Page 71 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

He smiled. “From listening to the way you talk and the words you say, it feels like your decision to accept Dre’s offer, as you call it, was based on your head and not your heart.”

My mouth dropped, a whole slew of insults ready to pour out. But I had something more important to find out. “What’s your endgame here, Stephen? Are you trying to break up Dre and me?”

“No. I wouldn’t do that to you, Perry.”

“Oh.” I don’t know why his answered surprised me, but it had. He’d sounded sincere about it too.

“The only thing I’m trying to do right now is be your friend.”

We stared at each other for what was likely only seconds but what felt like way too damn long. His eyes flicked away just as two arms wrapped around my neck, scaring the bejesus out of me.

I yelped, then heard Christa’s giggle followed by a set of keys dangling in front of my face.

“Hey, girl. Having fun?” she whispered in my ear. “Do me a favor, okay? Drive my car home. I’m going to catch a ride with Adam.”

I turned towards her. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” She kissed my cheek. “Don’t wait up.”

Before I could say anything further, she winked and sauntered off. I held her keys in my hand and came to the conclusion that she’d actually done me a favor. All this talk about Dre had left me feelingdisjointed. I’d made a promise, and I wanted to remain faithful to him. I didn’t want to be wondering what-if this or what-if that. And I especially didn’t want to be having this introspective conversation with Stephen. Being friendly with him made my life both easier and harder, and this night definitely belonged in the harder column.

“This seems like a good time for me to leave too,” I said. “I’m feeling pretty drained.”

He nodded and slid off his chair. “I’ll follow you home.”

“What? No. That’s silly. I have a car and I’m fine to drive. You’re freed of chauffeuring duty tonight, so take advantage of it. Because as far as I know, you’re back on tomorrow, buddy.” I slugged his arm and laughed. Keeping it light. “So, you should definitely stay and….”

Stay and what? Pick up some woman? Ugh. The thought made me sick even though I had no right. No. Right.

The way he looked at me…. “I know you’re fine to drive, Perry. That’s not the issue. And I have nothing but enjoyed ‘chauffeuring’ you. I simply want to make sure you get home safely. I won’t even leave my truck. I’ll watch you go inside and then I’ll leave.”

When I didn’t respond, he said, “Just let me do this, okay? Don’t make it into a big thing. I was planning on leaving soon anyway.”

“Okay.” Stephen handed me my purse and I slung it over my shoulder. I noticed him eyeing it. “What?”

“Do you still have the necklace in there?”

I was sure I looked like a frickin’ deer and he’d just shined a big ole spotlight on me. It was so unexpected and should’ve been an easy yes or no answer. The fact that I didn’t say anything spoke volumes.

He grinned, obviously knowing the answer without me having to open my mouth. I wanted to believe that it’d been nothing more than a casual question, but we both knew it meant so much more than that.

Ipadded down to the kitchen, parched and needing water badly. I rarely woke before the sun but something had roused me that morning. And now that I was awake, I had to get liquid down my throat ASAP before it closed up.

I was guzzling my second glass when I noticed movement out the window. The lights were still on in the lot, and I could see a shape darting around from lane to lane in the visitor’s area. I chuckled. It appeared that someone had forgotten where they’d parked the night before.

Just before I turned around to go back to bed, I saw the car pull out and then pass through to the street. As it went under the lights, I recognized the blue Jeep and the man driving it.

Adam? Christa brought himhere? Oh, Isoneed to talk to her.

I lay down on the couch instead of going back to my room so I could be sure to hear her before she left for work. Lately, she’d beengone before I even woke up.

I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I recalled was the sun streaming in. Then I heard shuffling around in the kitchen and the clanging of coffee mugs. I jumped up and walked in as she was filling a to-go cup.

“Hey,” she said. “Why did you sleep on the couch? I saw you there and was trying to be quiet. Sorry if I woke you up.”

“I’m glad you did.” It just clicked why I’d awoken so early. The sound of Adam sneaking out of the house must have done it. “Why was Adam here last night?”

Either I’d been so tired to not hear a thing, including bedroom noises, or she’d decided to take my advice and not screw around with him right away. They could’ve spent their time down on the couch talking quietly and getting to know each other.

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