“So that’s a yes,” he said before he took a drink from his soda. “So you have a type—powerful men.”
“Ugh, not really. My relationship with him just unfolded. And I was sitting in a bar drinking when you came on to me.”
“And you said yes.”
“Regardless of how powerful you were, I would have said yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re gorgeous.”
He grinned wide, like those words perfectly stroked his ego. “Good answer.”
“It’s the truth.” I picked up my second slice and took a bite.
“So what did he want the other day?”
“Who?”
“Slate Remington.”
“Oh…” I turned quiet, unsure what to say. “You know, I’d rather not talk about him.” I’d already said it once, but perhaps I needed to say it again.
“I’m not trying to be nosy. I just want to know where you stand with him. Is there a possibility you might get back together? I’m sure Slate heard that we were seeing each other, and if he has any brains, he would do something to keep you. You’re gorgeous too.”
My cheeks filled with a blush. “Uh, thanks.”
“So?” he pressed.
“He apologized to me and admitted he was jealous.”
“As he should be.” He rested his elbows on the table and leaned toward me.
“But he wasn’t willing to give me what I wanted.”
“Which is?”
“A relationship. I’m not looking for marriage or a conversation about kids. I have time to worry about that later. But I just wanted something…some kind of foundation. He has trust issues, so he turned me down.”
“So let me get this straight. After dropping you, he chases after you to tell you he’s jealous and unhappy. But he’s still not willing to be with you?”
“In so many words…”
“That’s a bit douchey.”
I shouldn’t defend Slate’s honor, but I felt like I had to. “He just has trust issues. He’s been backstabbed one too many times.”
“Didn’t that thing happen with Simone like five years ago?”
I guess the whole world really did know about it. “Yes.”
“And shouldn’t he be over it by now?”
I shrugged. “That’s his business.”
“Well, if he’s not an idiot, he should let it go.”
But he was an idiot. He wasn’t willing to trust me enough even to try.
“Honestly, people cheat all the time. That’s just how the world works. For a businessman like him, I would assume he’d have a thicker skin than that.”
I still felt loyalty to Slate even if I shouldn’t, and I didn’t like listening to Wyatt tear him down, especially when he didn’t even know him. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just kinda like you and want to know how likely it is that Slate will get his head on straight. Because you’re clearly still into him.”
I didn’t deny it. “I don’t think he’ll ever get his head on straight.”
“Well, that’s good news for me.”
I was lying in bed, trying to fall asleep when my phone rang.
I looked at the screen and saw Slate’s name.
I hadn’t expected to see his name on my phone ever again.
I should ignore him the way he ignored me, but since I couldn’t sleep anyway, I took the call. I let my silence announce my presence.
He did the same.
The silence ensued, and we didn’t speak a word to each other.
I wasn’t even sure why he called. But I also wasn’t sure why I didn’t hang up. If this was really over, we shouldn’t be talking to one another. It would just make moving on more difficult. “Yes?”
“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice deep and quiet.
“It’s eleven. What do you think I’m doing?”
“I imagine you’re in bed, alone, wearing cute panties and a baggy t-shirt.”
“You paint a realistic picture. What are you doing?”
“I’m in bed—nude.”
“You always sleep in the nude?” I asked, missing that perfect body and that tanned skin.
“Only when I jerk off.”
My breath caught in my throat when I heard the sexy confession. “Are you doing that now…?”
“Just finished. The used tissues are on my nightstand.”
“That’s quite a picture…”
“Does it turn you on?”
I would be lying if I said it didn’t. “Did you think about me?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes.”
He sighed into the phone. “Sweetheart…I miss you.”
I didn’t berate him for the nickname, not this time. “I miss you too.”
“Don’t fuck him.”
“I’ve got to fuck someone sometime. I can’t have great sex one time and then go celibate.”
“So you liked it?”
“Obviously. I came twice, didn’t I?”
“But you also cried most of the time.”
Because I had an enormous dick in between my legs. “It was my first time…cut me some slack.”
“I’m not judging you. It was sexy. Your cherry was my favorite to pop.”
“Then why do you want to keep doing it with other people?”
He turned quiet. “It’s not that I want to keep doing it…”
“You’re stupid if you throw us away over something some bitch did to you five years ago. You know that, right? Because Wyatt really likes me…and I’m starting to really like him.” Eventually, I would let myself really fall for him. Then Slate would become a distant memory.