FIVE
SUKI
Eros’place suits him perfectly. It’s one big open space of traditional brick walls with plenty of windows and exposed industrial pipes overhead. The more I look around, the more I realize he really is the male version of Lala, the minimalist decor ranging from light gray to black. I chuckle softly to myself because our entire apartment would look the very same if I let her have her way.
“Can I get you two anything to drink?” he asks as he ambles over to the fridge.
“What do you have?” That comes from Lala, who’s very keenly taking in the space, too.
“I mean, I live above a bar, pretty girl. But if you’re asking what I have on hand—water, sodas, beer.”
“She’s gonna say beer,” I chime in, setting the delivery bag onto his chopping block of a countertop. “I’ll take one as well. Oh, and a few plates, please.”
With a nod, Eros goes about popping the caps off three beers and obliging to my request. He’s not as grumpy as he was when we first walked into The Heckling Goose, but he’s clearly not a man of many words, watching silently from his perch against the sink as I arrange the provided plates with an assortment of meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and even chocolate. Every few moments, Lala will pluck something from over my shoulder and pop it into her mouth, the sound of her heels the only thing breaking the awkward silence.
Awkward because here we are, in a complete stranger’s apartment, for one reason and one reason only.
To fuck.
Talk about doing ho shit for Valentine’s Day.
“How about some music?” I suggest, hoping to ease the mood, as was my intention when I DoorDashed a few things from the nearest grocery store.
Food and a little conversation always puts people at ease.
Eros agrees with a conceding hum as he swallows down a swig of his beer and swiftly fishes out his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. “Anything specific?”
“No country,” Lala says, reaching for another strawberry. “I can do pretty much everything except that.”
“Do I look like someone who listens to country?” he tosses back, his tone candid yet humorous.
“No,” I snort. “Definitely not.”
Some top hits song all the radio stations overplay comes on seconds later, evenly drifting through the space. From the corner of my eye, I catch Lala do a little twirl in time to the beat before she slinks up behind me and locks her arms around my middle.
“The charcoochie plates don’t need to be perfect, my love. More than half of it is gonna go uneaten, anyway.” She whispers the last bit, then sets a featherlight kiss to the curve of my neck.
“Charcoochie plates?” Eros repeats, barely withholding a cackle. “I will never call it anything else again.”
“You can thank this one for that.” I tip my head at Lala. “She’s always changing the names to everything.”
“It’s a gift,” she beams as she steals two of the finished plates. “Coffee table okay?”
Eros nods breezily and takes another swig of his beer. “Oh, yeah, go for it.”
It’s not long before we’re all settled onto his big ass sectional, snacking, drinking, and easily conversing. Who knew the grump we met a few hours ago was hiding a comedian full of witty remarks and dashing smiles? I’m not sure how much time has passed, but we’ve gotten a brief rundown on how the bar belonged to his dad, along with a few short—and very funny—stories on some of the patrons.
Lala’s mid-laugh after the last tale, like a full-on, guttural laugh when I flash my phone at Eros. Watching the two of them interact has me on edge—in all the best ways—and while I’m enjoying the vibes, we didn’t come up here to chat until dawn. Takes him a second, but he eventually catches my drift and tips his head in understanding. All the while, my girl is none the wiser. With a smirk curling my lips, I swiftly open up the app and hit the magic button.
Said laughter instantly morphs into a soft moan, those gray eyes widening in realization as they flick over to where I sit.
“Forgot about that, huh?” I snicker, tossing Eros the phone.
He catches it effortlessly, a matching tilt hiking up one corner of his mouth.
I can’t see what he’s doing from my spot, but the fact Lala bites back another moan and braces herself against the cushions tells me everything I need to know.
One, he definitely increased the vibration.
