“I heard the answering machine. Greg was saying some pretty steamy things.”
“I wasn’t listening,” she said. “All I could think about was you.”
“He said you guys are meeting next Friday.”
“What? We’re not.”
“Why would he call you and say that?” He squeezed his eyes tightly shut as if it was painful.
“What are you talking about?” She shook her head. “Obviously, I have a crazy stalker on my hands. I thought he got the hint, but guess not. I’ll talk to him.”
“Are you still dating other guys?” His voice was cold. “Who is Greg?”
“The only person I know named Greg is the guy from the coffee shop, the Tinder guy,” she said dismissively.
“That’s exactly what I figured.” He climbed off the bed, pushing his hands through his hair.
Jack disappeared into the bathroom. Britt sat up, looking around helplessly, not knowing what to do. She grabbed his t-shirt off the floor and pulled it on, feeling too exposed. She knocked on the bathroom door.
“Jack, it’s nothing. I swear I’m not seeing him,” she said.
“Did you know he left flowers for you at the office. Marj said it was some secret admirer and I laughed it off.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I thought she told you.”
“She has so much on her mind.”
“I don’t enjoy being played, Britt,” he said, storming out of the bathroom, nearly knocking her over. He was dressed in his jeans. He put his shoes on and stared at her in his shirt. “Give me my shirt back.”
Britt crossed her arms over her chest as if to anchor the soft knit to her body.
“I understand why you’re mad but you can’t hold me responsible for some idiot trying to woo me. I’m sorry but I can’t control his actions. I can talk to him and tell him I’m in a relationship.”
“I don’t think you want a relationship.”
“Yes, I do. And this whole Greg thing. You’re making kind of a big deal about it,” she scoffed. “He means nothing to me. I didn’t even help him fix his profile.”
“You went on Tinder.”
“I told you the story.”
“I thought I could get over this, Britt. I really did. It’s like I was fine, we were fine again for the first time in weeks and I felt so close to you and then you fucking said you weren’t dating.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re indecisive. You don’t know what you want.”
“What the hell? There is nobody else. I’m thinking of you. I’m focused completely, body and soul, on you. And I’m sorry I’m not fucking perfect. I should’ve never went on that date.”
Jack paced across the room, still shirtless, still dangerously attractive. She was unsteady, unsure if putting her hands on him, taking him in her arms, in her mouth would only make things worse.
“First it was the guy you picked up in a bar, which wasn’t your fault because Marj made you do it. Then there was the guy you messaged with on Tinder. Again, someone else’s fault, she tricked you into it, whatever. Apparently she also tricked you into going out with him twice for coffee. It just escalates. It gets worse. It’s not one little thing. It’s betrayal after betrayal. At least the dating, the Tinder, the other guys I could sort of understand because I was gone, you were lonely. But this, Britt. I’m right here when this dude calls your house!” he said jamming his fist into the wall.
Instead of shocking her or frightening her, that made Britt mad. She yanked his t-shirt over her head and threw it at him.
“If that’s what you want to believe, then fine. Take your sanctimonious fucking shirt and get out of here.” She fumed, picking up her robe and putting it on, tying the belt as vengefully as she could manage.