Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,89
just a rich brat once upon a time, but it was just easier to give in to the lifestyle of the people around him.
Now, he felt unfulfilled. Now, he felt like those years were wasted.
With a sigh, Rocco curled his legs up and logged into his email to find a note from Anthony. ‘Making progress and if you lie low, we might be able to have a settlement ready. You’ll have to pay the fee, but due to Eric’s post on Twitter that went viral about the engagement, I’m pretty sure we can get them to dissolve any obligation between you and the firm because of conflict of interest. You can thank Eric for his fuck-up.’
Rocco read the email once, then twice, then a third time. It made sense—it made absolute and total sense why Eric was there. He’d fucked up, and he’d cost Xander money. He was either under orders to make nice with Rocco, or Xander had dumped his ass for someone not so impulsive. Either way, Rocco wasn’t interested in what either of them had to say.
He’d pay the stupid fucking fee to dissolve his contract with Xander’s company, he’d give them double middle fingers as he backed out the door, and he’d get on with life. Hopefully—presumably—with Simon in it. If it meant living here and flying to California to film, he’d do it.
He had weeks to decide, maybe even months, though. He wanted to woo Simon. He wanted to romance the shit out of him until Simon couldn’t imagine being with another man. He wanted to turn his world upside down and make him fall as hard and as fast as Rocco was falling.
He just…wanted Simon. He could be patient until morning, but he knew between now and then, it was going to be a damn long night.
Chapter Twenty
Simon was well aware he was sulking like a child, and he was well aware Levi was on the cusp of a full-on meltdown. He half expected his brother to throw a punch after the fourth time he refused to say anything.
It was only when Rocco wouldn’t lay off the buzzer, and Levi threatened to let him up, that Simon relented. “His ex is here,” Simon told them both. His voice was hoarse from holding back tears, and he hugged himself tight around his middle. “He showed up at the fucking Market and cornered me in the booth.”
Levi looked murderous, but James—startlingly enough—look worried. “Is this guy violent or something?”
Simon gave a weak shrug. “I don’t know much about him. I don’t know how he even knows—I mean Rocco must have told him he was here. Which means they’ve been talking.”
Levi shook his head. “Maybe, but Simon—this is new for you, and I can tell you from experience that Rocco doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.”
“He wasn’t lying though,” Simon blurted. He remembered Rocco’s Caribbean trip with some faceless guy. And how after it was over, he was publicly romantic and fawning all over Eric’s Twitter feed. Eric was a lot of things, but Simon didn’t think he was necessarily a liar. Rocco’s world was just so different, and Simon wasn’t sure he even belonged on the fringes.
The buzzer continued to sound through the apartment, and Levi sighed, pressing fingers into his temples. “James, go down there and tell Rocco that Simon will call him tomorrow.”
“Call him?” James asked.
Levi rolled his eyes. “Text him—whatever. You know what the fuck I mean. Just…tell him Simon needs space, but it won’t be forever.”
“Levi,” Simon started, but his brother cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.
The door slammed after a couple of minutes, and then the buzzing stopped. The brothers let out matching sighs of relief and Simon laid his head on the cushion. Cat Rocco had abandoned him when the noise began, and he had no idea where he’d run off to, but he could use the comfort.
“What exactly did this ex say to you?”
Simon ran a hand down his face. “That…that I was a summer fling Rocco was using to make himself feel better. That he’s done it before—and he has. I’ve been following him on Twitter since I signed up. I’ve seen him do this.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s doing that now,” Levi pressed. “That man is in love with you.”
Simon peered one eye at him. “How the hell do you know? You’re not an expert in love just because you fucked your way through your old dorm, Levi.”