Page 50 of Riding Dirty

And I’m going to have it tonight.

CHAPTER

FORTY

ELODIE

Tuesdays are my second least favorite day of the week because it’s the longest day of the week. Our first client requests we arrive at seven in the morning, and if we’re late, it’s a whole drama. After that, we’ll clean three more houses.

Four in one day.

It may not sound like a lot, but it truly is.

It’s us driving from house to house, and as much as I would love to divide and conquer, I just don’t think it’s possible at this point. And Tuesdays just mean we’re one day closer to Slutty Suzie’s house. I dread going to her place. Not only is she usually naked, which honestly, I don’t really care about that part, but she is over-the-top flirtatious with both me and Alex.

It gets old.

Moaning, I shift my car into Park once I pull into my parking spot, and I lean back, closing my eyes for just a moment. I need to go inside, shower, and find the will to cook something. I also need to try not to think about Coast. Which I’ve failed at all day long.

Day two of no contact.

Nothing, not even a text. Not a single word, as if he’s completely disappeared off the face of the earth. I can’t help but wonder what the hell happened, what this all means.

“I think I’m going to make sure with that Dare guy that we’re still working down there,” I announce, turning my head and cracking an eye open as I look over at Alex, who is leaning back in the same position.

“Might be a good idea since that asshole just vanished, and with your key at that. Have you called the landlord yet?”

Alex suggested this morning that I call the landlord and pay to have my locks changed. I have all that cash from the… whatever the hell job that was at the event center. I still don’t know why Coast wanted all that information, but I don’t care either. Not my problem. I cleaned, I took pictures, and that was all.

“I will,” I say.

But to be honest, it’s probably a bit of a lie, because I doubt I’ll have the energy or inclination to call him. I don’t want to bother him, and I highly doubt Coast is going to come all the way down here anytime soon, if ever. I have a feeling I am indeed out of sight and out of mind. Now I just have to figure out how to stay out of sight for the next year.

“You’re a shit liar,” he grunts.

I am a shit liar. I know I am, but at least he knows I’ll never lie to him, and even if I tried, he’d definitely know it. “You want charcuterie for dinner?” I ask.

He hums as we both unfold from the car. Stopping, I turn to face him, looking over the top of the car, and arch a brow as he looks anywhere but into my eyes.

“You have a date,” I call out.

That’s when his gaze flicks to meet mine. “I have a date,” he confirms.

“You have a date,” I repeat. Alex meets up with people he sleeps with. People, sometimes even multiple people, but I think this might be a whole new thing. An actual date. “Do I want to know who?” I ask.

He smiles. “Probably not. And then again…” he says, his words trailing off before he continues. “You might want to know, but I’m not ready to tell.”

With that, he steps backward, closes the car door, and then walks away without another word. I have questions, a whole host of them, but this must be serious because he’s not standing around allowing me to ask them.

Stepping back from my car, I open the back door, grab my purse, close up my car, and lock it up as I make my way up to my apartment. Alex is already inside his place, but when he hears me, his door pops open, and he sticks his head out.

“You good with me going out tonight?” he asks.

“I’m taking a long, hot shower, washing my hair, making a charcuterie, and watching television before I pass out.”

“So you’re good,” he says.

“I’m good.”