give it to him the next time wevisit.

Blake:Which iswhen?

Itexthim back the next date we’re planning to visit, a few weeks fromnow.

Blake:Come on, Kendall. That’s too long. He’ll think I forgot abouthim.

Iwant to say,“If he doesn’t think you forgot about him after you vanished with no word, ignored him last Christmas and the last two birthdays, and stopped sending child support, this won’t doit.”

Kendall:I get that you want to see him. But it takes an entire day of my weekend plus the cost of train tickets tovisit.

Ichew on my lip.

Kendall:If it matters so much, why don’t you come here Saturday? But let me know so I can rearrange ourplans.

The last thingI want is to cancel our usual Saturday routine for the purpose of having Blake in my home, but if he truly wants to make an effort, I’ll try once more forRory.

There’s no response, and I give up trying to get a straight answer. Logan calls me that night after dinner, when Rory’s doing homework at the kitchentable.

"Hey, gorgeous. Been seeing ads for Petal vibes everywhere this week. It’s making mehorny."

I duck into my room for some privacy, leaving the door ajar. "At least the campaign’s making animpact.”

“I know you said you’d give me a sales update tomorrow, but we shouldcelebrate."

“There’s nothing to celebrate yet,” I remindhim.

“Sure there is. We’re young. You’re beautiful. Life isgood.”

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