“This is like that cleanse you made us go on when you joined that damn gym. Did she ever tell you about this one, Ellie? For one week we were supposed to drink protein shakes, and in between drink vinegar. I don’t even like that shit on salad and we were drinking it straight. My stomach felt like it was eating itself, and Paige almost passed out from starvation. We lasted three days and ended up at White Castle.”
Ellie held her big belly as she shook from laughter. “You actually drank vinegar?” She scrunched her face at me.
“They said we’d lose ten pounds in one week.”
“And our smart girl here didn’t see what could be wrong with that,” Natalie chuckled and shook her head. “Of course, she caught me at a desperate enough time that I was willing to try. Anyway, you’ve been on a sexual cleanse for over six months. And that man is a White Castle ten-pack.” She leaned back, nodding her head.
“Evan is a White Castle ten-pack? Is that what you just said?”
“Yes, honey. Delicious, but you need to pace yourself. I never had you pegged for public sex. I have to say I’m a little impressed.”
“We weren’t having sex, Natalie. We kissed.”
“With his hand up your dress. So hot.” Ellie pretended to shiver as I groaned with my face in my hands.
“Ellie? I thought that was you!” A tall woman with straight, jet-black hair strutted over to Ellie. She was the only woman in the store wearing a leather mini skirt and six-inch stiletto heels. I assumed she was here for someone else.
“Hi, Jenna. How are you?” Ellie gave her a forced smile. I was surprised since she usually loved everyone, but I could tell this girl rubbed her the wrong way.
“I’m great.” Jenna replied as she twirled the crimson ends of her hair. It was an odd color combination, but Jenna was beautiful. I could live on the climbing machine 24/7 and not have legs and an ass like that. “I heard Evan is back, and he works at Taylor’s Flooring now. I have to go see him.” Fuck. My stomach dropped when I heard her say his name. My intuition said this was an old girlfriend, because that was usually how my luck ran. Why did the universe hate me?
“I wouldn’t bother. I doubt either one would be happy to see you.” Wow. Ellie had claws out, a first in all the years I’d known her. Evan never really talked about his past relationships, although he knew about most of mine. He did mention a broken engagement, but didn’t want to elaborate. Oh no, she couldn’t be the ex . . .
“Evan and I were engaged. We were discussing baby names when we lived together in Philadelphia. We have a history that you know nothing about.”
Of course she is.
My insides twisted as though I’d been shot. Bang! I was engaged to Evan. Bang! We lived together. Bang! We were going to have children. Bang! The heartbeat that thundered in my ears made me lightheaded.
“I know plenty, which is why I know you wouldn’t be welcome. Going to my husband’s office to beg him to speak to Evan on your behalf will never get you anywhere. Besides, Evan has moved on, hasn’t he, Paige?” Ellie cocked an eyebrow at me, making Jenna take a swift turn in my direction.
What were Evan and I? Dating, yes. Exclusive? I never dated more than one man at a time, and didn’t think Evan would see someone else, but did I have a right to stake a claim? I really wasn’t sure, but the way Jenna looked me over pissed me off.
“I’m Paige, Evan’s girlfriend. And you are . . .” I tried to be friendly and look unaffected, but the shaking in my voice was probably a dead giveaway. She stumbled a moment, then started laughing to herself.
“Yeah, okay, sweetheart. Nice seeing you, Ellie. Hope you can lose all that weight once the baby is born.” The click-clack of her heels filled the aisle as she strutted away.
I massaged my temples as I sat in a glider next to Natalie. I was too old to be back here again. Too old and tired of this competing crap.
“No!” Ellie got in my face and pointed a finger at me. “You are not letting that whore put doubt in your head. You can ask Jack about all the shit she pulled when they lived together in Philadelphia. Jack threw her out of the office on more than one occasion. Evan is more than done with her and has been for a long time. She’s a manipulative bitch that took advantage of Evan’s good nature over and over again. She’s a non-factor, please trust me.”
“I’ll try to put any doubt out of my mind until I talk to Evan. I promise.” I bullshitted my pregnant cousin-in-law. I was counting the seconds until I could leave and drive straight to Evan’s office to ask him what the story was with Jenna. Then I would know if I should worry. So much for the uncomplicated and easy relationship I had five minutes ago.
“Go.” Natalie whispered in my ear.
“I can’t go. I promised Ellie I’d stay with her—”
“I can stay with her. She’s almost finished, anyway. Like I don’t know your stomach is turning waiting to ask Evan about Jenna. Jack’s office is five minutes away. Put yourself out of your misery. She’ll understand.”
“No, she’ll be upset that I’m upset. I can wait fifteen more minutes.”
Fifteen minutes turned into another half hour as Ellie panicked over which diapers to choose. We finished the registry, said our good-byes, and I raced to my car. I started it, but didn’t want to drive away. Once you know something, you can never un-know it, and I didn’t want my life to change from the way it was just an hour ago. I took out my phone to read all the sweet and sexy texts between us over the last couple of months. I never imagined Evan could be hiding something. I hoped that for once in my life, I was right the first time.
I’d never been more tired in all of my life. I’d also never worked so many hours for so many days in a row. We were busy like we wanted to be, but it came on all at once. The diner gave us some good buzz, and the new website and digital campaign that Paige designed brought in even more traffic.
Business was good, but I missed my girl. I finally had Paige Taylor to myself but couldn’t enjoy her like I wanted to. Since she did work for us, I at least got to see her at the office. She found excuses to come back as often as she could, and I snuck in a kiss—or more, depending on who was here. My cock stiffened at the memory of her straddling me in my desk chair, her tongue exploring my mouth inch by inch as she rubbed her smoking hot body against mine. She wore dresses all the time, even if she wasn’t coming from her office. I knew she did that to give me easy access to her amazing ass, and I loved it. After a little over a month of messing around like horny college kids, I had plans to take her away for a weekend. Coffee and lunch dates weren’t cutting it for me anymore. I was going to officially make her mine, even though I felt she already was. I hoped she did, too.
“Hey, Ev!” I jumped at the sound of one of our workers at our office door. I had a habit of zoning out at my desk. Most of the time I was daydreaming about Paige, and Jack loved giving me shit for it. Annoying fucker, but that meant he was healthy, so he could bust my balls all he wanted.
“Sorry, Tony. What’s up? Do you guys need me to come with you today?”
“Nah boss, we got it covered!” Boss. That was never going to stop being weird. “There is a very hot woman here to see you. And it’s not Paige.”
Not Paige? Who could it possibly be? Unless, oh no, don’t fucking tell me . . .
“Hey baby. It’s so good to see you.” Jenna strolled over to my desk and plopped herself on the edge, crossing her long legs. There was a time I thought I loved this woman enough to propose to her, but now being in her presence made my stomach turn with disgust.
“Please don’t call me ‘baby’. What the hell do you want?”
Jenna inched closer, rubbing the heel of her shoe along my knee. “You love it when I call you baby, especially when you’re balls deep inside me, just about to co—”