Page 128 of The Baby Bargain
"You know, it's almost commendable." Wes pats me on the shoulder again. "You know you're a piece of work, that you'll fuck up any woman you touch. So you hire a professional."
I flip him off.
He just laughs.
Forest too. "Do you really think Chase—"
"It makes sense," Wes says.
Forest nodskind of. "What do you say, Keating? You hire help for this? Or you find someone willing to fuck your pain away?"
"She knows my pain isn't fuckable," I say.
Forest and Wes exchange a look. Then Forest turns to me. Studies me. "She knows you well?"
Fuck, he is trying to figure something out.
I need to check these texts. But I need to step away first.
No, I need to convince Ariel this secrecy is stupid. I should tell him now. But I won't betray her confidence.
"She knows I'm not gonna fall for her. And she's not gonna fall for me either," I say.
Forest freezes. "Oh? She recently heartbroken too?"
I can't say that. "She doesn't want something serious."
Wes scoffs. "Chase, dude, you're not capable of casual. Remember the girls in high school? The one sophomore year? She threatened to kill herself—"
"Don't start." That's one subject I can't handle.
Wes nodsokay, that's fair. "I'm just saying. You're not a guy who does casual."
Forest hangs on every word. Then he stops. Looks at his crotch.
Oh, his cell.
He pulls it out. Checks a message. Frowns.
Shit, did she tell him? Did she try to lie and give it away?
I try to relax. If he punches me, it's better I'm relaxed. Less long-term damage.
I'm not gonna stop him.
I'd do the same.
But he doesn't deck me. He turns to us and shakes his head. "Oddball is closing."
"What?" Wes asks.
"Yeah. The owner is selling. At a discount. His divorce is going through. He doesn't want his wife to get it." Forest rolls his eyesof course. "He wants to sell as quickly as possible."
"I have an idea." It's either the worst idea I've ever had or the best.
"You don't mean?" Forest asks.
I nodyeah, I do.
