me.”
“Others meaning the women you’ve dated?”
“In the past—yes.”
“Because you’re rich, they expected the five-star treatment?”
He sounded flustered when he spoke. “Yes. I guess so.”
“I think you know so. Anyway, you can reacquaint yourself with those finer restaurants with other women after you’re done with me.”
“When I’m done with you? What does that even mean?”
I’d already been clear with him that tonight was it, so I chose not to respond. Best to keep this conversation moving. “So, how does something less formal sound?”
“I’d actually prefer that. Where do you have in mind?”
“There’s this diner in the West Village that I like. Best burgers and fries in town. It sounds as if you could use a heaping dose of realness to even you out after suffering through all of those Michelin stars, so let’s go there. Just make sure you dress super casual, because there’s nothing uptight about this place. Believe me, it’s not Per Se, OK? But the food is good. Maybe better.”
“Are you angry with me, Abby?”
I closed my eyes, knowing that I probably deserved that. I was coming off like a bitch. I didn’t mean to, but I had to wonder why I was acting this way.
To keep him at bay. That’s the reason why.
But he’s done nothing to me.
He’s pursuing you.
Let him. I still plan on walking away.
I think you’re naïve.
Think what you want.
“No,” I said. “I’m not angry with you.”
“It sounds as if you are.”
“I’m not. I just didn’t expect this.”
“Expect what?”
For you to call me. For you to confuse me the way you have.
“To hear from you.”
“Why wouldn’t I reach out to you again? Last night was beautiful. I enjoyed it. I thought you also did. I’d just like to see you again, Abby. It’s that simple.”
Nothing is that simple.
Sometimes it can be.
“I apologize,” I said. “So, I’ll see you at eight?”
“Perfect. Where can I pick you up?”
I gave him my address.
“And Abby?”
“Yes?”
“You’re coming off hot right now for a reason.”
I stood still in the kitchen looking into the living room, where the sun was beating against the windows. It was having its way with them now, setting them on fire so that they were likely too hot to touch. Would they resist the heat if they could? Maybe. Maybe not. I wondered if I could, but he was formidable. Intense.
I decided to say nothing.
“I think I know why. I also think that you know why.”
“Are you able to read my mind?”
“There’s no need to. Everything you don’t want to say has already been said by going silent. But we’ll talk about it later if you’d like. As for now, here’s what you need to know. Tonight, I plan on smashing apart those barriers of yours, Abby. Be prepared for that.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Later, after I was finally able to take a shower, I pulled myself together and tied my hair high behind my head in a tight ponytail. I looked at the leftover pasta that was busy coagulating in the fridge, but after setting a second date with Chance, I felt so sick to my stomach that there was no way that I could eat anything. So, I just removed another chilled bottle of water from one of the shelves, sat down on the couch with my Kindle, and started to read while I waited for Brooke and Elle to return home.
And when they do, the shit storm will hit .
It was just after one when I heard movement outside the apartment door. One of them inserted a key into the lock, the door opened, and I felt myself tense.
“Honey, we’re home,” I heard Elle say.
“And why did we even come home?” Brooke said. “This place is at least twenty degrees hotter than it was at Starbucks. Our air conditioning is so pathetic, it can’t keep up with this heat. We should go back and take Abby
“Others meaning the women you’ve dated?”
“In the past—yes.”
“Because you’re rich, they expected the five-star treatment?”
He sounded flustered when he spoke. “Yes. I guess so.”
“I think you know so. Anyway, you can reacquaint yourself with those finer restaurants with other women after you’re done with me.”
“When I’m done with you? What does that even mean?”
I’d already been clear with him that tonight was it, so I chose not to respond. Best to keep this conversation moving. “So, how does something less formal sound?”
“I’d actually prefer that. Where do you have in mind?”
“There’s this diner in the West Village that I like. Best burgers and fries in town. It sounds as if you could use a heaping dose of realness to even you out after suffering through all of those Michelin stars, so let’s go there. Just make sure you dress super casual, because there’s nothing uptight about this place. Believe me, it’s not Per Se, OK? But the food is good. Maybe better.”
“Are you angry with me, Abby?”
I closed my eyes, knowing that I probably deserved that. I was coming off like a bitch. I didn’t mean to, but I had to wonder why I was acting this way.
To keep him at bay. That’s the reason why.
But he’s done nothing to me.
He’s pursuing you.
Let him. I still plan on walking away.
I think you’re naïve.
Think what you want.
“No,” I said. “I’m not angry with you.”
“It sounds as if you are.”
“I’m not. I just didn’t expect this.”
“Expect what?”
For you to call me. For you to confuse me the way you have.
“To hear from you.”
“Why wouldn’t I reach out to you again? Last night was beautiful. I enjoyed it. I thought you also did. I’d just like to see you again, Abby. It’s that simple.”
Nothing is that simple.
Sometimes it can be.
“I apologize,” I said. “So, I’ll see you at eight?”
“Perfect. Where can I pick you up?”
I gave him my address.
“And Abby?”
“Yes?”
“You’re coming off hot right now for a reason.”
I stood still in the kitchen looking into the living room, where the sun was beating against the windows. It was having its way with them now, setting them on fire so that they were likely too hot to touch. Would they resist the heat if they could? Maybe. Maybe not. I wondered if I could, but he was formidable. Intense.
I decided to say nothing.
“I think I know why. I also think that you know why.”
“Are you able to read my mind?”
“There’s no need to. Everything you don’t want to say has already been said by going silent. But we’ll talk about it later if you’d like. As for now, here’s what you need to know. Tonight, I plan on smashing apart those barriers of yours, Abby. Be prepared for that.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Later, after I was finally able to take a shower, I pulled myself together and tied my hair high behind my head in a tight ponytail. I looked at the leftover pasta that was busy coagulating in the fridge, but after setting a second date with Chance, I felt so sick to my stomach that there was no way that I could eat anything. So, I just removed another chilled bottle of water from one of the shelves, sat down on the couch with my Kindle, and started to read while I waited for Brooke and Elle to return home.
And when they do, the shit storm will hit .
It was just after one when I heard movement outside the apartment door. One of them inserted a key into the lock, the door opened, and I felt myself tense.
“Honey, we’re home,” I heard Elle say.
“And why did we even come home?” Brooke said. “This place is at least twenty degrees hotter than it was at Starbucks. Our air conditioning is so pathetic, it can’t keep up with this heat. We should go back and take Abby
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