1. The Lube’s Fault

Chapter 1

The Lube’s Fault

Libby

N ever in a million years did I imagine my train would be delayed by a freak accident involving a truck transporting barrels of lube, but there I was.

When the conductor had first announced the reason we’d been stopped for the past thirty minutes, I hadn’t believed it. A quick news search confirmed that there was in fact a truck on its side with literal barrels of Ravishing Whispers personal lubricant scattered across the tracks and roadway. Someone had let their job slip through their fingers with that blunder.

Quite literally.

I stifled a giggle, then immediately felt guilty. Someone had probably lost their job over this. How does one even explain their unemployment to potential employers?

I bit my lip, trying to contain my inappropriate amusement. It was a habit I’d developed during my teaching days, when my students would say something unintentionally hilarious, and I had to maintain a straight face.

I immediately fell down a rabbit hole, searching the internet to see how big of a quantity of lube was available for purchase. Apparently, it was possible to buy a barrel for the low price of one thousand dollars.

My eyes widened at the price. Who needs that much lube? And who has that kind of disposable income? I momentarily forgot that I had that kind of disposable income and was about to move into my rich brother’s condo.

I opened my texts with my best friend, Ethan, already snort-laughing, imagining his response. I needed a good laugh.

My thumbs hovered over the phone screen as I debated how to phrase my message. Keep it classy, Libby. Then, I promptly ignored my own advice.

Me: How big of a dick needs fifty-five gallons of lube?

Ethan: What the hell are you reading?

Me: I’m currently bookless.

Ethan: The horror! So, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re watching porn on the train.

Me: There was an accident on the tracks… the train is delayed for who knows how long. Depends on if the lube that spilled is water-based.

I cringed at my own joke, but I couldn’t help but wonder if water-based lube would indeed be easier to clean up. Before I could stop myself, I opened a new browser tab to research lube cleanup methods. This is what happens when I don’t have a book to keep me company.

My phone rang not even a minute later, and I accepted the call from Ethan, glad the train was fairly empty, and no one would have to hear the absurdly random—sometimes inappropriate—shit we talked about. “Does lube have an expiration date?”

Ethan snorted. “Let me look at mine and see...” He must have been near it because a few seconds later, he answered, “Nope. There’s no expiration. Mine never lasts long enough to know if it goes bad if I’m being perfectly honest.”

Heat crept onto my cheeks, and I cleared my throat. “Maybe a porn production company buys these.”

“Or Ryker,” Ethan deadpanned. “I’ll ask him tomorrow. His reaction should be priceless.”

I turned and put my legs up on the two empty seats next to me as I made a gagging noise. “Gross! There are some things that should remain unspoken about my brother and that’s one of them!”

My older brother was in a polyamorous relationship with a woman and two of his best friends. The four of them lived together, and I didn’t even want to think about what they did. Ryker had stolen some of my why choose books before they’d even gotten together—and it hadn’t gone unnoticed that he never returned them—so it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know he was well versed in multiple penis usage.

“How long do you think you’ll be delayed for?”

“Not sure, but maybe I should go stay at the condo instead of coming to your place. I don’t want to cause any more problems for you.”

My brother’s condo in midtown Manhattan was waiting for me to move into anyway, and the guest bedroom still had a bed.

The thought of going to the empty condo made me feel a little lonely, but I pushed the feeling aside. I can handle one night alone in a luxury condo in the city. I’ll just have to pretend it's my townhouse.

Ethan sighed. “I’m still trying to find someone to sublease from me. There has to be someone desperate enough that they’re willing to put up with the roommate from hell.”

“Ryker said you can stay in the condo for free until you aren’t paying on that place anymore,” I reminded him.

“I feel bad doing that, especially after the raise I just got. Plus, I have seven months left on this lease. That’s a lot of money to throw away. It will be fine. This way, you’ll have some time to get settled before I move in.”

The plan had been for both of us to move into my brother’s unoccupied four-bedroom condo in the next few weeks, but with Ethan’s current roommate being an absolute slob and inconsiderate twat waffle, it was difficult for him to find someone to sublease.

The PA system crackled overhead. “Folks, it looks like we’ll be here at least another hour. They’re working as quickly as possible to clean up the product that spilled. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

I rested the side of my head against the cool faux leather seat. “I’ll just go to the condo. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the train station. I don’t want you to have to deal with your roommate yelling at you for opening the door for me so late.”

“I’m sorry, Lib.” He sounded so defeated, and I wished I could reach through the phone and hug him.

“Even if you can’t find someone, think about it, okay? What am I going to do with the other three bedrooms?” I’d be in the massive primary bedroom, and I didn’t really need the extra rooms.

“You’re going to be okay walking by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. It will take longer to get a cab or Uber. It’s not like Manhattan is a ghost town on a Friday night.” It wasn’t any worse than where I’d spent the first nine years of my life.

Even as I reassured Ethan, I felt a familiar tingle of anxiety in my stomach. I wasn’t a scared little girl anymore, but truth be told, every time I set foot in the city, it was like I was sent back in time.

“Call me if you need to.” He went quiet for a few seconds too long and my heart sped up. I knew what was coming since he hadn’t asked yet. “How are you doing?”

“Honestly? I’ve been better. I didn’t expect to have all of these feelings about breaking ground on the community center tomorrow.” I’d been excited at first, but the closer I got, the more memories of the squalor I once lived in, and my mom’s death played in my head. No amount of therapy or time would erase my past.

“I meant about…” Ethan went silent, leaving an opening for me to talk about why I’d broken up with my ex.

It had been two weeks, but I couldn’t talk to Ethan about it, especially when he was the reason. While it wasn’t a secret that my ex, Justin, didn’t like my friendship with Ethan, it had never gotten to the point where he’d given me an ultimatum.

Had things been perfect between us? No, but they had been comfortable in a way that I needed. There was little risk of being eviscerated when you kept yourself closed off. It had never been a problem for him since he was always so busy with his family’s business.

But something had changed the second I decided to move to the city. It wasn’t even like it was that far. The issue was Ethan moving in with me.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, I chanted internally.

“It was over long before he broke it off.” I knew that was true, but it still hurt.

There was a loud bang on the other end of the phone and then a man yelled Ethan’s name. I knew the booming voice immediately; his roommate was certifiable. I’d only stayed with Ethan once since he’d moved in, and it was anxiety-inducing, to say the least. He’d been struggling for months with how to handle the situation, and the only thing keeping him there was the lease and the costs involved.

He exhaled into the phone. “I have to go deal with this asshole. I think he’s mad that I washed his dishes, but I wasn’t about to let them sit there and get moldy in the damn sink. It makes no fucking sense why he would be pissy over cleanliness. I’ll see you tomorrow, Libby. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I hung up and shut my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.