Page 37 of The Toy Maker (The Pink Cherrie #1)

THIRTY-TWO

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t walk out of that room without the overwhelming urge to turn around and spend the rest of the day in Jason’s company.

The rational part of me knew it was a terrible idea.

But the other part, the part that had been steadily forming an attachment to him, was already replaying every smirk, every glance, every little moment that made me feel like I wasn’t just another warm body in his bed.

Falling for the elusive, emotionally unavailable rich bastard was always the turning point in my mother’s erotic novels.

I used to roll my eyes at those stories.

Pathetic. Unrealistic.

Unfortunately, the universe has a cruel sense of humor. Because there I was, living out my very own cliché.

I didn’t have long to think about it though, because as soon as I swam out into slut-infested territory, I was surrounded by a frenzy of flesh-eating girls in bedazzled bikinis.

I braced myself for the impact of their incredibly nosey questions, but they were far too excited about the male suitor at the front desk.

Sarah poked at my side. “Your little friend is here to see you,” she chimed.

“Friend?” I asked, bewildered by her words. Last time I checked, I only had three.

“Mr. Ethan is here to whisk you away and make you his princess,” Jade teased as a dozen other girls buzzed around us, fluttering her eyelashes at me.

“That’s crazy,” I said while fending off wandering hands. “I haven’t spoken to him in weeks.”

“Well, he’s waiting for you up front.” Before I could protest, Jade grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the front desk.

Sure enough, Ethan was there, flipping a quarter over his fingers while absently scanning a flyer for Pink Cherrie’s next big event.

“Interested?” I asked, nodding toward the flyer.

The quarter slipped from his fingers, rolling onto the floor as his eyes met mine. “Not really my kind of party,” he admitted, smiling softly. He greeted Jade, who nodded politely before leaving me with one last encouraging elbow to the ribs.

I rolled my eyes at the giggling behind me. “Sorry about them.”

“I don’t mind.” He shrugged. “It’s not their fault I’m so damn sexy.” I laughed, but he wasn’t too far from the truth.

If I wasn’t constantly comparing him to Jason, then maybe I’d be just as smitten as the rest of them.

Maybe I’d let myself fall for someone safe.

“So, what can I help you with, Mr. Sexy?” I joked.

“I was wondering if you’d like to grab something to eat with me.”

My stomach twisted. I liked Ethan. He was kind, funny, normal. But he wasn’t Jason.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw the girls conspicuously watching from across the room. “I should really hang around here. As you know, we have a big show coming up.”

His face was hopeful. “I promise to have you back within the hour.”

I was tempted to throw caution to the wind and go out with a guy whose main goal wasn’t to tie me to my headboard, but then again, he wouldn’t tie me to a headboard.

And nice guys deserved nice girls, and I wasn’t sure I was one anymore. Not to mention I had sworn myself to Jason; I was his Sub, he was my Dom. Technically, I belonged to him.

Ethan sensed my hesitation. “I have no expectations, Tara. I just want to talk.” His usual laid-back demeanor stiffened.

That caught my attention.

I tilted my head, curiosity prickling my skin. “Is everything alright?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “There are some things you need to know.”

I watched his gaze flicker behind me and followed his eyes.

Jason stood at the end of the room, arms crossed, his eyes locked on Ethan with a sharp, almost accusatory glare.

“Please,” Ethan added quickly. “Just hear me out.”

I agreed to listen to whatever he had to say, but before we could leave, Jason intervened.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

With one on my left and the other on the right, I had front row seats to their bickering.

Ethan tried to seem unfazed by Jason’s calloused greeting. “Stopping by to see a friend. You have a problem with that?” he said smoothly.

Jason leaned closer to him and frowned. “Maybe I do.”

“That’s alright, because Tara and I were just leaving.”

“Like hell you are,” he scoffed.

My lower back was pressed against the front desk. I scanned the room for Jade. The one time I needed her to ride in on a white horse armed with a strong right hook and she was nowhere to be found.

“Jason, it’s fine,” I tried to insist. Jason’s eyes flickered to mine, and I nearly dove behind the counter when they met. “I already said I would go.”

He scowled. “That’s not a good idea.”

“She said she wants to go,” Ethan snapped.

I glanced at him, silently warning him not to make this worse. “Thanks, but I can take it from here, Ethan.”

“I think like Mr. Sexy better.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks. I was sure he said that just to see if he could make steam come out of Jason’s ears.

Jason’s expression darkened. “Mr. what?” he growled. Ah, shit…

“I’m sorry you disagree, but I’ve already made my decision.” I turned my attention back to Ethan before Jason could break my resolve.

Ethan opened the door and waited for me to exit before casting one last look to Jason. I had no idea what had happened to make them behave this way, but something told me I was right in the middle of it.

We walked two blocks before I worked up the nerve to ask. “What was that?”

Ethan kept his hands in his pockets, his expression neutral. “I’ll explain, but first, food.” I wasn’t hungry, but I knew he wouldn’t talk until I agreed, so I reluctantly did.

We found a quiet booth in a nearby diner, and I picked at my chicken tenders while my mind raced. I only made it halfway through the plate when my patience snapped.

“You have the eating habits of a child,” Ethan chuckled as I took a bite of my meal.

I tossed down my tender as angrily as one could toss a food off the kid’s menu. “Listen, I get it if you think it’s best to wait until after you feed me to spill our nation’s secrets, but until you do, I prefer we eat in silence.”

Ethan grinned, clearly completely recovered from going toe to toe with Jason not twenty minutes before. “I know this seems unnecessarily ridiculous, but I swear there is a point,” he promised.

“Then get to it.” I waved a chicken tender at him.

He sighed at my demand. “The short version?” he said, meeting my eyes. “Jason doesn’t care about you any more than he cares about telemarketers.”

So, this is what getting shot feels like?

He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already guessed myself, but hearing it brought about a brand-new pain, as well as humiliation.

“The long version?” I forced out.

“Jason hasn’t been capable of genuinely loving a girl for a very long time now.” That seemed relatively short and inconclusive for the ‘long version.’

“And you know this how ?”

“We were best friends not too long ago.”

“How long?” I challenged.

“Last month.”

I sat back in the booth and let this information sink in before continuing, “Why aren’t you friends anymore?”

He only said one word, but it felt like a million. “You.”

My eyes widened. “Me?” There was a pause before I couldn’t prevent the giggling from surfacing. Ethan stared at me.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked in confusion.

“Because that’s ridiculous.” I fought to contain my laughter. “Why would you stop being friends over me ?”

“It was bad enough when I helped him trick sorority girls into his bed, but—” His eyes gleamed as he watched my expression. “Enough is enough.”

“So, you refused to help him… trick me into his bed, and that’s why you guys can’t be within five feet of each other?” I retorted. The warning was a little late.

“More or less.” He really knew how to flatter a girl. “I just wanted you to know the truth. This is a game for him, and when he’s done, he’ll move on to the next girl. I’ve seen him do it a million times.” He shrugged.

I stared at my plate and thought about Jason’s hands on my body, grabbing me, owning me, and now I was being told it was all a lie. Maybe I already knew, but that didn’t make it sting any less. Especially after the morning we had just spent together.

How many times did I need to fall for the same act and be devasted to learn better?

“I would like to go now.” Suddenly, I had lost my appetite.

Ethan waved down the waitress and paid the bill before escorting me back to Pink Cherrie. We didn’t speak on the way back; my mind was racing with questions that I couldn’t handle the answers to.

“I’m sorry I had to tell you this way,” Ethan finally sighed.

I shrugged off his apology. “I needed to know.” It was something Jason did frequently enough that Ethan felt it was necessary to warn me. I just wished that warning came sooner.

Cars sped past us while we waited for something to say.

Ethan was the first to come up with something, “You were falling for it, weren’t you?”

I couldn’t tell him the truth. “That’s ridiculous.”

He didn’t argue. Just sighed, kissed my cheek gently, and whispered, “Be careful, Tara.” Ethan glanced inside before turning to leave. “I’ll see you around.”

I watched him walk off as I hid behind the side of the door where I could live in denial, where what Ethan said couldn’t be true.

But hiding never did anyone any favors, so I pulled my wits together and let the door slam behind me.