“What a goddamn awful morning,” I grumble as I step out of the shower.
Even after a rigorous session in my outdoor pool where I swam enough laps to qualify for the US Olympic team, I’m still on edge. I’m pissed off at myself for having crossed the line with Dom.
How could I survive without our friendship?
After she escaped, I went back inside the Wordsworth to find Roark, but he was gone. He sent me a text to let me know he ended up joining the other guys at the gentleman’s club. Normally, I would’ve headed over there, but there was nothing normal about last night. How the hell was I going to explain to my brother and my boys that scorching burst of passion between Dom and I? For crying out loud, I can’t even explain it to myself. Sometimes you have to know when to fold. That’s what I did. I ended up retreating home, so troubled, I needed to be secluded from the outside world to ruminate over what happened between my best friend and I.
Did I make sense of any of it?
Not at all.
I’m still confused and I’m unable to explain this growing attraction for Dom.
I head to my bedroom to get dressed before making my way downstairs to the kitchen. My doorbell rings as I hit the last step. I receive a text message at the same time.
-----
Hey, little brother. You up? I’m at your door.
-----
What do you want?
-----
Don’t play dumb. Open up.
-----
With an exasperated sigh, I march to the door and open it.
“Morning!” Roark cheers as he steps inside my home. His dark brown eyes meet mine before his lips split into a huge smile. “I brought breakfast!”
“Did you get laid last night? Is that why you’re so happy?”
“Believe it or not, but thanks to Chlamydia—I mean Clemensia,” he chuckles at his own joke, “I lost my appetite for the evening.”
“So why are you here this early?”
“Do I need an excuse to spend some quality time with my brother?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not in the mood to talk right now,” I tell him.
“If you think I’m going to let what happened last night slide, you’re as high as a kite. Since you kicked your drug habit, that means you’re stupid.”
“You show up at my door, insult me and you expect me to welcome you, big brother? You’re delusional.”
“Rod, you were the center of attention twice last night. I couldn’t care less about Clemensia, but I do care about Dom.” I stare him down. He holds my defiant gaze. “Should I call Dominika to find out what happened?”
The bastard waves his phone in my face.
“Asshole.”
“You’re the one playing hardball.”
“Fine,” I say, like a pissed off child.
“Now, now, Roderick. Be a good boy,” he patronizes.
