“Well, good,” David said a little too loud. “I’m happy for you, Blake. Really happy.”
He looked anything but happy. In fact if that’s what happy looked like, Blake was going to have the worst boyfriend in the history of boyfriends. The dude looked ready to puke all over us and burst into tears all at once.
“We should get going.” I gave David a head nod and gripped Blake’s hand as we left the building.
Once we reached the doors, I turned back to offer him my final acknowledgement, my final smirk. I knew he’d be staring at us, mainly her ass. He was, and when I gave him a challenging lift of my eyebrows, good ol’ David gave me the finger.
“Hah!” I burst out laughing as I clutched Blake’s hand tighter. “David’s fun, isn’t he?”
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” she asked.
I didn’t point out that she was swinging my arm and giggling with me. Damn, it just felt so natural, holding her hand, joking around.
“David flipped me off.”
Her smile fell. “Seriously? That’s kinda harsh, don’t you think? Why would he do that?”
“Because his hands were free.” I smiled down at her. “And mine”—I lifted our joined hands up—“weren’t.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Another three days went by. I expected to be finished with Blake in the next twenty-four hours. Not because I wanted to be done, but because I had to be done. Our client list was piling up, and Lex said if he had to kiss one more chick who tried to impale the back of his throat with her tongue, he was going to quit.
It was Saturday.
And David hadn’t stopped calling or randomly dropping by to check the plumbing. Right. Good one, genius.
Hey can I look at your pipes?
What for?
To make sure they’re clean of shit?
Some dudes really didn’t know what the hell they were doing. At least come up with a good excuse the third time you drop by. I don’t know, give yourself a flat tire, ask to use the phone, tell her you’re dehydrated after your ten-mile run and need water.
But pipes?
Again?
She was going to be so bored with him. I knew it, and I hoped she was beginning to see it, but I had a promise to keep and a contract to shred once my job was done.
Then, and only then, would I sit back, let him crash and burn, then I’d swoop in and . . .
I hadn’t really gotten to that part yet, ever.
I pulled up to Gabi and Blake’s house and grabbed the snacks for our early spring barbecue out of the backseat. It was warm for March, around sixty-two degrees, meaning we wanted any excuse to be outside.
The door was already open when I glanced back at the house. A sexy-looking Blake was standing in the middle of the doorway, part of her stomach showing, compliments of her short white tank top and low-rise boyfriend jeans.
“Nice,” I called out as I made my way toward her. “I like.”
She turned in front of me, then blew me a kiss. “Good, because I haven’t worn them in forever.”
I walked past her and into the house, then she followed.
Out of nowhere, her smile fell and her eyes pooled with tears. Frowning, I dropped the groceries on the counter.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I gripped her face with my hands. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“It’s, uh . . .” She gulped as a few tears splashed onto her cheeks. “He died two years ago today.”
“Shit.” I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead to hers. Then, without asking, I lifted her into my arms and hugged her.
Blake wrapped her arms around my neck in her typical choking fashion, but I didn’t care. Hold me tighter, I wanted to say. Anything to make her feel better.
She sobbed for a few seconds before her body stopped shaking.
I set her on her feet but kept our bodies close. “I’m so sorry.” I used my thumbs to wipe away the remaining tears from her puffy cheeks. “I know that doesn’t make it better. Nothing I say will make it better. But I think he’d be proud of you. I can’t imagine you growing up with some timid-assed brother who let you get away with anything.” I squeezed her tighter. “You’re an amazing woman. Funny, sweet, caring . . . There is nothing about you that I would change.” I sighed. “You know, other than some of the clothing choices I’m sure he would have encouraged to keep all the guys at bay.”
She burst out laughing. It was good to hear. Immediately, I relaxed.
“Yeah, he was . . .” She frowned. “Okay, don’t take this the wrong way.”
“I swear on guys everywhere if you say I remind you of him, you’re going to see me freak out and do something stupid.”
“As opposed to every other day?”