Page 36 of Use Me

“While I don’t want what we have going on to end, I think maybe you should go out with this guy. He could be what you’re looking for.”

The thought of not continuing whatever it was that we had together made me sad. “If he even calls.”

“No guy in his right mind would pass up the chance to go out with you.”

Except Corey. I wasn’t enough for him. “We’ll see. I’m not even sure I want to date yet.” He nodded his understanding and then I asked, “Want to go to breakfast?”

“I would love that, but I have brunch with my folks before I need to head in for tonight’s game.”

“Oh!” I perked up. “What did your mom say about us hanging out?”

Rhys laughed. “Haven’t told her.”

“She didn’t see our picture?”

“She doesn’t use Facebook.”

“So she doesn’t know you’re sleeping with Ashtyn Valor?” I teased.

He laughed. “No, and I have no plans to tell my mother who I’m sleeping with.”

I smiled. “I’m going to jump in the shower. Want to join me? You know, save water and all that?”

“I will never turn that offer down.”

Ashtyn went to get the shower ready while I finished my cup of coffee. I was on my final sip when she started to sing, her voice carrying into her bedroom. It was some rap song I couldn’t remember the name of, but hearing her stumble through the words made me smile. Everything about this woman made me smile.

Except when she told me she was asked out on a date.

I tried to play it cool, but on the inside, I was jealous. I wanted to be the one to take her on a real date. Sure we went on a booze cruise, but I wanted to take her to dinner and then take her back to my place. My blood started to boil at the thought that she might go home with this dude. Fuck. I thought that she wasn’t ready to date. I thought I wasn’t either, but now …

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

The only chance I had was that the date would suck and she’d come running back to me.

Running back to use me.

Use me to forget about every other guy in her life.

Now though, I wasn’t using her. Who was Bridgette again? Maybe I needed to go on a date?

My phone on the nightstand buzzed with a text. I grabbed it and groaned deep in my throat. And now Irememberedwho Bridgette was.

Bridgette: I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Please call me.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I drank the last sip of my coffee and joined Ashtyn. Saving water had turned into something so much more.

I spotted my parents at the packed restaurant where we had brunch once a month. It was our thing. They lived in my childhood home, forty-five minutes away and with my schedule during hockey season, I saw them less and less, but we made sure to meet at least once a month. Plus, my sister, Romi, and her husband, Shane, always came, too.

Mom saw me first. She stood, moving past my father, and engulfed me in a hug. “It’s good to see you, sweetie.”

“You too, Mom.” We broke apart, and I hugged my father. “Dad.” People say I looked like my dad, and I could see it. We both had the same facial features, but I had the color of my Mom’s hair—or at least before she started turning grey.

The three of us sat down at the wood table of the rustic breakfast joint and while we waited for the waitress so we could order, I asked, “Where’s Romi and Shane?”