“As in clubs and bars?”
Victoria glances over her shoulder, shooting him a look I can’t see from my angle.
“I’m just saying, I’m not cool with you playing wing woman. I think we should clear that up.” Reed places the bag of chips on his breakfast bar and opens the fridge, grabbing a pop.
“You do know women don’t go out just to pick up guys, right? That we like to dance and have fun together. We’re not there to try out dick-up lines on a bunch of guys.”
“Yeah, we’re not there to find a Vag Badger,” I add.
Both their heads circle my way.
“Vag Badger?” Reed asks, quirking one eyebrow.
“You know…a guy who follows a woman around a bar, badgering her with the hopes of wearing her down and getting some vag?”
Victoria bends over and laughs, smacking the granite countertop. “I’ve never heard of that.”
“I think most men stop being Vag Badgers at the age of eighteen,” Reed says, sounding insulted.
Victoria and I wrinkle our eyebrows together.
Vic places her hand on her boyfriend’s shoulder. “Babe, you have no idea what it’s like out there for us.”
“Let’s clarify that statement, shall we? I have no idea what it’s like for Chelsea out there.”
Victoria rises on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. “You make a great argument.”
He turns quickly before her lips can land on his cheek a second time and captures her lips with his. His arms wrap around her waist and pretty soon I’m watching the two have an intimate moment.
“That’s my cue.” I place the mule cup in the sink.
“Are you sure?” Victoria breaks apart from Reed, but Reed doesn’t remove his hands from his girlfriend.
“Please, we don’t want to keep you from anything,” Reed jokes. At least I think he’s joking.
“No, I need to go buy all the cookies and ice cream Jewel has on its shelves and wallow at home by myself.”
My phone dings inside my purse and I pull it out as they follow me to the front door, finding a new text message from Glen.
“At least Dean did one thing for me tonight.”
“What’s that?” Vic asks, looking at the phone I’m holding out.
“He kept me from going out with this asshole.”
She reads the texts, her eyes widening more with each one. “Reed,” she says.
“I see it.” He snatches the phone away from me. Reads through them again. “Asshole.” Then he types.
“Reed what are you doing?” I ask.
“I’ll meet this guy in a dark alley and kick his ass for you.”
I snatch the phone back before he can finish whatever he’s going to say. “I’m a big girl.”
They both give me a look that says, ‘are you really?’ I hate that look. I get it enough from my parents.
“Let me know.” Reed winks yet again and then his phone rings in the other room. “See you, Chelsea.” He leans forward, kisses my cheek and jogs into the other room. “Reed Warner,” I hear him say when he answers.
“You really don’t have to go,” Victoria says.
“I do. I’ll be fine. I just have to come up with a plan, which I did, so we’re all set. I just need to stay far, far away from him.”
“I’ll be your bodyguard.” She wraps her arms around me. “I’ll say this one more time. It would be good for you to get everything off your chest with him. Say what you need to say so you can really move on since he obviously still has a big effect on you.”
“You’re too optimistic for your own good.” I hug her tight and release her. “Have a good night and don’t get pregnant.”
She playfully smacks me, and I open the door, fleeing before she swats at me again.
“Call me if you need me,” she says.
“Always. Thanks.” I press the elevator and after I step in, we wave, and the doors close between us.
I’m alone and all my thoughts are of when I was Mrs. Dean Bennett. That’s never a good thing.
Chapter Four
On Monday morning I’m the first one at my desk, my bag unpacked, my computer booted up, a Starbucks latte in front of me. The weekend was full of torment as my brief marriage with Dean Bennett played like a black and white flashback from the movies. Unfortunately, our reel contained more dark moments than happy. Still, even though I should have learned my lesson with my short stint of being a Mrs., the magnetism between us was alive and kicking Friday evening.
I will say, but I’ll deny, deny, and deny if it’s