Page 131 of That Fake Feeling

“Lookingat possible new brewery locations.”

“Oh, so what do you needEmilyto get from your place?”

“Nothing.Ijust need you to let her in so she can stay there for a few days.”

“What’sup with her place?”

“Shehad a fight withTheAsshole, and he locked her out.”

Ihave no idea whatEmily’sboyfriend’s actual name is.Theguys only ever refer to him asTheAsshole.

“Oh,Jesus.Whata dick.”Connorsighs. “Yeah, okay.Ihaven’t used your keys for about a year, but they’ll be here somewhere.”

Iget up from the table and head back toward the kitchen area.I’mfairly sureWalker’sspare keys will be in the junk drawer that’s two drawers below the cutlery.

“Thanks,Con,”Walkersays, his voice calmer.

“Noworries.”

Ipull aToastedTomatokey fob with two keys on it from the drawer and hold it up.

“Mygirlfriend is not only beautiful, she’s also a key-finding machine,” he tellsWalkeras he blows me a quick kiss. “TellEmwe’ll be there as soon as we can.It’lljust depend on the traffic on theBrooklynBridge.”

“Lifesaver.Iwas really worried about her.Thanks.”

Connorglances at the dining table again. “Andtell her we’re bringing pasta and wine.”

* * *

“You’renot going to fucking believe this.”

Thoseare never great words to be woken up with.

Iroll over, snuggle my face intoConnor’sbare chest, and drape my arm across his waist.There’sno way in hellI’mopening my eyes yet.Itwas 2 a.m. by the time we got home fromWalker’sBrooklynloft.

Itwas hard to leaveEmilythere alone, but she wouldn’t come stay with us, saying it would be too much of an imposition.Which, of course, it wouldn’t have been.Sheprobably just wanted privacy to cry herself to sleep, or to call her boyfriend and yell at him without fear of disturbing anyone.Hesounds like a total jerk.

Westuck around until she was settled, and relaxed from the wine and reheated pasta, and looked like she might be able to have a good night’s sleep, then we headed home.

“Whatwon’tIbelieve?”Imumble in the direction ofConnor’snipple.

Ifall from his chest as he sits up, and his butt slides level with my face.Somuch for a morning snuggle.Iroll onto my back and flop my arms over my head.

“MessagefromWalker,”Connorsays. “HecalledEmilyto check if she’s okay, and she’s on her way home toTheAsshole.”

“Oh,God.Ithought she might have seen sense last night.”

Heputs his phone back on his nightstand, slides back down the bed, and nestles his face next to my cheek.

Thetop half of his body is cool where it’s been out of the covers, but the leg he drapes over me is warm.Evenhotter is his rock-hard dick pressing against my hip.

Hestrokes his hand over my belly, triggering a shiver at my center.Anotherripples down my side from his breath near my ear.

“Ihope you realize how lucky you are having a completely awesome, irresistibly lovable, and amazingly thoughtful boyfriend like me who would never lock you out of the house.”

Iroll onto my side to face him. “Ifnot locking me out of the house is the only standard by whichI’mmeasuring your wonderfulness, it’s a pretty low bar.”

“Oh,Ican be more wonderful.”