I snap out of it. “What?”
His pulls his hand away. “I have a room full of guitars upstairs.” He raises an eyebrow. “What did you think I was talking about?”
I can’t believe I fell for that. “You’re an asshole.”
He pretends to be shocked. “You were thinking dirty again, weren’t you?”
“Ugh!” I jerk away from him. “You’re impossible.”
He laughs. “I couldn’t help it. You dished it out first, so I had to give it back.”
Whatever.
As my racing heart returns to normal, it takes my remaining energy with it. Working a full day after being off, along with the night’s crazy emotional highs, has left me drained. It has to be after five a.m. by now. I try to stretch my back by twisting to the side. “My bed is calling me,” I say.
“My bed is calling you, too.”
I shoot Latson an annoyed look. “You can stop now.” I start to stand. “Unless you want a zombie working the bar tomorrow, I need sleep.”
Latson gets to his feet and follows me to my window. “We wouldn’t want that. I can’t hit on you if you’re not in the mood.”
I snort. “Why don’t I think my mood would stop you?” I crouch down, sit my butt on the window ledge, and swing my legs inside.
Latson kneels down. “I meant what I said about performing. You’d be great. Think about it.”
It would be impossible not to. “Thanks. I will.” I hop down into my bedroom and turn around. “Have a good night. Or morning. Or whatever it is,” I say.
He gives me a small smile. “You, too.”
His legs disappear when I close the blinds. As I finish getting ready for bed, my phone beeps and I dig it out of my bag to silence it. I see Latson’s earlier text:
Here is my number. You should save it under ‘Ed’ so you’ll confuse me with your boyfriend.
He wants me to confuse him with Ed? I text back: Ed doesn’t like to share.
Minutes later, after I’ve crawled beneath the covers, he sends another message.
Then you should dump his ass.
I text back. For who? You? Pete said you don’t do commitment.
He replies: I think I should start.
Chapter Twelve
I scowl at my phone. I’m pretty sure I made the same face this morning when my brother farted during breakfast. I had to stop myself from asking Jules why she agreed to marry his gross ass, but I kept my mouth shut. She doesn’t know I’m aware of their secret.
“Looks like there’s a problem.”
I stop reading Tricia’s email and glance up. “Hey, Dean.”
He takes a seat at the bar. “Everything all right?”
I turn off my cell and slide it into my back pocket. “My insurance agent has no news for me.” I wipe my hands on a bar towel. “What can I get you?”
“Insurance agent? Were you in a wreck?” He settles on the stool. “I’ll take a Two Hearted Ale, please.”
“No. There was a fire at my apartment building.” I walk over to the cooler and grab his beer. “I’ve been waiting to find out when I can go home.” Setting the edge of the bottle cap against the edge of the bar, I slam my hand down to open it, then give it to him. “I’ve been crashing with my brother for the last three weeks.”
Dean looks curious. “Where is home?”
“Michigan.”
Latson walks up behind Dean and claps him on the shoulder. “We’re still on for tonight, right?”
Dean nods as he raises his beer to his lips.
“What’s tonight?” I ask.
“Small gathering at my place.” Latson meets my eyes as he leans against the bar. “You’re coming.”
“I am?” This is the first I’ve heard of it.
“Yep. Pete, Jules, Gwen, Carter, Felix ... they’ll all be there. When Dean’s in town we hang out.”
News to me. Oh! I hope Heidi’s invited, I think sarcastically.
“What’s up with your shirt?” Dean eyes Latson. “I’ve never seen you wear purple.”
Latson looks down at his chest. Today he’s sporting a dark purple tee that reads Will do nude scenes. “I thought you quit doing porn,” Dean jokes.
“I’m trying to send subliminal messages to someone. She’s being stubborn,” Latson says.
Dean immediately assumes it’s me and tips his bottle in my direction. “Could this be the same someone who doubted your romantic tendencies?”
“The very one.”
My mouth falls open.
“You’re working hard for this girl,” Dean says. “Are you sure she’s worth it?”
“She’s starting to crack,” Latson replies. “She has this weird hang up about me being her boss.”
Dean shrugs. “Then fire her.”
“Oh, I’ve considered it.”
He what? I put my hands on my hips. “I’m standing right here.”
They both ignore me.
“So, what time tonight?” Dean sets his bottle on the bar top.
“We close early, so around ten,” Latson says. “Unless you want to leave now. I have some things to pick up.”
“Sounds good. Let me finish this.” Dean indicates his beer.
Latson looks at me. “Are you hungry?”
I glance over my shoulder to see if someone else is behind me. “Are you talking to me? I thought I was invisible.”
“Yes, I’m talking to you.”
I could use food, but I decide to get sassy. “Are you buying?”
“That depends.” Latson tries to look innocent. “Are you putting out?”
I pick up the bottle cap from Dean’s beer and throw it at him. It bounces off his shirt, under the word scenes. “Is that all you think about?”
Latson and Dean look at each other. Dean says “Yeah” as Latson says “Pretty much.”
I sigh. Men.
Two guys approach the bar and I move over to help them. As they decide what they want, I hear Latson tell Dean, “She didn’t say no.”
Dean laughs. “Way to stay optimistic, bro.”
By the time I finish with the guys, Latson is gone. I serve a few more drinks before Dean empties his bottle and sets it on the bar. I grab it as I walk by.
“You know,” Dean says. “You should give him a shot.”
I stop. “Why’s that?”
“Because he hasn’t fallen for someone in a long time.”
I’m skeptical. “Nothing has happened between us to make him fall anywhere.”
Dean gives me a pointed look. “Trust me. Something did.”
“Um, Miss?”
A customer interrupts us for service, and Dean stands. “I’ll let you get back to work. See you later.”
Yeah, I mull over his words. See you later.
~~~~
After the bar closes, Pete and I head home to change and grab Jules for tonight’s soiree. My brother doesn’t bring up his feelings on the topic, and I don’t ask. I’m not sure if he feels better about me spending time around Latson because of our talk, or because he’ll be in attendance. Regardless, back at the apartment, I take a few minutes to comb through my hair until it lies in waves around my face. I touch up my lips and eyes before changing into jean shorts and my black White Stripes tank top. I want to look like I care, but not too much. This is the second time I’ve hung out with these people socially; they’re becoming a bigger part of my life than I had planned. I’d rather they see me in something else besides the standard Torque attire.
When the three of us are ready, we head upstairs and Pete knocks on Latson’s door. It cracks open, and one tiny, brown eye appears. It grows wide when it sees us, and Oliver throws open the door. “Hi!” He immediately reaches for my hand. “Jen’s on my team,” he announces as he pulls.
“Team?” I ask.
“For war,” he states.
I let him drag me over the threshold, then look back at Jules and Pete. “War?”
“You’ll see.” Jules smiles.
I follow Oliver as we pass through the living room. I notice Dean and Felix are sitting on one of the couches, and Gwen and Kenzie are here as well. They say hi, and I wave with my free hand as Oliver keeps walking.