“The credit card. Dumb-Dumb Joe forgot to take your name off the account. So technically all you did was buy $200,000 worth of Odegaards with your own money.”
I shook my head. “He’s not threatening to have me arrested.”
“Oh. Then what’s he threatening? What film are you talking about?”
“There’s a uh…” I looked around. I really did not want to have this conversation on a public sidewalk. Or with Tanner, really. But I didn’t have a choice here. I had no idea how to fix this. And he might. “Can we go up to my place to talk about this?”
“Of course,” said Tanner. “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can sort it out.”
I was drenched in sweat by the time we reached my apartment door. This was going to be the most awkward conversation of my life.
“Wow. That’s a lot of shoes,” he said the minute we walked in the door. “I totally did not think about closet space when I sent you all these.”
“Damn right it’s a lot of shoes,” I said. “That’s what got us into this mess in the first place. Wouldn’t it have been enough to buy like…two pairs? Rather than 70?”
“Do you not like them?”
“Not if they get my sex tape leaked all over the internet!”
Tanner raised both eyebrows. “A sex tape?”
“Yes! Joe has a sex tape of me. He held it over my head to take everything from me in the divorce. That’s why I live in this dumb little apartment. And now he’s threatening to post the tape on Pornhub unless he gets his 200 grand back before midnight.”
“For real? And he hit you with all this on today of all days?” Tanner lookedpissed.I had never seen him look so upset before. “What an asshole.”
“That’s not all. He pretended to come in peace. Said he didn’t want me to be alone on Rosalie’s birthday. And then after we shared what I thought was a genuine, nice moment, he sprung this on me. Oh, and he finished things off nicely by telling me that it was good Rosalie was dead so that she’d never learn how much of a slut I am.”
Tanner made a noise, almost like a growl. Dark circles formed around his eyes. His anger was somewhat terrifying. And also kind of sexy.And vampiric?
“I’m gonna kill him,” he said.
“As much as he definitely does deserve to die, I’d really prefer if we just give him his money back. He’s not worth you going to prison for murder.” Then I thought about what I had done. I just asked Tanner to give my ex $200,000 like it was nothing. Which it kind of was for Tanner…but still. I couldn’t ask him to do that. “I’ll find a way to pay you back for the shoes. I’ll work overtime until I’m old and gray. Or maybe we can just return them? Do they even have a return policy at fancy places like that? Just please don’t let him leak that tape.”
“That tape will never see the light of day. I promise.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“And don’t worry about the shoes. They were free.”
“But someone…”
“Well, they cost a bit to manufacture. But it wasn’t close to $200K. Odegaard has pretty healthy profit margins. Compared to some of my other businesses, at least.”
What?I gaped at him. “You own Odegaard?”
“Well, technically IamOdegaard.”
“Didn’t that brand start in the late 60s? Mr. Odegaard must be at least 80 years old.”
Tanner cleared his throat. “Long story. Anyway, back to that sex tape of yours. What’s on it? Is it like a solo deal, or…”
I slapped his arm. “Ugh, stop. Men are disgusting.”
He put his hands up. “I was only asking so I’d be sure I get the right tape from Joe. All the copies of it.”
“Sure you were,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But…you really think you can get him to give you all the copies?”
“Yes.”
