Page 75 of House of Scarlett
It’s a generous invitation, even more generous than anyone else but the people in this room would realize. Going to the bar alone with Big Mike is pretty much Bump’s favorite thing in the entire world. Q’s old man lets Bump order a shot glass of every single beer on tap and line them all up on the table while he pigs out on all-you-can-eat bar popcorn.
“Go with Big Mike tonight, bud. We’ll hang out tomorrow night. You pick the place.”
His eyes go huge. “Can we bring Scarlett? She’s nice. I want to see her again.”
I should ask her before saying yes, because of how seriously Bump takes promises, but I know it’s important to cement this right now.
“Yeah. Scarlett will come. Text me your choice tomorrow, and I’ll be by to pick you up at six.”
“In the morning?” Bump sounds disgusted at the thought.
“At night, bud. We’ll eat dinner and have some fun.”
Bump’s smile is back and beaming brighter than before. “Okay. It’s a date.” He looks at Zoe. “Will you take me to get a new shirt? I want to look nice for the ladies.”
“Yeah, Bump. We’ll get you one tomorrow on the way to work.”
He holds out his hand to me, and then we both spit and shake on it. “I’ve missed you, Gabe, but it’s worth it if she makes you happy.”
A dart of appreciation for this little non-blood brother of mine hits me hard in the chest. “She does, Bump. She really does.” I say it loud enough for Q to overhear, and a giant smile erupts on Zoe’s face before she glances down at her watch.
“It’s time, gentlemen. I’ll let them in, and you schmooze them until there’s nowhere else they’d rather hold their fights.”
Forty-Four
Scarlett
“I’msurprised to see you again, Ms. Priest,” Dr.Grand says from the chair opposite the couch where I’m sitting.
The couch in her office, where I learned she was a sex therapist and my relationship with Chadwick was completely over. The memories still pack on the weight of shame, but I’m working through it. After all, I did come back.
“Well, you invited me to make another appointment, so here I am.”
She settles her tablet on her knee and reaches for a steaming cup of tea. “What would you like to talk about today?”
Her tone and manner are so mellow that they instantly settle a blanket of calm over me that wipes away my unease.
“You said before that I wasn’t broken, and I just wanted to let you know that you’re right. I’m not.”
“That’s excellent news. I’m glad you agree.” She smiles politely, but there’s a hint of question to it, like she’s still not sure why I’m here.
I gather my courage and blurt it out. “I’m going to have sex tonight.”
To her credit, Dr.Grand barely blinks. “Okay ...”
“Not with the guy who made the appointment for me here. Someone else. Someone I’m seeing. I told you about him. The guy who made me feel ... not broken.”
Her inquisitive look morphs into something close to a smile. “And you’ve scheduled sex for tonight?”
“Well, I had a surprise appendectomy last week, so that kind of put a damper on the physical side of our relationship, but I think it might have been a good thing.”
“Why do you say that?” Dr.Grand has her stylus poised to write on the tablet, but she doesn’t move it.
“Because it gave me time to get used to seeing him in my space. To get used to him being close. I ... It’s almost like I crave being close to him. I want him around all the time. I love seeing his face in my kitchen or my living room. And now ... now, I want more. I want it all. The sex and intimacy and everything.”
Her lips form a subtle approving grin. “That’s a big step in any relationship.”
“We’ve already had sex, so it’s not like it’s the first time, but ... it kind of feels like it.” I explain to her what happened the first time at the club, and her smile disappears.
