Miraculously, Gem kept her scoff nigh inaudible. It was like she projected it directly into Rowan’s brain. But at least Adrian didn’t notice.
Adrian might’ve been off in twenty, but the night was so nice that neither Rowan nor Gem hurried. They finished the wine—and all the bread and butter in the basket—and shot the breeze for another forty minutes before collecting Gem’s to-go dinner and settling their tab.
“Walk me around the block,” Gem demanded, sliding her arm through his. “Keep all the unsavories away. It’s too nice to go inside just yet.”
As if she was worried, and if she didn’t have a Taser in her purse, Rowan would eat his teal velvet armchair, but he agreed anyway. He could use a little walk to sober up a bit. Red wine gave him a nasty hangover, which he always forgot until he’d drunk too much of it.
They were just making their final lap of the block, coming up on the alley next to the restaurant, when Rowan actually detected the first sign of those unsavories.
“Well,” Gem said, in as close to a giggle as she ever got, “at least someone’s getting laid tonight.”
Rowan narrowed his eyes, suddenly suspicious. “Wait, was this walk a distraction to keep me from calling—”
They passed the mouth of the alley, and an errant streetlight illuminated two figures engaging in something that was certainly illegal in public, even in Toronto.
And then, clear as a bell, they heard on the breeze a distinctly sexual gasp—“Oh my God, Adrian—”
Both Gem and Rowan’s footsteps faltered. As usual, Gem recovered first. “Looks like he didn’t quite get off in twenty,” she offered mildly.
Rowan threw his head back and groaned at the sky. “What iswrongwith me?” he said. “Why am I such a douchebag magnet?”
“It’s because your standards are subterranean,” Gem offered. For the first time Rowan could remember, she actually stumbled a bit on the sidewalk in her heels. Maybe that was why she really wanted an escort. He caught her without trouble.
“God.” Gem was depressingly right. “Okay. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m going on strike from men.”
“I’ve heard that before. Right before, what was his name? Calen?”
“Owen,” Rowan sighed. “No, wait—it wasafterOwen and before—”
“I think you’ve made my point for me,” Gem said dryly.
Unfortunately Rowan suspected she was right. “That’s why I mean it this time. I am officially closed for business. No thank you. The Rowan train is leaving the station. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, we don’t want no scrubs—”
“I give it a week,” Gem interrupted.
“Wretch,” Rowan said cheerfully. “Bet.”
They leaned on each other all the way back to his apartment.
THE BESTpart about the off-season was not just getting to spend so much time with Kaira, but also getting to surprise her with fun trips and activities.
Jordy hadn’t been lying about wanting to take Kaira to the cupcake shop, and she lit up when she saw the selection.
After much debate, she finally selected a chocolate cake with a ganache center and chocolate icing. Jordy picked out a vanillacake with raspberry filling and maple icing and ordered a coffee to go with it.
Five minutes later, Jordy was watching indulgently as Kaira kicked her feet and moaned with delight over her treat.
Jordy sipped his coffee and slowly ate his cake. He had a feeling that he wouldn’t get to finish it.
Her mouth was ringed with chocolate, and Jordy sneaked a picture and sent it to Adrianna.
“This is the best cupcake ever,” Kaira said with her mouth half full. “We should buy one for Clement when we go to the zoo.” Earlier in the week, Jordy had arranged a playdate with their neighbor’s kid. His time off during the summer was an advantage for other parents as well.
“Hm, but they don’t sell these cupcakes at the zoo,” Jordy pointed out.
“Not at the zoo. Before the zoo. Or after. We’ll come here after the zoo,” Kaira suggested.
“We will, huh?”
