“You’re not dead.” I wrap my arms around Caroline’s waist as she’s stuffing her bag into her locker.
Her shift started after I got in, and it’s been so busy tonight I haven’t had a chance to talk with her until her break.
She laughs. “Dead tired, but otherwise perfectly alive. I didn’t sleep much last night, and then most of today was spent in bed too…not sleeping. Thank God I had such a late start time tonight.”
“You weren’t supposed to leave with that guy.” I poke her in the shoulder. “But since you’ve lived through it…did you at least have fun?”
She shuts her locker and leans her hip against it. “Fun? Vee, when I tell you I have never been fucked like that in myentire life, I’m not exaggerating. Devon knows his way around a woman’s body.” She fans herself.
“He looked so scary, though,”
She deadpans. “And Ivan doesn’t scare the shit out of everyone with working braincells in this city?”
“Fair point.”
“And what are you doing working, anyway?” She leans closer to the mirror, running the tip of her finger along the bottom of her lip, fixing her lipstick.
“I’m getting off now. I was only on until midnight tonight. ” I tuck a piece of hair back into my high pony and smooth out some flyaway strays.
“No. I mean, you’re dating Ivan Volkov; why the hell are you working at all? Do you know how much money he’s worth?”
“A lot.” I fold my arms over my stomach.
“Put a few more zeroes ona lotand you’re closer. You don’t need to work.”
“That’s his money, not mine. And we’re just seeing each other. It’s nothing serious.” I’m getting to be a compulsive liar when it comes to Ivan.
Within the last twenty-four hours the man demanded I marry him, threatened to punish me if I refused, then declared it was going to happen well within the year. ‘Just seeing each other’ isn’t close to the correct characterization of what’s going on.
“Vee?” Serenity peeks her head in through the door. “Ivan says if you’re not out in five minutes, he’s coming in, and he doesn’t care if it’s the women’s locker room.”
She makes a face that barely hides her amusement at having to deliver his message.
“Thanks. I just need to change, and I’ll be right out.” Five minutes is more than I need, but I’m going to use every lastsecond now. The man has to stop doling out orders like I’m one of his soldiers.
“I’ll let him know.” She winks.
“He’s taking you home again?” Caroline teases. “I told you, Ivan doesn’t do casual. This isn’t a fling. And now that you’ve finally given in, he’s never going to let you go.”
“My car’s still not ready, though I’m pretty sure at this point he’s holding it hostage.” I pause, holding my jeans poised to step into them. “I’ll get it back this week if I have to go to the mechanic myself.”
“I’m sure that will go over well.” She checks her lipstick again. “I have three more hours until I’m off. Are you on tomorrow?”
“What’s tomorrow, Sunday? I don’t think so.” I zip up my jeans and grab my phone, swiping through to my calendar. “Nope. I’m on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday for next week.”
“Tuesday’s the auction,” Caroline says with a grin. “I’m pretty sure Ivan told Meredith to keep you clear away from the club that night.”
“He probably did.” Another notification comes through as I’m putting my phone away.
“What’s wrong?” Caroline steps over to me. “Something bad?”
“No.” I type a quick response. “My mother-in-law passed away a little while ago. Derek’s cousin is texting me. Apparently, she left me something, and he wants to know if they can mail it.”
“What is it?”
“He doesn’t say.” I throw my phone into my purse and finish getting changed. “It’s probably just some photographs or something. It’ll be here in a few days.”
“Maybe she feels bad about being such a bitch when Derek was alive, and she wants to leave you a huge bank account.”
