climb out of the bath to find Simon on the mat, staring at Lori. “Why does he watch you in the bathroom?”
“He likes to rub his fur against my wet legs. He knows it makes me crazy.” Lori smiles at the cat, offering an expression of undying love.
“How old is he?” I ask as I towel off.
“Eleven, no twelve.”
“You’ve had him since you were a kid?”
“Yeah, my brother, Sean, found him. There were two of them. Their mom and the siblings had been hit by a car and they were alone. He brought them home, and we nursed them and kept them in secret. When I went away to school, Sean took care of them with Grace, our chef. Sean’s cat passed away the year I graduated. By then Sean was long gone.” He glances at me, saying his brother’s name for the first time since we met. “You’re going to love Grace. She’s this spicy lady who rips me a new asshole every time she sees me. Think Bev with a German accent.”
“Great,” I mutter, leaving him and Simon to their ritual, and pull on some shorts and a tank top. I grab a snack from the fridge and settle in on the sofa to finish going over my employment contract Stan had drafted for me yesterday during our meeting.
I’m about halfway through it when my phone buzzes.
He dumped me.
The text from Sukii makes my entire body tense.
I Facetime her.
“Hey,” she answers sniffling. Her eyes are puffy and red.
“Seriously? Are you home?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She sniffles.
“Be there in half an hour. Sweet or salty?”
“Both,” she groans.
“Okay.” I press “end” and get up from the sofa, grabbing my purse and leaving everything on the coffee table.
“Hey, you wanna get some pizza?” Lori calls from the deck where he’s pacing, cooling off after his second workout, even though it’s a hundred degrees outside.
“Nope!” I shout and walk to the elevator. “I’ll be back later.”
“You’re leaving? Where you going?” he asks, breathy and confused.
“Out,” I snap my answer, accidentally taking his friend’s betrayal out on him.
“Where?” he growls, not up for my attitude.
“You know what, it’s none of your business,” I say and regret it almost instantly. He didn’t do anything wrong but my mood is rotten and there’s no stopping it. I press the elevator button, annoyed with him, his friend, hockey players, meeting his parents.
He gasps and bolts, rushing me and the elevator. I jump inside when it comes but he’s too fast. He pins me against the wall with his sweaty body.
“Lori!” I shout, trying to wriggle free.
“Where?” he says again.
“You’re so sweaty! Get off me!” I demand and press my body into the elevator wall to escape him.
“That’s not what you said last time I had you pinned in the elevator.” He lowers his sweaty face to mine and forces a clammy kiss.
“You’re so gross.” I manage to slide away from him, wiping his sweat and spit from my face.
“Tell me where you’re going.” He leans against the wall, blocking the door. He will not let me out of this elevator until I do.
“No.” My ass is up and now I won’t tell him at all costs.
“Then I guess you’re not going anywhere.” He folds his arms over his chest and blocks the doors completely.
“Fine.” I laugh angrily. “Then I guess I’m not.” I cross my arms over my chest too, mimicking him.
“So we’re riding the elevator for fun?” He narrows his gaze.
“Well, until you stop being controlling, yes.”
“You’re really not going to tell me where you’re going? Is this about the job? Are you moving out?” He’s in disbelief.
“No! I’m mad you didn’t tell me Cap was breaking up with Sukii.” It’s a gamble but the subtle wince confirms my guess. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“That’s their business. I didn’t want to get involved. You shouldn’t either.”
“Whatever.” It’s impossible to explain the workings of girls and their friends. “I’m going to go console my friend and eat chocolate cake right from the pan. I suggest while I’m gone, you try to find the paintball guns I’ve hidden, because you’re getting hunted when I get back.”
“You’re seriously pissed I didn’t tell you? Or is this those mood swings the doctors were talking about?”
“Mood swings?” It was the wrong thing to say. “You know what, Lori? I’m annoyed that you knew he was going to break things off and you didn’t give me a heads up.”
“I knew this would become a thing. I was trying to avoid it.”
“Well done.” I