Page 10

INDIE

Abience: (n.) the strong urge to avoid someone or something

“ W ait, I thought you hated him? And now, you’re moving in with him and dating?

When did this happen?” Nia eyed me with nothing less than the scrutiny of someone who knew me far too well, and while I knew it was, in fact, better she not know, the guilt still gnawed at my gut.

I hated lying to her. “Unless you faked the whole I hate him thing all along?”

“No, I definitely hate him. Hated,” I corrected, lying to her once again.

The way she studied me was squirm worthy but fuck if I ever backed down from a challenge.

And Nia had challenged me over and over about really hating Theo since Travis started hanging out with the girls.

She insisted we were one romance trope away from something, and while I loved her, there was no way that was happening.

Unless you counted fake dating. Or engagement?

He hadn’t ‘proposed’ yet, though it was coming this weekend. Who said romance was dead when your fake proposal was all thought out and planned by both of you for maximum public relations exposure?

“But?”

I picked at the hem of the denim mini skirt I purposefully chose this morning because it hugged my ass.

I caught Theo glaring at me and my ass when I dropped Trav off one day.

Anything to push his buttons. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

The air outside was still less than spring-like, so I paired it with a pair of artfully torn tights and an off the shoulder top that was comfy yet cute enough to meet with Laney about one of the many favors she promised me.

After all, I was a girl who had learned how to use what I had to my best advantage. If watching Travis and helping Laney cover the bases would help out BB&L, then hell yes I’d take the favors she promised.

“But nothing, Nia.”

She crossed her arms across her chest and leaned onto the counter behind her.

“How do you keep this place so clean with those two?” I jerked my head in the direction of the girls, who were painting at the oversized farm style table.

“Don’t change the subject, Indra.”

“Ooh, pulling out the name card, are we?”

She rolled her eyes and pushed off to grab the mug of coffee next to her.

I lowered my eyes, sipping my own caffeinated beverage and avoided answering.

“Seriously, are you sleeping with him, in his house, after only a few months? After complaining about not getting laid and picking on me and Eden? And you expect me to believe that it just happened?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. And what’s with all the questions?”

“Does Isaac know?”

And cue my inward cringe. Theo said he’d take care of Isaac, and thank fuck he was ‘out of contact’ for the last few weeks, and would be for another few days, but when he found out, I shuddered to think of how we were going to explain…

us. My brother didn’t usually disappear for any period of time, but he was on a job out of the country for a security job.

“He’s out of the country, but when he gets back next week, he will. ”

Nia’s eyes grew wide. “Out of the country? Are we sure Isaac isn’t a S.H.I.E.L.D Agent or anything?”

“Well,” I drawled as Travis came out of the bathroom and joined the girls at the table, painting and smiling as they covered themselves in paint and Goldfish crackers.

“He’s not a Skrull, or at least I hope. Though that would explain a lot of things.

Ooh, maybe he is and he’s off with the human girl he fell for and knows her parents won’t approve. ”

“Alien romance, huh? The blind date book wall is getting to you,” Nia teased. “Back to business. Were you lying to me, then? When you said nothing was happening?”

I swallowed, trying not to look guilty. Because I was. “No. It was all kind of…fast. And it just made sense with Travis. The season is winding down, and maybe we'll…re-evaluate?”

Nia scooped her auburn hair into a bun and piled it up on top of her head with a grin. “Re-evaluate? Seriously? The girl who owns more toys-”

“Nia!! Little ears!”

‘-and reads more spicy books than any human possible. Don’t tell me he’s.” she lowered her voice, “bad?”

And for the first time in my life, my cheeks flushed, because yep, if this was all real , Nia would know every little dirty, filthy detail.

Theo and I would be banging like bunnies, and my ‘toys’ would be teammates instead of the starting line up.

“No, he’s…not bad. I just,” I glanced at the kids as they laughed and painted, oblivious to the conversation happening across the room.

“Would rather not talk about it with Travis right there. ”

“Fine,” she sighed. A finger pointed at me. “Don’t think this means you aren’t giving me all the details, Indra. All. The. Details.”

“Fair is fair.” I set down my mug. “But, I am going to be late if I don’t get going. I’ll pick Trav up on my way…home?”

“Nonsense, I’ll order pizza and drop him off later. That way you two,” she winked, “can have a little alone time.”

“You don’t have to-”

“Seriously, I do. Go. And do not stop by the bookstore. Eden and Paige have it all under control,” she chided as I kissed her cheek and ruffled the kids hair as I passed by on my way out the door.

But as soon as I was on the road, my mind flew to last night.

And the fact I was ninety-nine percent sure Theo had been outside my door.

That I purposefully left ajar after that dinner conversation.

Used my favorite ‘toy’ to make myself come while not thinking of Theo.

Okay, so maybe I lied on that one. Even when I heard a noise outside my door, I imagined it was him…

listening to me. Hearing me. Gasp, moan, and fall apart while he couldn’t touch me.

Only watch as I used my toy to make him want me, and not give him the satisfaction of touching me.

And came harder than I had in a really long time.

Okay, maybe ever. But I’d never admit it out loud. Especially not to #hockeydaddy.

Shit. The way things were going, I’d need an extra charging cord or two.

It’s all on him, really. Just before Theo went into his room after we read Travis a goodnight story, he said goodnight, turned away, and used one hand to pull the collar of his shirt over his head. Holy traps and back muscles, Batman.

Theo slept shirtless. Maybe even naked. So I left my door ajar, just in case.

After all, I was a girl who loved revenge. And Theo deserved every single drop of it I planned on delivering to him. On a silver platter. With a side of brat.

“What the ever-loving hell?” I turned the key again, and nothing. Well, not nothing,

Click. Click. Click.

Laney laid out a plan to promote the next BB&L event, along with Fur Baby Rescue, and we hammered out the details while munching on takeout from the local taco place.

I loved a working lunch. And this event was going to be even more fun than the holiday Book Boyfriend Auction event if I had anything to say about it.

Puppies, shirtless hockey players and other book boyfriends from the calendar, in addition blind date romance books that represented each MMC type.

The hour turned into hours as we plotted, planned, and emailed all parties, including a space to hold the event.

Which turned out to be a botanical garden just outside the city that had an opening after the end of playoff season, hopefully with a Cup in attendance.

With a place for the puppies and rescue doggies to play while they awaited their chance to strut on the runway, and hopefully find a new furever home.

Hours also meant my battery evidently decided that I neglected it long enough since I had needed to replace the damn thing for a while now. But, avoidance of things automotive was one of my many toxic traits.

I checked my phone, which was at 7%.

Fucking great.

I quickly pulled up Nia’s number, hit send, but just as she picked up, dead. Zero juice.

Black screen of death. No, no, no.

“Mother trucker!” I hit the steering wheel, tossed my phone onto the passenger seat, then immediately apologized to my car. Praying that someone was still left in the Triumph building, I grabbed my purse, dead phone, and hurried to the door, only to find it locked.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, then glanced around the empty except my dead vehicle, two SUVs, and, low and behold, a black SUV with none other than Theo Gerard, looking like he was the savior of the world to anyone else.

To me, he was the black knight who rode in and then made sure you knew he was rescuing you but could walk away at any given moment.

With a glare I stalked toward him as he rolled down the window with a smirk.

“Nia called me frantic, and said you tried to call but hung up. She was worried you were being kidnapped or some, and I quote, ‘other dark romance mircrotrope’, and I knew exactly what she was talking about, thanks to my newest read.”

The instinct to snap back a smart ass answer boiled up, but I knew the spot I was in, so I ignored it.

For now. I stopped just short of the driver door and narrowed my eyes.

His blond hair ruffled in the wind as he smirked.

“My phone died. No hot book boyfriend stalker type whisking me away to make me do unspeakable yet incredibly hot things while I pretend I don’t find his mask hotter than hell.

” And then I realized I had witnessed Theo in all his masked glory right before he put me over his knee and spanked me a scant few months ago.

“Okay,” he said slowly.

Chin lifted, I added, “And so did the battery on my car, evidently.”

“Ah.” And so began the Theo/Indie standoff usual procedure, until he sighed and said, “Get in, Indie.”

“What about my-”

“Get. In.” When I refused to move, he added, “I’ll have it towed to the shop, and get someone to look at it. Get in. Don’t make me ask again, little girl.”