Page 10 of Playbook
“London Renee Bennett, tell me right this instant.”
A laugh bubbles up and loosens my chest. “They reserve Saturday nights for sex.”
He thinks. He thinks way too hard. Paige is going to kill me for telling him.
“I can get behind blocking out an entire night for sex, but every Saturday? And does that mean only Saturdays?”
“I’ve already said too much. She’s unavailable but I’m fine.” Then I plaster on a big smile and say as enthusiastically as I can, “Let’s go dance with sweaty strangers!”
One side of his mouth lifts and he finally backs away. “I’m going to make myself a drink for the shower. You want anything? A coffee perhaps?”
Feeling better than I have all day, I follow him into our kitchen. It’s my favorite part of the apartment. It’s not a big space, but the island is cozy and the cabinets all have glass fronts. Alec doesn’t cook, but he did a nice job organizing everything. His style is very minimalist and clean – lots of whites and grays. I could stand for a little more color, but since I moved in after he’d already decorated everything, I choose to think of it as a bougie Airbnb or hotel.
“No thanks.” I grab the scissors out of a drawer and cut the tape on one of the packages I picked up today. My mood lifts considerably as I pull the shoe box out of the bigger box, and even more so when I take off the lid and peel back the tissue paper.
I lift one shoe out of the box and smile. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a pair of red shoes before, but something about these saidpick me.
Alec eyes them, brows lifted, and nods in approval as he cuts a wedge of lemon for his drink. “Well, all right now. Those are some seriously sexy shoes.”
My stomach swoops with a little bubble of excitement. I know that going out and partying tonight isn’t going to take away the sting of Sierra’s engagement to my ex’s brother. Tomorrow I’ll be back to obsessing about it, but tonight…tonight I choose great shoes and great company.
“What’s that other box?” my roommate asks, resting one hip against the counter.
I set the shoe down and frown at the package. I was in a haze at the post office, fueled with rage over getting another boxful of Brogan’s mail.
I pick up the pink bubble mailer. The label is dirty and I can’t make out the sender information. Actually, the whole front looks like it was dragged behind a pack mule across the country. My PO Box number is just visible under streaks of brown and black. It’s light and flat.
“I have no idea,” I say, tearing it open. I peer inside with a frown and then reach in and pull out…panties. Lacy, red panties.
“I didn’t order—” I start, and then drop them, backing away with a lurch. I bring my hand up to my mouth and then recoilbecause that hand just touched someone’s dirty underwear.
“What?” Alec asks. He eyes the panties with humor. “They match your new shoes.”
He makes like he’s going to pick them up and I shout, “Don’t!”
“What’s the big deal?” He lifts them up with one finger.
“They’re not mine. Someone must have sent them to that guy…the one that had my PO Box before me.”
“Damn. Really?” He sounds impressed instead of disgusted. Then he laughs like this is the funniest thing that’s ever happened.
I roll my eyes and step forward and snatch them out of his hand, then quickly drop them into the trash. While I wash my hands with a whole lot of soap and very hot water, Alec continues to investigate the package the panties came in like he’s hoping there’s more.
“You didn’t say he was getting dirty lingerie.”
“I never open the packages,” I say, but now that he’s mentioned it, I wonder what else was in all those boxes and large envelopes that have been shoved into my mailbox.
“Why not?”
“You mean aside from it being a felony?” I wipe my hands off on a towel, then consider washing them again. “What kind of guy gets used panties in the mail?”
“A lucky one.” Alec grins wide.
The great thing about going anywhere with Alec is that he knows everyone. It’s one of the perks, and I’ve found via my roommate that there are many, of being on TV. People recognize him everywhere we go. They should. His face is on the side of several billboards around town. And even if our peers aren’t exactly his target viewers,being the local weatherman is a fascinating job. People want to meet him, and they’re interested in hearing about his work.
Alec is as personable and friendly in real life as he appears on TV, and the perks of his job often extend to me when I’m with him so I’m not complaining.
Like at the restaurant, we were led past a line of people waiting for a table straight to one in the back that they reserve for last-minute high-profile guests.
