Page 50 of The Other Guy

“Isn’t my boyfriend anymore.”

It’s a struggle to not smile but I manage it. She was living with the guy. That had to mean something, right? “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Are you?”

“I don’t want you to be hurting so yes, I’m sorry.”

She watches me for a few beats. Toby moves his head so it’s resting on her lap. Lucky dog.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you?”

“I am. He wasn’t who I thought he was.”

“I’m sorry to hear that as well.”

She shrugs one shoulder. The one that’s bare. Her skin looks smooth and I have no doubt that it smells delectable.

“He… well, let’s just say that I’m much better off now. I can’t be with someone I can’t trust.”

“And you couldn’t trust him?”

She scoffs then finishes with a laugh. “Uh, no. No, I can’t.”

“I thought he was such a cool guy?”

“Turns out, I was trying to convince myself of that. Apparently I can’t trust myself, either.”

“I don’t know about that. You recognize what an awesome guy I am.”

She gives me a look I can’t quite decipher but it’s gone in a flash. Replaced with a smile and shake of her head. “Right, how could I forget?”

“When you said that you are home…” I hedge, letting her finish for me.

“Home. With Kyle. For the time being, anyway. I need to decide where I want to land.”

“Not here?” Please say here, please say here.

“Didn’t say that. I like it here, but I can’t live with my uncle forever. I need to be on my own.”

“Makes sense. Well, if you decide you want help finding a place, let me know.”

“I might just take you up on that.”

“Good. You hungry? Did you eat?”

“Uncle Kyle and I made broccoli soup today but I didn’t have dessert.”

I mentally calculate what I have for dessert and stand to go to the kitchen remembering I have a chocolate chip cheesecake in my freezer. “I’ll have to talk to Kyle about his hosting skills. Come on, let’s go find something sweet.”

Toby groans when Sierra moves him so she can stand up. “Oh, shush, you big baby.”

He cracks one eye open and blows out an annoyed breath, his lips flapping. I chuckle at his theatrics. “He’s something else.”

“I know. He’s so dramatic.”

“You like cheesecake?”

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