I’m sorry, but I’m too busy.
I start to get mad, real mad. But I do my best to keep my head. So you don’t eat when you’re working? I fire back.
When she doesn’t answer, I send her another text. We’ll get something to eat like we planned, and then I’ll bring you back to your place afterward. I don’t have to spend the night.
I think I’ll leave it at that, but then I remind myself that I’m not letting her off easy: Besides, I’m tired. I didn’t sleep last night because of all the wild gorilla and banana-eating baboon sex we had. By the way, ballerina school paid off. You’re amazingly flexible.
Funny thing, this time she texts right back. You had to go there, didn’t you?
I laugh, picturing her blush. Just speaking the truth, angel face. Hey, what was that thing you did around three a.m.? What’s it called? A pirouette?
I believe you know it as a blow job.
I crack up, knowing she’s pissed. Settle down there, princess.
Don’t call me that.
Okay, nerd.
You are an absolute JACKASS!!!
A jackass you pirouetted at three a.m., and one you’re having dinner with at nine. See you then.
When she doesn’t text back, I start thinking I went too far, until that familiar buzz vibrates in my hand and I read her text.
Fine, it says.
—
I figured Tess would be distant when I came for her, and I figured right. She barely speaks to me. As I maneuver around town, she stares straight ahead with her hands folded over her lap. I roll into the parking lot of my apartment building and turn into my assigned space.
I don’t look at Tess until I jog around and open the door for her. “I thought you were taking me to dinner,” she says quietly.
“I am. This is me taking you to dinner. But tonight I’m your chef, server, and busboy all in one smokin’-hot package.”
She doesn’t move. “Okay…but I can’t spend the night. I have a— I have an early class tomorrow, and then I have to stay late and help Declan.”
“I’ll drive you back as soon as we’re done. Promise.”
She nods, and allows me to help her out. I hold on to her hand until we reach the doors to the foyer. I pause and nod to the rookie watching her for the night. He’s new. Brand new, but seems all right.
He nods in response, not that Tess seems to notice our exchange. She stares at the pattern along the gold-and-sand tiled floor as we cross the foyer and step in front of the elevator. “This is a nice building,” she offers almost silently.
Jesus. I thought we were beyond all this bullshit. “It wasn’t before, but we put a lot of work into it.”
She considers me then. “?‘We’?”
I punch the security code to the elevator and lead her inside. “Declan and Seamus—our other brother—we own it. We bought it a couple of years ago, but we’re planning to sell it in the next few months. The realtor we spoke to says we’ll get at least five times what we put into it.”
“Why are you selling it?”
I shrug. “It was an investment. Something we did with the money our father left us when he died. Deck, Seamus, and I are thinking about buying a parking deck next. No tenants to deal with, minimal maintenance, and a cash cow that will carry us into retirement.”
I wait for a beat, then ask, “Did you delete our text exchange earlier? Considering you have a county phone…”
Her cheeks pink up and it’s not from the cold. “Yes. I deleted it.”
No one’s checking in on her, and the phone will soon be tossed, but it’s better to keep things professional. “Okay. Good.”
The doors swing open and we step out. I release her hand and dig around my pockets for my keys. I didn’t realize we were holding hands again—I must have done it without thinking—but I do notice she doesn’t seem to mind.