Page 47 of The Little Black Rose

“It doesn’t mean anyth––” I start to repeat, but she cuts me off.

“We can talk about it tonight. Horseshoe bar at The Black Hart at eight. I’ll text Sophie.”

“Fine, but I’m not giving any explicit details,” I say.

“Eww. I didn’t ask for any, and I don’t plan on it. But we do need to talk about it.”

“I told you, it doesn’t––”

“Eight o’clock,” she sing-songs, cutting me off again as she saunters back to her station behind the counter.

“Fine,” I say, pushing through the door and out into the early morning Vegas sunshine.

Everything is fine.

Chapter23

It is Vegas, After All

Zeke

Ava is going out tonight. She texted me after she leftGlaZZedthis morning to let me know I shouldn’t expect her for dinner, and Zoey mentioned it, too. I could tell by the gleam in my sister’s eyes that she knows what happened between Ava and me last night. I don’t know if she just figured it out by our behavior this morning, or if Ava told her, but she does know.

I’m not really sure how I feel about that, but I suppose it’s one of the downfalls of sleeping with your sister’s best friend. They know everything about each other, and until the first time Ava and I had sex, I’m pretty sure they’ve never kept a secret from each other.

That’s all my fault. I feel guilty, asking her to keep that first encounter a secret. It was a spur of the moment request, and I never should have made it. If I hadn’t acted like such a dick, maybe Ava would’ve come to me the second she thought she might be pregnant. I could’ve been with her when she took the test. I could’ve been the rock she needed the second she got the news.

I shake my head. It’s fine. I stepped up the night I found out, and I’ve been her rock every day since. I think I’ve made up for my bad behavior that night.

And last night? Well, being inside Ava was better than I remembered. I don’t know if we’ll do something like that again––hell, we probablyshouldn’t. This situation is complicated enough. But I refuse to lie to myself and pretend like I don’t want a repeat. Like I don’t want to watch her come every single fucking day. Because I do.

But what I can’t do is lead her on. I can’t let her forget for a moment that we’re not a couple. We aren’t in a romantic relationship and never will be. We’re just…co-parents with benefits? Roommates who have sex sometimes?

Ugh. No labels. We are what we are and we aren’t what we aren’t. We’re both clear on the limitations of this…whatever it is.

I check the time. I’ve always been the girls’ designated driver, but it’s not needed tonight since Ava won’t be drinking. So, I find myself with nothing to do, rattling around this big house by myself while I wait for Ava to come home.

I’m considering texting the guys when my phone chimes with and incoming message from Jared.

Jared:You busy? Sam and I are hanging at my house until the girls finish their night out. You should come over.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I text him back to let him know I’ll be there in a few. After changing from sweatpants to jeans, I pull on a shirt, some socks, and my shoes before grabbing my wallet, keys, and phone.

It takes me fifteen minutes to get to Jared and Sophie’s place. Jared answers the door with a smile when I knock, then leads me back to the living room where Sam is slumped back in a chair, sipping a beer. He lifts it in greeting when I take a seat on the couch across from him.

“Hey, man. How’s it going?” I ask.

“Can’t complain,” he says, shooting me a wink that makes my lips turn down.

He does this often. Makes subtle innuendoes about his happy life with my sister. Seeing my expression, he chuckles.

“Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”

He always says that, too.

“Dick,” I mumble, but there’s no heat in it.

He’s a good guy, and I’m happy he and Zoey are happy. He laughs off the insult, and Jared reappears from the kitchen with a soda in one hand and a beer in the other. He offers me both, and I pick the soda. Even though I’m not a DD tonight, I don’t feel like drinking. I’m too edgy, and though alcohol would relax me, I have no desire to drown my…whatever it is I’m feeling.

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