Page 114 of Bad For A Weekend

Fucking depressing.

That’s not the only reason I’m in a funk. Ever since my surprise interview with Baylor, I can’t shake the fog from my brain. The only thoughts coming in clearly are of her. She looked slightly older with a wisdom to her presence that was there before but even more powerful now. I can tell college has only made her more confident and wiser.

She’s still a fucking knockout. Dressed in business attire meant to show her professionalism, all it did was make me want to bend her over my desk and fuck her senseless. And she had teal-colored hair. It made me happy to see she’s returned to her true self.

Pulling out my dinner of a turkey wrap and pita chips, I lay it out on the counter and dig in. I should at least buy some kitchen items so I can cook, but by the time I get home from work and the gym, I’m beat. The start of a school year is always challenging. Students pushing boundaries and figuring out what they can and can’t get away with make for a lot of interventions.

My front door opens, and Hudson walks in like he owns the place. Technically he does since he formed an investment company with a couple of his buddies, and their first purchase was the building I’m renting a condo in, but still. Would it kill him to knock?

“Hey.” He lifts his chin and walks into the kitchen, snagging the other half of my wrap. “That looks good.”

I yank it out of his hands before he can take a bite. “It is good. Go get your own.”

“Fucker.” He settles for swiping a couple pita chips. “What’s up with you? You look even more depressed than usual.”

“Yesterday, I had an interview for a college paper, and you’ll never guess who they sent.”

“No.”

“Yep.”

“What did you do?”

“I answered her questions.”

“And then you told her you’re still in love with her, and now that you have your life together, you want to try again, right?”

“No.” I sigh. “After the interview was over, she bounced like her ass was on fire.”

“Was it because you repulse her now?” He pinches my cheek, and I swat him away.

“No, asshole. I don’t know why. She did ask if I was single, though. I thought she might be fishing, but after I told her I was, she ran.”

“Weird.”

“I thought so too. But seeing her again made me realize not everything has to be perfect for it to be right.”

“That’s deep.” He clutches his chest dramatically. It’s fucking impossible to have a serious conversation with him.

“I want to ask her out, but I don’t know. Is that stupid after our history?”

“No, that’s how normal people start dating. You two idiots just did things backward.”

“So do I just go to her house and ask her to dinner or something?”

He blows out a frustrated breath. “I know it’s been a long time, but some of the old game you used to have must be in there somewhere. I mean, you’re the one who taught me everything I know.”

He’s right. Before the shooting, I had no problem approaching women. But it’s been seven years, and the only woman I’ve been with was the eighteen-year-old client I was hired to protect. Not exactly a stellar return to the dating world.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Jesus Christ. Yes. That’s exactly what you do. Do you have her number? It might be less confrontational if you call.”

“I tried the last number I had for her, but it wasn’t in service. Think Corey would give you her new one?”

“I’m not calling a client and asking for his daughter’s number,” he says in a tone that implies I’m a moron.

“I guess I have to just show up at her house then.”

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