AllFreeNovel
Share Us
On the bright side, Alexa was intelligent, and our dates could include talk that went beyond the weather, the Kardashians, or the latest Birkin bag. That would be a relief. Most of my recent dates had graduated college, but you couldn’t tell it from their conversational skills.
Alexa and I needed to go somewhere public next, where it would be appropriate to kiss—anactingkiss or two or three, of course. A paparazzo asshole or two could get pictures of us that would label her as my new girlfriend. And that would need to be followed up with more acting kisses on follow-up dates since Charlie had said our relationship needed to last.
I finally drifted off, wondering what things would have been like if our families’ relationship hadn’t blown up.
CHAPTER10
Alexa
My ankle felt betterthe next morning. Thank goodness it wasn’t sprained. As I walked to Full Belly Bistro for brunch with the girls, I reread the text Evan had sent last night.
EVAN: Painfully hard because I’m thinking of you as well.
Now he was messing with me by being all nice. The shark was hiding his teeth—or more like the devil was hiding his horns. Good thing I’d turned my phone off before he sent it. With both of us trading erection jokes, this could have gone off the rails quickly.
I put the phone away and hurried down the sidewalk. I was a little late, as always, and needed the support of my besties after the whirlwind last night had been—that and the envelope with all the money in it felt radioactive. Three times on the way here, I’d been almost sure anybody eying me could tell I had a million dollars in the bag I clutched so tightly.
Inside the bistro I spotted my girls, Chelsea and Gwen right away.
“There’s our badass girl,” Chelsea exclaimed as she took me into a hug. “You look great.”
I didn’t understand thebadasscomment but would accept a hug anytime. “Have you looked in a mirror today?” I chirped. She always made black look powerful. She was going to be a kick-ass lawyer when she finished school.
“She’s trying to get out of the symphony gala she’s supposed to go to tonight,” Gwen said with her eyes on her phone.
I pulled my purse to my lap and opened it. “Maybe this will cheer you up.” I handed Chelsea the envelope with the checks.
I took a dainty sip of my drink.
“I can’t wait to hear how you managed it. He’s quite the catch,” Gwen said.
My brow furrowed. Somehow the cat was out of the bag.
Chelsea put the unopened envelope on the table, finished her drink, and put the glass down. “Nature calls.” She rose to go the bathroom.
I tapped the envelope. “First put this in your purse.”
“Sure.” She slipped it into her purse and departed for the ladies’ room. It stuck out the top.
Playing it cool had been my plan, so I didn’t announce that she really needed to look inside the envelope before she left.
Chelsea returned just as our server arrived with drinks.
Gwen placed her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. “So…inquiring minds want to know. Is Evan McAllister as hot a kisser as they say?”
I pretended to be busy swigging my drink to keep from answering.
Chelsea saved me. “Before I forget, you girls are still up for the Catskills trip in two weeks, right?”
Chelsea’s family had what they called acabin, and the rest of us would call anestate. She’d invited us up for a weekend each of the last two years. They had been a very welcome respites from the city, and had included spa visits.
“Can’t wait,” Gwen said enthusiastically.
I nodded as well. “Yup. The highlight of my year.
Gwen’s phone chirped. “My sister wants to know if you’re really dating Evan McAllister.”
My cheeks bloomed hot. “Not seriously.”
