“Couldn’t sleep, so I decided to go for a run.”
Scanning me up and down, a teasing smirk slides into place. “In yesterday’s outfit? You sure you’re not trying to cover up the walk of shame?”
With a gasp, I smack him in the chest. “Excuse me?”
“I’m kidding. There’s no way in hell your brother would let you have a one-night stand. Although that doesn’t answer the outfit question,” he points out.
“It’s complicated…”
“The most interesting stories always are.”
A ghost of a smile graces my lips at his innocent prodding before I give in and explain, “I just broke up with my ex.”
“Oh?”
“Yup. And I left in a hurry, so all my stuff is at our––his––place, and I have yet to retrieve any of it.” My expression sours at the prospect of actually seeing Ian after everything.
Kill me now.
Sensing my wariness, Gibbs prods, “You don’t look too excited about facing him again.”
“You have no idea. He’s, uh, he’s not too excited about the breakup, and I’m afraid it’s going to get messy. Especially because I was kind of helping him and his brother with their business, and now I’m…not.”
“I don’t blame you. Did he screw up?”
“More times than I can count.” I laugh even though all I want to do is cry. “But this was the last straw.”
Looking remorseful, as if Ian’s asshole behavior is his own, Gibbs sighs. “What’d he do?”
My mouth opens like a fish out of water before closing just as quickly. How am I supposed to admit something so vulnerable? To anyone. Let alone a guy I barely know?
My ex cheated on me.
It sounds so simple… But it isn’t. His mistake is like a giant spotlight that highlights all of my insecurities, making me question myself, my sexuality, everything. And it sucks. Why wasn’t I enough for him? Why did he want to go somewhere else for sex? Am I not good in bed? Am I not pretty enough? Are my boobs too small?
I seriously hate Ian for making me question everything.
Sensing my hesitation, he adds, “You don’t have to tell me––”
“He cheated on me,” I rush out. “It’s fine. Not a big deal, right? The problem is that he’s refusing to acknowledge we’re over.”
The surprise is clear on his face, but he covers it up quickly and replies, “One, that’s a very big deal, but I can tell that talking about it makes you uncomfortable, so I’m going to drop it. And two, that sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster. Are you taking your brother with you to grab your stuff?”
“I should,” I acknowledge, “but I also don’t want to cause a confrontation either. My ex and Milo have never really gotten along. Scratch that. They hate each other. It would be like dousing a bonfire in gasoline while hoping the flames die down.”
“Yeah, but if your ex is pissed about the breakup, I don’t see him fizzling out anytime soon, regardless of your brother’s presence. I think you’d be smart to bring backup.”
“You might have a point,” I concede. Especially with our history, I think to myself before voicing aloud, “Although I don’t know how I’m going to bring it up to Milo without him overreacting and threatening to cut off Ian’s balls as soon I get them in the same room. So, rock, meet hard place, right?”
“Hmm,” he hums, the wheels in his handsome head turning. “We’ll figure it out. You ready to head home? Or…?”
My brows wrinkle before I shake my head. “Not yet. I was thinking about an iced coffee, but now that I’ve cooled off, I think I’m going to grab a croissant and a coffee at the little in-store coffee shop.” I point to the black sign at the back of the store that reads Need Caffeine in bold yellow letters. “I also need to grab an application and see if they’re hiring or something.”
Nodding, he pushes his grocery cart holding a couple of frozen pizzas and a canister of protein powder a few inches forward before pulling it back to its original position. “Okay. I’m going to go and catch a few hours of shut-eye, then shower. I’ll see you later?”
“Uh…sure?”
“Okay. Take it easy, Reese.” Then he pushes past me, and I’m left gawking at his retreating form.
“You, too,” I mumble under my breath to no one in particular.
6
Reese
After grabbing an application, I head back to Milo’s place. The front door opens with a soft squeak, and I grimace, praying it doesn’t wake anyone up. It’s still early for a bunch of bachelors, and I have no idea what their schedules are like. I tiptoe into the entryway and take a big whiff of freshly brewed coffee that permeates the air. Apparently, someone’s an early riser. Cocking my head to the side, I head into the kitchen to see who’s awake.
“Hey,” Milo greets me with a coffee cup in his hand as soon as my sneaker-clad feet reach the kitchen floor. He’s sitting at the table with an expectant look on his face that makes me feel like a teenager who just got caught sneaking into the house after staying out all night.
I smile, though it feels forced. “Hey.”
“We gonna get your shit today?”
Taken aback, I reach for the coffee pot on the counter then realize I don’t have a cup to pour it into. My fingers fidget with the black plastic handle for a few seconds before I shove my hands into my back pockets instead.
“Cat got your tongue?” Milo pushes. “Sonny said your ex isn’t too keen on handing it over. Figured you might need backup.”
Shaking my head, I ask, “Sonny? I haven’t even seen Sonny.”
Milo shrugs. “Maybe he overheard you. But is he wrong?”
Damn you, Sonny. Tattling on me even though we haven’t met yet, I think to myself.
The chair beneath Milo’s massive frame creaks as he leans forward and rests his elbows on the table. “Is he?”
“Nooo,” I drag out the word. “But I was just thinking…I mean…what do I really need that’s at his place, ya know?”
“Uh, clothes?” Milo offers.
“I could buy new clothes.”
With a smirk, he takes another sip of his coffee then sets it back down on the table. “A whole wardrobe?”
“I mean, why not, right?”
“Uh-huh. Sure. And how do you plan on paying for the whole new wardrobe?”
I tap my finger against my chin before offering, “Is prostitution still illegal?”
Quirking his brow, his amusement threatens to evaporate but is still clinging to the bear in front of me with one tiny thread. “Try again.”
“I don’t know,” I whine, dropping my head back while looking up at the ceiling. “I checked with the grocery store. They gave me an application but said they aren’t hiring, so I’m not getting my hopes up.”
“I can help cover a few outfits, but you’re gonna have to face the asshole sooner or later. Might as well rip it off like a Band-Aid. We’ll be there to back you up.”