I rolled my eyes. “If you’re asking me to move in—”
“Telling you to move in.”
“Then you should take it back. I never really lived in it anyway…just crashed on an air mattress in the middle of the living room.” And spent my nights alone with a bottle of wine, with Coen for company sometimes. “I really don’t want it and have no need for it.”
“You don’t want it for security? Just in case I act like an asshole again?”
I held his gaze as I rejected the suggestion. Slate had fucked up this relationship a lot, but I knew everything would be different from the second he arrived at my doorstep. He’d bared his heart to me, and it was completely sincere. “I don’t need the security, Slate.”
“I know you want marriage and kids, and I’d like to give that to you…someday. But not tomorrow.”
“I never asked for tomorrow.”
“If you kept this place, you would always have a backup if I screw things up again.”
“You aren’t going to screw things up, Slate.”
“You think so?” He stepped closer to me, his eyes filled with fondness.
I rose onto my tiptoes so I could bring my face close to his. “I know so.”
19
Slate
I headed to the office in the afternoon because I had a few things to take care. But I spent my morning putting Monroe’s things back in the closet and taking a nap because I didn’t sleep much the night before.
Because I was too busy fucking.
I walked into the building in my black suit and headed to Coen’s office first since it was on the way. I talked to his assistants then let myself in to his office.
He was on the phone, his feet on the desk. “Yeah, let’s do it. Pull the trigger.” He hung up.
“Pull the trigger on what?”
“I’m taking golf lessons at the country club.” He took his feet off the desk and relaxed in the leather chair. “I’ve always wanted to but never had the time. Simone said getting a membership was a waste of money. But that bitch is gone, so I can do what I want.”
He should have been able to do what he wanted in the first place. “Good riddance.”
“So…you didn’t come home last night.” He grinned. “What were you up to?”
I was surprised Monroe hadn’t already told him since they were so close. “I slept at Monroe’s.”
His grin widened. “Yeah?”
“You seem awfully happy for wanting her for yourself.”
He laughed like I’d made a joke. “You are such an idiot, Slate. I never wanted her.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“I was just trying to get you jealous and worked up. I knew I was the last person you would want sniffing around Monroe, so I thought it would kick your ass into gear. Unfortunately, that didn’t work.”
“That was all a ploy?”
He nodded. “You really think I would backstab you like that?”
“Well…”
“Again?” he added. “No, I would never do that.”
“And Monroe was aware of this?”
“She didn’t like it, but she got on board. She was willing to do anything to make it work.”
Now I felt like an idiot for getting so jealous. When I thought Coen wanted to fuck my girl, all I could see was red. I lost my goddamn mind because I was so insanely pissed. Now I was relieved it had never been true.
“I pressured her to go to the bar. And I pressured her to talk to that guy.”
They manipulated me into behaving the way they wanted, but now that I had Monroe again, I didn’t care that the pretenses had been false. She was mine, and that was all that mattered. “So you both played me?”
He shrugged. “Guess so. But we did it for your own good.”
Because I had been sitting around and drinking my pain away. But the alcohol only made my pain even worse.
“But you’re happy now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. So, what now?”
“She’s moving in with me.”
“Awesome. Monroe was too much of a catch to let go. I wasn’t going to let you make the biggest mistake of your life. I knew you were pissed at me at the time, but I really had your best interests at heart.”
“Yeah…you did.” My brother did whatever he could to get me back together with Monroe. He knew I cared about her even if I wouldn’t admit it. He knew I wanted her for the rest of my life even though I was too scared to say it. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. I’m just happy that you’re happy. And I hope I find a woman like Monroe someday.”
“You will, Coen.”
He rose to his feet and came around the desk. “So, you tell her you love her?”
“Are we girls now?”
He smiled. “Did you?”
I nodded.
He clapped me on the shoulder. “Good. So, you love her, and she’s moving in. My work is done. I can finally go back to my place now.”