Page 116 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

My heart was beating wildly. “No, you said you ‘think,’ not ‘know.’”

“Perry, Iknow. And he’s looking straight over here like he wants to shoot my dick off. You must’ve not told him about me or where I prefer to put said dick.”

Holy shit. What’s he doing here?“I’ve been wanting you two to meet, but you’ve been pretty booked lately. I couldn’t even get a ticket to see you.” I started to turn but Stu held me back again. “Stu!”

“Trust me. It’s better not to make eye contact right now. In a little bit just slide off me nice and easy. And then you can go over and demand to know why he’s checking up on you.”

“I have no idea why he’s here, but he’s not checking up on me. I never even told him where I was going.”

“You love him. Does he love you back?”

“No, not in the same way.”

“I think you’re wrong. What did you tell him you were doingtonight?”

“Meeting a friend.”

“Oh baby.” He laughed. “He’s got it bad. He is most definitely checking up on you and his competition. If he hasn’t made his feelings known yet, you can be sure it’ll happen now.”

Honestly, I thought he was speaking crazy talk, but I did wonder why Stephen was there. It could’ve been a total coincidence since this wasn’t his first time at Lucky’s, but then why not stop over and say hi? Unless he still wanted to ice me out. It made no sense.

When Stu told me he was leaving, I moved off his lap and got a view of his backside as he was walking out the door. It was most definitely Stephen, but I didn’t run after him. I was too fucking baffled.

After another hour or so, Stu was practically begging me to go home. I probably wasn’t being the best company because of my ping-ponging mind. He told me the only way I’d ever get any answers was to ask the man who was making the questions.

So, between convincing me that he missed Kenny and wanted to go home anyway and ensuring that we’d see each other again very soon, I decided to leave. I wasn’t even sure if Stephen would be home. Or if he’d be alone.Please God, let him be alone.

Stu, on the other hand, had enough confidence for the both of us. He gave me a long parting hug, then slapped my ass on the way out.

“Get ready, hot stuff. He’s coming for you tonight.”

Iquietly opened the door, immediately removing my heels, and crept through the mudroom. The TV was off, and there was no other noise, but the family room lamp was switched on. I couldn’t handle thinking of him being upstairs in his room with someone, so I didn’t. One thing at a time.

I peered around the corner, feeling a little silly that I was sneaking around, but all that changed to relief when I spotted him on the couch. Alone.

I moved in a little closer to see that he’d polished off the six-pack I’d picked up for him earlier. There was a bottle of Jack on the table, but that appeared untouched for the time being.

“Didn’t expect you so soon,” he said with a quick rake up and down my body. “All finished meeting with yourfriend?”

All right, what was the deal with all the ‘friend’ crap? The way he emphasized the word made him sound like a two-year-old. Andwhile I wasn’t exactly holding my breath for the Miss Maturity Award, I’d have to say he was the one currently winning the childish contest.

I dropped my purse to the ground and put my hands on my hips. “What were you doing there tonight?”

“Having a drink. What else would you do in a bar? Well, besides sit on some guy’s lap wearing a short, tight dress, of course.”

Even though I was free to be with whomever, and this was really none of his business, I had to put myself in his place and consider how that must’ve looked to him. Me cuddled against a rock god, his hand on my thigh, his mouth on my ear whispering things. If the situations were reversed, I’d probably lose it. Hell, look what I did to Jillian, and Stephen and I weren’t even half as close then. I could be reasonable; I just needed answers first.

“How did you know I’d be there? And don’t tell me it was a lucky coincidence.”

He snickered. “If it was lucky for anyone, it sure as hell wasn’t me.”

Lucky… Lucky’s. It clicked then. “Wait. You read my text!”

“Not intentionally, Perry. It came in while I was standing there. You did leave it screen-up on the kitchen counter.”

Another click. I recalled the text, and to an outsider, it could be mistaken for something much friendlier than what was usually sent by your average friend. It’d explain his change in attitude towards me right before I left. But did he really care that much if I was screwing around with someone?

Then I thought of the message Stefanie asked me to relay and my eyes flashed green.Icertainly cared, and I could tell myself I shouldn’t until I was fucking purple and it wouldn’t make a difference. The idea of the man I loved fucking anyone else made me want to throw a chair through the window, then curl up in a ball and cry for days.

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