Page 33 of The Heartbreaker

“No.” I adjusted my position, folding my legs beside me. “It was, hands down, the best sex I’ve ever had in my life. He was”—my chest felt like it was on the verge of exploding—“so perfect that I could cry.”

“Then, call him, Addy. Or better yet, text him right now and tell him you had a great time and you want to see him.”

“It’s too soon.”

“It’s never too soon.” Her hand moved to my shoulder when I made no effort to get my phone from my purse, which was somewhere in the kitchen, where I’d left it. “Are you really all that hung up on where you guys met? Is that the thing that’s holding you back?”

“Maybe.” I took the last sip and returned my glass to the table. “And the timing of all this—I’m just in a place that’s soemotionally, physically, and financially draining. Working two jobs is literally going to kick my ass soon. And I want to make smart decisions, you know? I want to have a clear head. I surely can’t get involved with someone while I’m straddling other men and putting my boobs in their faces.”

“That’s a fair point.” She moved some hair out of my eyes. “But I want you to remember that Ridge never wanted you to dance for him. He wanted to get to know you. And he wanted to get you out of the club, probably sensing that the scenery made you uncomfortable. That says a lot about him, and that’s not the kind of guy you want to lose.”

She’d made a fair point.

But would he want the woman he was dating to be working at a strip club?

The questions, the scenarios—they seemed endless.

“I know,” I whispered. “If I don’t get myself out of this situation, I will just continue to spiral and drown, and that’s not going to take me to a positive place. So, once I don’t have to work at the club and my life is more in order, I’ll be the person he’s looking for. You didn’t see him, Leah. He has everything together. You should see his house. I don’t want him to see the hot mess that I am.”

“I know you better than anyone in this world, therefore, I know you look for reasons not to do things. After your last breakup and the way that dick treated you, you said you were going to take a long break from men. Six months is a long time, babe. Don’t rule things out just because you’re a mess. We’re all a mess—don’t forget that. And if Ridge has a six-year-old, I suspect he’s somewhat of a mess too.”

I nodded. “I hear you.”

“You’d better.” She winked.

I swayed over the cushion, reminding myself that I needed to be responsible in the morning and that meant I had to get atleast a little sleep. “I’m going to go crash. I have to be up in five hours.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

I smiled and got up from the couch after giving her a quick hug. “If you happen to pass a store or a bakery during your morning walk, buy me everything that’s chocolate. That way, when I get home, I can shove my face full of all the sweets before another shift at the club tomorrow night.”

She laughed. “Done.”

I went into the kitchen and grabbed my purse, setting the glass in the sink, and on my way through the living room, as I headed for my bedroom, Leah said, “Hey, Addy, I’m proud of you.”

“For what?”

“For finishing your third shift and what will be your fourth one tomorrow. You’ve got this, babe.”

I formed a heart with my hands and continued to my room, closing the door behind me.

I took the money out of my purse and opened my panty drawer, where I kept an envelope. The cash went inside. And on the outside of the envelope, I wrote the new total—a running tab from all my previous shifts.

Man, I still had such a long way to go.

I quickly got undressed, putting on an oversize T-shirt, and climbed onto my bed, holding my phone and Ridge’s number in my hands.

There were several notifications on my screen. One was a text from my sister.

Morgan

Hi! I’m not trying to rush you—please don’t think that—but the first deposit is due in a week. Will you have the money?

Me

Yep, I’ll have it.

Because of Ridge’s contribution tonight … I would have it.