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But there’s also warmth.

I exhale, sinking onto the stool across from her. “It’s... a long story.”

She sips her coffee. “Good thing I’ve got time.”

I bite my lip, then sigh. “Fine. But if you laugh, Iwillthrow you out.”

Cherry smirks. “Deal.”

I hesitate, but Cherry’s watching me expectantly, her fingers curled around her coffee mug, blue eyes sharp with curiosity. There’s something about her—maybe it’s her bluntness, or the fact that she stormed into Eddie’s house like she belonged—that makes me feel like I can trust her. Or maybe I just want to trusther. It’s been so long since I’ve had another woman to really talk to. I love Christie but our friendship has always been more superficial, not bad, and I love her for taking me in like she did, but I guess, after what happened with Randy, my trust is gone.

“Okay,” I say, exhaling. “It all started at a tattoo shop.”

Cherry’s brows shoot up. “Eddie was in a tattoo shop? That man does not need more ink.”

I smirk. “No idea if he was getting more ink, but he is friendly with the owners so maybe it was just a visit. Anyway, I was there to get a tattoo, or so my ex thought.”

Her eyes light up. “Ohhh, do tell.”

I sip my coffee, remembering that day like it was yesterday. “So, my ex—Randy—was a cheating bastard.”

Cherry’s lips pull into a sneer. “Scumbag.”

“Yeah, he was, and I wanted a little revenge. After I found out he was screwing around with my friend, I wanted to get even. I was sick of being walked all over. So, I figured—why not have a little fun?”

Cherry leans forward, eyes glittering with delight. “Please tell me this story ends with some glorious, humiliating revenge.”

I grin. “It does.”

She claps her hands together. “Oh, I like you.”

I chuckle, warming to her more by the second. “I had the tattoo artist—who happened to be my friend’s brother—convince Randy that it was a new trend to have couples pick out tattoos for each other and have them done blindfolded at the same time.”

Cherry rubs her hands together with glee written all over her face. “Oh, I’m liking this already.”

“I drew mine for Randy of a cheetah taking a strap-on dildo from some bimbo. I sat next door while he had it done.”

Cherry gasps, then howls with laughter. “You did not.”

“Oh, I did.”

“That is iconic.” She wipes at her eyes, still giggling. “Wait, where does Eddie come into this?”

“That’s the best part,” I say, smiling. “Randy was furious when he saw his new ink. He got in my face, screaming and shouting, making a scene—and then, out of nowhere, Eddie stepped in.”

Cherry’s laughter dies down, replaced by something knowing. “Of course he did.”

I nod, my stomach flipping a little at the memory. “He didn’t even know who I was. But suddenly, he was just there, standing between us, telling Randy to back off. I swear, he barely raised his voice, but Randy got this look on his face—like he knew he wouldn’t win that fight. He left, cursing me out, and Eddie just looked at me and said, ‘You good, sweetheart?’ Like it was nothing to him.”

Cherry shakes her head, her smile soft. “That’s Eddie. Always swooping in, always the protector. Even for someone he doesn’t know.”

Something tightens in my chest. “Yeah,” I murmur. “That’s exactly what he did.”

She watches me for a moment, then gestures for me to continue. “So, how’d you go from that to living here?”

I take a breath. “A few weeks later, I was at Eddie’s concert with my friend. Randy had given me tickets as a birthday present last year, so I decided to go. When we got there, we were told the tickets were fake.” I roll my eyes because I should have known Randy would never shell out that kind of money for me.

“As we were talking to the security guy, someone in a hoodie walked passed and told him to let us in and we got a backstage passes. I later learned it was Eddie. Apparently, he likes to walk around in disguise before the show and soak up the atmosphere. Of course, by that point, I’d realized it was Eddie. I’d had posters of him on my wall since I was a teen.”