Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Della

“Jeff?” No reply. I pulled the phone from my ear. “Damn it.”

He’d hung up.

I growled, frustration rippling through my every cell.

As much as I wanted to call him back, it would have to wait. First, I needed to deal with my infuriating roommate. So I stormed out of my bedroom, stopping at the top of the staircase to glare down at Luka.

He was standing at the bottom of the steps. No way that was where he’d yelled from a moment ago. He’d been up here, probably lurking outside my door.

I fisted my hands on my hips. “Baby?”

“What?”

“You called me baby.”

“So?”

My nostrils flared. “Don’t call me baby.”

Effective last night, the only man who was calling me baby was Jeff.

“Can we go?” Luka asked, tapping his foot. “I’m starving and want to pick up a sandwich or something at the store.”

“Go by yourself.” I spun on a heel and marched to my room, slamming the door so hard it rattled the photo of me and my parents hanging on the wall. Then I threw my phone on the bed and rubbed at my temples.

The day had started off so well. Morning sex with Jeff, then a kiss at the door. I’d driven home giddy, riding the high of last night. Then I’d walked inside my home only to be accosted by Luka.

He’d been on the couch wearing a pair of sweats, a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other. He’d had the nerve to look hurt, glowering while he drank out of my favorite mug.

I’d ignored him, coming upstairs to take a power nap. Then after a couple hours, I’d gotten up to shower and get dressed. When I’d gone down to the kitchen to make a late breakfast and have some coffee myself, Luka had been in the exact same spot, still glowering.

Finally, after I’d eaten and was rinsing my dishes, he’d come shuffling into the kitchen. The glower was gone, replaced with a pathetic pout.

When he’d asked me where I’d spent the night, I’d told him it was none of his damn business.

Since I’d skipped cleaning to be with Jeff last night, I’d decided to at least hit the kitchen and my bathroom. Instead of disappearing to his room like he normally did when I took out the Windex and Soft Scrub, Luka had hovered, insisting on helping dust, vacuum and mop the floors.

His pouting didn’t stop, and with it, he started prodding for information on where I’d spent last night.

You’re seeing Rogers, aren’t you?

Rogers was the middle school gym teacher. He was cute, though the shaved-head look wasn’t for me. Plus, Rogers was ten years older than me and divorced. Occasionally, the two of us would sit together in the teachers’ lounge for lunch and Luka loved to tease because Rogers did have a crush on me.

I’d refused to say a word, so I’d just kept on cleaning.

He’d kept on talking.

By the time the main floor was clean and my bathroom gleamed, I’d been ready to shove the toilet bowl brush down Luka’s mouth, anything to shut him up.

Then I’d made the mistake of saying I was going to the grocery store. He’d volunteered to come along and I hadn’t had the energy to tell him no. I’d just come upstairs for socks and shoes when my phone had rung.

Luka must have overheard, and he’d pulled that baby stunt.

“Asshole.”

He was jealous. No question. Luka was jealous. And that was as infuriating as anything else.

How many women had he paraded in front of me? How many times had he made it clear that I was only his friend? Just a roommate who helped share living costs?

He didn’t get to be jealous. He didn’t get to screw this up with Jeff.

I pulled up my recent calls and hit Jeff’s number but it went straight to voicemail. “Shit.”

We had enough working against us. We were new. We’d be a secret. I didn’t need Luka creating unnecessary bullshit simply because I wasn’t going to pine after him.

Not anymore.

I’d wasted too many years on him already.

The realization was freeing. I shook my head, barking a dry laugh.

He wasn’t good enough for me. Oddly enough, my dad had said that once. He’d told me that any man who didn’t see the beauty that was living under his roof was an idiot.

Had I listened? No. So who was the actual idiot at this address?

Me.

I tried Jeff again, but when it went to his voicemail for the second time, I put on my socks and shoes, then jogged downstairs.

Luka was back on the couch again. So much for his trip to the store. “Della.”

“What?”

“Where are you going?”

“None of your damn business.” Maybe if I said it enough, he’d back off.

“Come on. Don’t be like that. Let’s go to the store. Then maybe we can go do something fun.”

“No, thanks.” I snagged my coat from its hook, shrugging it on.

“It’s that parent, isn’t it? That dad you kept checking out. That’s who you were with last night.”

I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Shit. Fuck.

If Luka suspected, how hard would it be for anyone else to figure it out? I unstuck my feet, opening the door to rush outside—leaving with another slammed door. My legs felt unsteady but I pushed forward, walking to the Jeep and climbing inside.

It was just a guess, right? Luka couldn’t know about Jeff. And as long as I kept quiet, we’d be fine. That was, if Jeff even wanted to see me again.

Fucking Luka.

The drive to Jeff’s took only minutes, not long enough for my heart to stop racing. But I parked in the same place I’d been last night, and with my shoulders squared, I crossed the sidewalk to the porch steps.

If Katy asked why I was here, I’d say I lost my phone. Or keys. Or hair tie. With a fortifying breath, I reached for the bell, but before I could press the button, the door opened and Jeff filled its frame.

Yep, he was mad.

That chiseled jaw flexed as he crossed his arms across his chest.

“Hi.”

He arched an eyebrow.

I tried to glance past him but he filled the threshold almost entirely. No surprise. I’d spent last night sleeping on that body and soaking in every broad inch. “Is Katy here?”

“No. One of the neighborhood kids just stopped by and asked if she could play.” He jerked his chin down the block. “They’re riding bikes.”

“Okay.” Phew . “Can I come in?”

Another eyebrow arch.

“That was Luka. Earlier, when we were on the phone.”

“Figured as much.”

“There’s nothing going on between us. He did that because he’s jealous.”

“I don’t want drama, Della.”

“I teach middle school. I don’t need more drama.”

Jeff stood statue still, not so much as a blink. Did he think I was using him? Maybe to make Luka jealous? Or maybe that I was seeing them both?

I gulped. Then because I had a lot to lose by downplaying the truth— Jeff —I let the whole story come pouring out. Today, it was my turn to overshare.

“I liked him. For a long time. It started in college as a crush and it just never went away. I realize it’s pathetic. I spent a long time waiting for him to see me. Once, I thought that if we lived together, he’d realize I was right there. That I’d been standing right there for years.”

Jeff’s arms uncrossed but he didn’t say a word.

A good thing. If he stopped me, I probably wouldn’t start again.

But I’d never told another soul on earth this next part, so I closed my eyes. Because if I had to see him pity me, I might not recover.

“About a year ago, I was having a rough day. One of my students was bullying another classmate and it escalated to the point where parents got involved. They accused me of overlooking the issue and not reacting soon enough. Maybe they were right. Regardless, one of the boys transferred out of our school and the other was removed from my classroom. I came home that night and decided a bottle of wine was in order.”

My principal hadn’t blamed me for the incident. She’d assured me that I’d done everything correctly, but it had still hurt. Seeing that boy break down because he’d been ridiculed and teased and I hadn’t stopped it in time had broken my heart.

“Luka was there for me. He let me cry on his shoulder and held me when I needed to be held. He tried to cheer me up. It worked. And we…” I cringed. “We had sex.”

Bland, mediocre sex.

At the time, I’d thought it was good. But as of last night, Jeff had taught me that not all orgasms were created equal. With Luka, there’d been no stars. No explosions. No curled toes or full-body tremors. With Luka, it had been mechanical, like the orgasms delivered by the vibrator in my nightstand.

“I’ve never told anyone that before,” I whispered, my eyes still closed. “The next day, it was awkward. He said he didn’t want to risk our friendship. That maybe we shouldn’t have crossed that line because our relationship was too special to risk over a drunken, raw night. I was relieved and hurt all at the same time.”

I’d waited years for him to see me and he’d finally, finally picked me. Then he’d shoved me back across the friend-zone boundary. From that point forward, my crush had begun to wither. I hadn’t realized just how dead it had become until last night.

My feelings for Luka weren’t feelings at all. It had just been easier to keep pretending. Because if I had an imaginary crush on him, then I didn’t have to put myself out there for others. I could spend my Friday nights cleaning.

Or maybe I’d just been waiting on a man to snap me out of this coma.

“Della.” Jeff’s voice was smooth. Gentle. “Open your eyes.”

I cracked one open.

Okay, he wasn’t looking at me like I was a complete fool. That was something, right?

“Both eyes, baby.”

I sighed and opened both eyes, then shrugged. “I like it when you call me baby. Luka has never called me baby in his life. And I told him never to do it again.”

Jeff’s eyes gentled as his hand came out to cup my cheek. “Do you want him?”

“Not even a little bit.”

Maybe after all this time, that should have come with a bit of heartache. But I’d said goodbye to Luka a long time ago, even if I hadn’t realized it yet.

“You’re sure?”

I leaned into Jeff’s touch. “I want you.”

His thumb stroked my cheek. Then his hand slid to my nape and with one hard tug, he hauled me inside, slamming his mouth on mine the moment we were across the threshold.

With a quick kick of his foot, the door slammed closed behind us, then his tongue tangled with mine, his fingers threading through my hair, tugging at the roots until I moaned.

There was nothing sweet or soft with this kiss. Not like last night’s. When he nipped at my bottom lip, it had a bite. When his tongue moved, it was to devour. To claim.

So I claimed him right back. I fisted my hands in his shirt, tugging him closer, and met his ferocity with my own.

We kissed until the thud of shoes outside broke us apart.

I wiped my mouth dry as Jeff did the same, turning and making an adjustment to the growing bulge behind his jeans.

My cheeks flamed and a giggle threatened to escape, but I swallowed it down just as Katy burst through the front door wearing a bike helmet.

“Miss Adler!” She rushed to give me a quick hug, oblivious to my swollen lips. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I, uh, forgot my…my…” My what? What had I planned to say?

“My hair tie,” I blurted at the same time Jeff said, “Her ChapStick.”

“Huh?” Katy looked between the two of us. “What’s ChapStick?”

That giggle I’d been holding back escaped.

Jeff rubbed a palm over his face, chuckling too. “It’s ChapStick. For chapped lips.”

“Lip balm,” I said.

“Ohhh.” Katy nodded. “Gotcha. Did you find it?”

I patted my coat pocket. “Well, I’d better get going.”

“Unless you wanted to stay.” Katy shrugged. “We could play a game.”

“What about riding bikes with your friend?” I asked.

“Her legs got tired so she went home already.”

Jeff walked to the open door, closing it since Katy hadn’t. Then he gave me a wink his daughter couldn’t see. “Stay.”

I stayed.

All night long.