Page 35

Gradually, my tears dried, but I still felt terrible.

Plus, I knew Warren would never speak to me again—not after that outburst. My sadness quickly turned into self-loathing.

I thought about calling and begging h

im to come back, trying to explain how crazy my life had become after meeting him over there, but I couldn’t.

Why would someone as perfect as him want a problem-woman like me?

CHAPTER 15

Warren

The next morning, I woke up as confused as the night before.

What the hell was Rose’s problem? She had called me, invited me over, let me fuck her, and then gone nuts crying?

What the hell?

I picked up my phone from the nightstand and turned on the screen.

No messages.

Maybe it was a one-off? She didn’t seem like that type of woman, but what the hell did I know?

After throwing the covers back, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched my arms.

Craziness aside, I couldn’t deny she’d been a good lay. The look on her face when she came stuck with me as I went through my morning routine, gradually waking up and getting ready for the day.

With no job, I had nothing but time.

Around lunch, my phone rang. I grabbed it, expecting to see her phone number on the screen. But instead, it was one I didn’t recognize.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, man. What’s up? Long time, no hear.”

“Who is this?” I asked, unable to catch the voice.

“Damn, bro. We lose touch for a year, and you’ve already forgotten me?”

“Oh. Hey, Melvin. I didn’t expect to hear from you again.”

“Yeah, you made that quite evident last time we met.”

“What’s up?” I asked, getting straight to the point. “If this is about the past…”

“No, no,” he interrupted. “I want to talk to you about a new opportunity. What are you doing these days?”

“Nothing much,” I admitted.

“You did all that complaining back in A-stan, but you’re enjoying that money, aren’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Look, let’s meet up, okay? This is a solid idea, and you’re the perfect partner.”

“I don’t know, Melvin...”