Page 57 of The Red Zone
MAE
I founditquitefunny that October thought he was the one who seduced me last night. When in fact, I was the one who set the stone in motion far before the thought of us hooking up ever crossed his mind. Not only that, but I got him to lose the bet without so much as lifting a finger. I planned on playing the long game, tormenting him with provocative pictures for the few days leading up to the end of our bet.
But all it took was one photo—not even my best work— before he was begging at my feet.
This was also the reason that I didn’t have an ounce of surprise when I woke up to drink my morning tea by the pool, and October himself was already sitting at the outdoor dining table. I paused in the doorway, taking in the scene in front of me with cautious eyes as I spotted a breakfast plate filled with eggs, bacon, and waffles in front of my usual seat.
Not to sound cocky, but I didn’t think our hook-up last night was bad enough that he’d consider poisoning me, but then again, you can never be too sure.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t be sleeping over again?”
“And I didn’t think my legs would be too weak to walk,” I grumbled, and October let free a small smirk at my confession of pleasure. “My bones feel like goo.”
“You realize that’s a compliment of the highest order, right?”
“One you’re ruining with your arrogance.”
There was a twinge at the corner of his mouth that sent my pulse racing. He had no idea—no earthly idea—how much of an effect the tiny expression he made had on me.
“Are you going to keep standing there or what?” He didn’t look up from his plate as he shoveled a giant bite of waffle into his mouth.
“What is this?”
“Breakfast. It’s a new concept where you eat foods that give you nutrients and they help fuel you as you go on about your day. Profound concept, really.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as he scarfed down another bite. “Don’t be smug. I’m allergic to assholes before 9 a.m.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you. Most people aren’t into anal this early in the morning.”
I swear this man got his rocks off on annoying the absolute shit out of me. Although, I had to admit the joke waskind of funny. As I took my seat at the table next to him, I was instantly drawn back to thoughts of him taking care of me last night.
I never… I guess I just never expected to feel anything toward him that wasn’t hatred or lust. So, you could imagine my surprise when I woke up in the pool house a few minutes ago and my heart sank to my stomach when I realized he wasn’t there.
Even now, sitting a few feet apart, I wanted to crawl into his lap and bury myself under his skin. It was all just a whirlwind of emotions, really.
The two of us ate in comfortable silence, and I devoured my breakfast faster than him though he had a head start. In hindsight, I regretted not finishing off that PB&J when I had the chance.
“I have to go back to the stadium because I left my ear pods in the locker room last night. Want to ride along? I can give you a tour of the place if you want.”
“This isn’t like… a date, is it?”
“Not even close. Why? Were you wishing it was?”
His smirk made me wish I’d kept my mouth shut.
I did a mental run through of all the things I need to do today—laundry, have a callwith my financial advisor, tell the vendors I’d been working with that the business would be shutting down at the end of the year.
Yeah… it turned out that after a call with my accountant last week, I learned that my agency was doingsignificantlyworse than expected, and there was no room for revival.
You know what? On second thought, maybe going to the stadium with October wasn’t the worst idea. At least it would help me clear my mind for a little while.
There was a little part of me that knew deep down that the reason I wanted October and I to hook-up in the first place—and continue hooking up—was so that I could free my mind, even if it was just for a few minutes here and there.
This impending shut down had been weighing on me hard, then mix in the added tension of having him around and… wait, why do I feel the need to justify myself?
I wasn’t going to explain myself for having sex with anyone or any reason—former enemy, need for relaxation, or otherwise.
My eyes opened wide and I swallowed, realizing what I’d just said in my mind…formerenemy.
