Third Life - Noelle Adams Page 0,56

we feel for each other. I can see the promise in his eyes. I know it’s in mine too. But he’s only just taken my hand when my phone beeps.

I frown in surprise. “That’s the buzzer from the street. No one should be stopping by to see me this morning.”

“Maybe it’s just someone trying to get in.”

“Maybe.”

I answer the buzz and am shocked when it’s Ashley’s voice on the other end. “Hey, Gillian! Is it too early? Sean and I were in the neighborhood. We got you one of those cinnamon rolls you like. Is it a bad time?”

“Oh.” I’m so startled by her friendly, casual voice that I have no idea how to respond. I hear myself saying, “It’s fine. Thanks. Come on up.” I press the button to open the exterior door of the building.

I look over at Richard, who’s arching his eyebrows.

“Shit,” I murmur. “Why did I say they could come up?”

Richard chuckles. “Because you were caught off guard. It’s fine. You want me to hide in the bathroom or something?”

I glance over at him, momentarily tempted since it would prevent a lot of awkward questions.

But I don’t want to lie to Ashley. And I don’t want to hide Richard from her. From anyone. He’s a part of my life now, so I might as well start now. “No,” I say. “No need to do that. Although it might not be a bad idea for you to put some pants on.”

He’s still wearing nothing but a pair of gray boxer briefs. “Good plan.” He disappears into the bedroom as I hear a knock on my apartment door.

I go to open it, feeling nervous and flustered.

Ashley is grinning as I open the door, but her friendly greeting fades as she gets a look at me.

That’s when I realize I probably should have put something else on too. I’m wearing Richard’s shirt. It covers me completely, hanging almost to my knees, but it’s obviously a man’s shirt.

“Oh shit,” Ashley breathes. “Did George...?”

I’ve almost forgotten that I had a date with George the night before. More rattled than ever, I stammer, “Oh. No. No, it’s not... I mean it’s...” I step out of the doorway instinctively to let Ashley and Sean in, glancing back at my bedroom door.

Richard is coming out, wearing his trousers from last night and pulling down the undershirt he just pulled over his head.

Ashley’s mouth falls open.

Sean puts a hand on her back in a silently supportive gesture and gives me a wry smile. “Looks like we maybe didn’t choose the best time to pay a visit.”

“No, it’s fine,” I say in a rush. “It’s totally fine. I’m happy to see you. Come in and meet Richard.”

It’s better once they get inside the apartment and I close the door. Richard comes over with a smile, shaking hands with each of them in turn and introducing himself with the ease and charm he always shows to the rest of the world.

Ashley’s husband, Sean Doyle, is the richest and most successful person in what I would consider my circle of friends. He’s about Richard’s height. About the same size in terms of frame. He’s not nearly as handsome as Richard is—and not just because I can’t view Richard objectively. Sean is one of those people you wouldn’t consider all that attractive until he starts to talk. He’s brilliant and funny and sexy in an unexpected way. He’s got a really good heart, and I’ve always liked him a lot.

Right now he’s smiling but also eyeing Richard up and down, taking a silent assessment of him. Richard is doing the same to him.

Maybe the two men could become friends, but right now they’re doing that kind of instinctive inventory that men often do to each other.

Ashley’s slanting me an apologetic look. She’s embarrassed. She wanted to pay a spontaneous visit because she knew I’ve been kind of down this week, and it turned into something she didn’t expect.

I smile, trying to wordlessly assure her that it’s fine. It does make me feel self-conscious to have them show up here to find me with Richard when it’s clear from both Richard’s and my condition that we spent the night together. But I want my friends to meet Richard. I want him to be a real part of my world.

If he can’t be, then we won’t have any sort of future together.

Richard is asking Sean what he does and then asking a lot of insightful follow-up questions about Sean’s real estate