Page 20 of The Arrangement

Alex: Now take a breath. What happened?

Marc: It’s complicated

I chewed on my thumbnail and darted a glance at the stairs. Ninety seconds to go.

Alex: R U sure a call wouldn’t be easier?

Marc: NO!!!!!!

Marc: Not a good time. The “cause” is still around or will be any second and I promised not to freak out but

Alex:...

I watched the bubbles dance and disappear, only to reappear and repeat the process. Each second that passed, my anxiety ratcheted up another level. I strained my ears for the telltale signs of JD coming back down the stairs while I waited for Alex to respond. When my phone finally vibrated with an incoming message, I legit jumped.

Alex: I have SO many questions. But I get now’s not the time. So what has you freaking out so bad?

Marc: I just got a bj

Alex: good for U! Fail 2 C the issue

The air froze in my lungs as I heard the echo of the apartment door closing travel down the stairs. Time was up and I was nowhere near approaching believably calm. I started typing faster than I ever had in my life, hitting send as soon as I finisheda line, hoping I could get all of it out before JD hit the landing at the bottom.

I sent the last message, locked my phone, and shoved it into my back pocket. I’d have to check Alex’s responses later. She’d sent a few between my frenzy of messages, but I hadn’t wanted to get sidetracked and lose what precious few seconds I had remaining to get it all out. No doubt it’d make for an interesting read when I could get to it. Internally bracing myself, I slapped on what I hoped was a believably casual, not at all freaking out smile and looked at JD.

“So, what are you feeling for breakfast?” I asked with what even I recognized as too much enthusiasm and cringed. Lord help me, why couldn’t I be good at casual sex?

He chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”

I wasn’t sure if the blood was trying to leave my face or flood it, but it was damn uncomfortable either way.Please don’t make a crack about already having an appetizer. Please, please, please don’t make a joke out of it.

“Honestly?” he began, looking a little sheepish and taking me entirely off guard. “As good as the catfish and all the other seafood we’ve had has been, I could really go for a burger.”

I blinked, not prepared for the non-teasing version of how this could go. It was honestly one of themanyreasons I avoided even the appearance of casual hookups. “Oh.”

His eyes widened and their blue-green depths flooded with worry. “No, it’s okay. I’m sorry. The seafood is great. Please don’t tell Tallulah. I was just maybe hoping for more of a taste of home. Not that a burger is reallyhome. Please don’t be offended. Seafood is fine, really. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

I blinked again as I realized his cheeks were turning red and was he… babbling? Here I thoughtI’dbe the nervous mess. “Whoa, hey. Take a breath.” I took a step closer and grippedhis forearm as I looked up into his eyes, still cloudy with worry. “It’s just food. I’m not offended. Also, I wouldneversell you out to Tallulah like that,” I added with a smile, shaking his arm for good measure. “You hear me? Not even Barbara Jean would stoop that low.” I gave him a wink, and his lips finally cracked into a small grin.

“So, you’re really not upset?”

I scoffed and released his arm, stubbornly pretending I didn’t miss the warmth or the feel of his hair against my palm. “Of course not. I live here now, JD. I can have seafood whenever and however often I like.” After a moment, a thought occurred to me. “Permission to ask a potentially offensive question.”

The stiffening of his shoulders was barely perceptible, but he couldn’t hide the wariness in his expressive eyes. “Granted.”

“When you say ‘taste of home’, you’re Irish, right? Like Gallagher is an Irish name?”

He chuckled, and I watched the tension drain from his body, leaving him effortlessly at ease once more, which, for some reason, put me at ease as well. I’d talk to Alex about it later. For now, I was focusing exclusively on this. “What, the red hair and freckles didn’t give it away?”

I shrugged. “Better not to assume. But I’ll take that as a yes. In which case, I’ve got just the place.” I started walking toward the exit and the car, rather proud of myself for managing to do so without looking toward the chair JD had occupied earlier. When I didn’t hear him following, I looked back over my shoulder and flashed him a wide smile. “Don’t worry, they also have some of the best burgers in town. Plus, by the time we get there, we shouldn’t have to wait too long to get a beer.”

He frowned and moved to fall into step. “Why would we have to wait?”

I rolled my eyes and pushed open the door for him. “Just a bunch of puritanical bullshit. Sadly, pretty common aroundthese parts. Can’t serve alcohol before noon.” We slid into the car and buckled. “Unless, of course, you’re a Catholic and it’s Communion. In which case, all bets are off,” I added with another wink, prompting one of his deep laughs.

One of these days I was going to remember to check the hours of placesbeforedriving there. I let out a miserable groan and rested my forehead against the steering wheel. “I’m the fuckingworst,” I mumbled.

JD chuckled softly and squeezed the back of my neck. No one had ever really done that to me before. I’d seen people do it plenty of times and never really understood it. But now he’d done it twice, and it was…strangely comforting. “Hey, it’s not a big deal. They’re still open. They’re just not openyet.” I groaned again, which made him laugh again, and made me feel a little better. Which, okay, I was officially weird. No news there.