Page 89 of Work with Me

“You’ll get over the sleazeball. Once you start your next project, you’ll be so busy you won’t get all stuck in your feelings.”

My phone jangled in my purse. I didn’t jump for it like I’d done for the past three days whenever it rang.

“You’re not gonna get that?” Tiannah asked. “What if it’s—”

“It’s not.” It wasn’t his ringtone. “It’s probably Jamila.”

“Did you tell her? She’s probably calling to let you know she’s almost done whooping his A-S-S.”

“No! And don’t you tell her, either. I don’t want her to know what a—what a fool I was. She’s calling about a job. She’s left some messages.”

“A job here in Austin?”

“No. It’s at her San Francisco office. A long gig starting in the new year.”

“You should do it. Take your mind off things.”

Being in San Francisco, where Jackson lived, wouldn’t take my mind off anything. “I can’t leave Noah. Or you.”

“It’s temporary. We can manage Noah for you.”

“Tee.” I reached over the table and laid my hand over hers. “I’m not going.” I drained my glass.

“You need a refill.” She picked up my glass.

“More V-O-D-K-A this time, please?”

“You got it.” She fixed the drink, this time with only a splash of orange juice. “How about you and Noah come over tomorrow? Orlando’ll grill some steaks, and we’ll let the kids run around the yard.”

When she handed me the glass, I sipped, the strong drink burning my throat. “That sounds good.” It’d keep me from driving past his apartment—again—looking for his truck.

She gripped my hand. “You’ll get through this.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.” I wasn’t sure the wound would ever close. That I’d ever stop hurting. “I guess the good thing is that I learned something: I suck at relationships. I was right all along to stay away from them.”

“Honey, that’s not—”

“I’ll be what Rick called me, an ice queen.” I imagined it. Though it really wasn’t too different from the persona I’d used in my early days at Synergy.

“He called you that?” Tiannah bristled.

“At Ja—at the party.” But I didn’t want to think about the way Jackson had stood up for me and punched his former workout buddy. “Who needs a partner when there’s such a variety of battery-operated toys? Maybe I’ll order a new one.” Someone had to make one that sucked my clit the way Jackson had.

“Fu—screw Rick. I never liked him, anyway.”

“You said I should give him another chance.”

“I didn’t know he’d called you that. I’ll give him a piece of my mind the next time I see him.”

“I’ll bring the popcorn.”

“The right guy’s gonna come along. It’s not Rick, and it’s not Jackson Jones. But he’s out there.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m done with men.” I wouldn’t be giving anyone else the chance to hurt me.

She picked up my glass. “I’ll make you another. We’ll get good and sloshed before lunch.” She twisted her lips. “I’m proud of you, you know. For being vulnerable. For letting someone in far enough to hurt you.”

“You’re proud that I was foolish enough to get hurt? How many of those have you had?” I nodded at the empties in her hand.

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