Page 100 of A Pizza My Heart

She rolls her eyes. “Please. I’ve seen more chemistry between inanimate objects than there was between those two. Sure, they were on a date, but Foster had zero interest in her.”

“Then why, if he was so into me, go on all those dates? Hell, why run off and get married?”

“He got married because he was trying to be a good man. You’re not allowed to hold that against him. As for the dates, he was doing what he’d been doing for years—trying to forget he’s in love with you.”

“But why not just tell me?”

She gives me thatduhlook. “He did, and you friend-zoned his ass.” She shrugs. “Can’t blame a guy for actually listening when a woman speaks and moving on with his life.”

“I—”

“I’m right. Don’t even think about trying to argue otherwise.”

I snap my mouth shut.

Is that what happened? Did all of this happen because I wouldn’t listen to him? Did we waste years of our lives because I was so wrapped up in me and my woes that I didn’t take the time tohearhim?

“Go ahead. Say it,” she pushes. “You did it and you didn’t even realize you did.”

“I did.” I wince. “Does this mean all his struggles with Layla are my fault?”

“No, you dumbass. That’s all on him and her. It has nothing to do with you. Those arehismistakes. It just means you could have had him sooner. But, maybe this is exactly how it was supposed to work out. Maybe now you’re ready for each other. Older. Wiser. Hornier.”

I burst out a laugh. “That last one issotrue, especially when it comes to him. He makes me feel…I don’t know. Sexy? Yeah. He makes me feel sexy even when I’m not trying to be, and the other night…” I fan my face. “It was so hot, Drew. Easily the hottest thing to ever happen to me.”

“And you didn’t bang him because…?”

“Becausehewas trying to be a gentleman. I mean, I would have let him take me home right then, but he wants me to be ready, wants to be sure I want the same things he does.”

“Do you?”

Leave it to Drew to put it all out there like that.

“I…I don’t know yet.”

She regards me for a moment, her hazel eyes burning through me. “Can I say something?”

I grin. “I love how you just pretended to ask permission to stick your nose into my business.”

“Stop thinking of the past. Stop thinking of who you were. Think of who you are and who you could be. And for fuck’s sake, stop pretending. Justbe.”

“You say it like it’s so easy.”

“Oh, no.” She laughs sardonically. “Honey, there isnothingeasy about love. That’s the fun part.”

Slice Sixteen

Foster

“Yo, Winston, you got a minute?”

It’s been days since I’ve seen Wren, but she’s been on my mind almost constantly.

Not just because I can’t stop thinking about how fucking heavenly she felt coming apart on my fingers, but because of how troubled she is by the possibility of losing her business.

I have to help her. She’ll probably be pissed if she ever finds out, but I can’t sit by and not do a damn thing about it.

Winston grins and settles into the chair he’s occupying, spreading his legs and getting comfortable. “This is gonna be good.”

---