I should call. Shelly would do anything for me but she was cleaning up my mess at work. More than likely, she was taking my place for some of my dates over the next few days. My mother came into my mind but we never spoke. I had a few friends but it was a Friday night and I didn’t want to bother them.
Then I thought of Ash.
He probably wouldn’t mind. After all, I took him shopping last week and picked out clothes for him. But he would probably do it anyway even if I didn’t do anything for him. He was a sweet guy under all that pigheadedness. I found my phone in my purse and called him.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ash
Irene was really cute.
She had bright blonde hair, nice cheekbones, and full lips made for sucking. The second she laid eyes on me, she was smitten. I could tell she was relieved I was her date and Sawyer wasn’t.
“So, you ink for a living?” She sat close to me and gave me her full attention.
Sawyer and his girl were in their own little world on the other side of the table.
“Yep.” I showed off my forearms. “It’s my passion.”
She stroked the skin with her fingertips. “Very nice…” A flirtatious look was in her eyes. She leaned closer to me, close enough for a kiss.
Uh… “So, what do you do?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I’m a model. I already told you that.”
Oh yeah, she did. “But what kind?”
“Swimsuit.”
“Very cool,” I said. “You must have a tan all year round.”
“Something like that.” She rubbed her leg against mine under the table.
I knew I was a good-looking guy but women didn’t necessarily want to jump my bones the second we met. I usually had to buy them a drink or talk to them for a few minutes. This girl already had her eye on the prize. It was flattering but a little nerve-racking.
“So…” I was normally charming and witty but now I was just uncomfortable. “You like brunch?”
“Brunch?” she asked in amusement. “Like breakfast and lunch?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” she asked. “Do you want to get some tomorrow morning?”
Shit, that was a stupid thing to say. “I was just curious…”
Sawyer shot me a glare and mouthed, “What the hell are you doing?”
I shrugged in response.
“I love your hands.” She felt them in her fingertips. “They’re so big…”
“Yeah…” I gently pulled them away because I felt awkward. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Guilt flushed through me even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Alessandra kept coming into my head but I couldn’t get her to go away. It was the weirdest thing in the world.
Irene wasn’t discouraged in the least. “You live nearby? It’s too loud in here and I want to go somewhere quiet…” She leaned toward me with her lips slightly parted.
All I had to do was leave with her and I’d get laid. She’d probably be a bombshell in bed, judging by her confidence. And I had every right to do whatever I wanted…I wasn’t breaking any rules.
My phone started to ring.
“I have to get that.” I quickly snatched it, grateful I had some excuse to get some space. I didn’t even look at the screen before I took the call. “Yo.”
Alessandra coughed loudly into the phone, and when she spoke, she sounded raspy and weak. “I’m so sorry to bother you—” She couldn’t even finish the sentence before she started coughing like she was on her deathbed. “Are you busy?”
“Damn, you sound like shit.”
“I know…I feel terrible.” She coughed again then sneezed. “They sent me home from work but I can’t rest because I can’t sleep. I’m so uncomfortable…”
My heart ached for her. “Let me bring you something. How about some Nyquil?”
“You would do that?” Affection was in her voice, underneath all the coughing. “I’m sure you’re busy…”
I glanced over my shoulder at Irene. She batted her eyelashes at me then blew me a kiss. I turned back the other way. “No, I’m not busy.”
“Really? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Knock it off. I wouldn’t offer unless I was free. Anything else?”
“Maybe some cough drops, Aspirin, ice cream…”
I smiled. “Ice cream?”
“It’ll make my throat feel better.”
“I know something else that’ll make your throat feel better.”
“Oh god.” She started laughing but was interrupted by a round of coughing.
“Save your energy. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thank you, Ash. You’re a life saver.”
“You owe me.”
She chuckled. “When you’re sick, I’ll take care of you.”
That warmed my heart in a way I couldn’t explain.