“Dad!” He was leaning over, staring at my phone.
He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed by his blatant eavesdropping. It reminded me why I’d moved out years ago.
Thank goodness I had Elise listed on my phone as her favorite apron and not her name. “Just a friend.”
His eyes narrowed. “Female friend? You’re not cheating on Elise, are you?”
I leaned my head against the back of the couch and covered my eyes. This was going to be a long night.
ChapterNineteen
Jack
Normally,the homemade stuffed manicotti of my favorite neighborhood eatery put me in a good mood, but not tonight. BecauseHot Stuffhadn’t texted me back, and I was about to lose my mind.
Where the hell was she? Had she ignored my text and gone out with that guy? What was wrong with this woman?
I’d held off running home, but only just, because I didn’t want her to think I cared that much. My reconnaissance with Max on the floor above suggested Elise wasn’t at his place either. So I stayed behind and watched my dad’s new favorite reality show with him, worrying over Elise the entire time and disturbed at how entertaining the show was.
I should tell Elise about it. She’d get a kick out of the family drama in this one…
What was I thinking? Elise wouldn’t be around long enough to finish the series with me. Episodes were streaming weekly, and she was moving out in two weeks.
For some reason, that reminder soured my mood further.
I checked a few things around Dad’s place—bulbs all looked good and the place was clean, thanks to the cleaners I sent over weekly. Only one bill was sitting on the kitchen table, which I stuffed in my back pocket.
When I couldn’t hold out any longer, I said goodbye to my dad and headed home.
All was quiet in the building as I made my way up. I punched in the access code and entered the apartment, hoping to find Elise in my boxers and T-shirt, sitting on the couch with her feet kicked up. A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. She looked good in my clothes. I should burn hers more often.
But the living room and kitchen were mostly dark, illuminated by the stove light I’d left on. It didn’t seem like anyone had been home, and my pulse kicked up a notch. Had something happened to her?
“Elise?”
And then I heard it. The sound of her giggling in her bedroom. I sighed in relief.
Until her giggles were followed by a man’s voice. She wouldn’t bring that douche here, would she?
My skin prickled and my head pounded. I hated the idea of another man in my home. Especially one who was two-timing Elise.
I stormed to her bedroom and knocked once, then I swung open the door.
Elise turned her pretty head to me, her expression surprised. “Jack? What’s wrong?”
My gaze zeroed in on the man sitting casually on her bed. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt, and his hair was slicked back with some kind of ridiculous hair product. He wasn’t touching her—and that was all that saved his ass.
Because it was the delivery fucker.
“Did you get my text?” Heat rose up my neck, and I glared at the guy.
Elise glanced between us, seemingly wondering whom I was talking to. She figured it out because she said, “Oh, um, no. I forgot my phone when I left to help Sophia, and I haven’t been back. Why? What happened? Is your dad okay?” She hurried into the bathroom, grabbing the phone where I’d last seen it.
Who the hell went on a date with a stranger and didn’t bring their phone? Anything could have happened to her. Did she have no survival skills?
Without giving her a chance to read the text, I stared at the douchebag and said, “He needs to leave. Now.”
She glanced at her date, who was beginning to look nervous. Possibly from the flexing I was doing. “Jack, what the hell is wrong with you?” She stepped closer and tried to push me out of the room.
