Watching Mine

“Hello?” I feel like an idiot when my voice comes out squeaky.

“Emberleigh?” Dean’s deep voice comes over the line. He doesn’t wait for my confirmation before he continues. “This is Dean, Jessika’s friend.”

“Hi, Dean.” I clear my throat nervously. It feels weird talking to him in front of Nathan. Not that I have anything to hide. “How are you?”

“I’m doing good. I tried calling the other day but got your voicemail.”

A shitty feeling swarms my stomach with the reminder that I left him hanging, but I squish it down.

“Yeah, sorry. I meant to call you back, but I’ve been busy with school and work.”

That’s true. I just didn’t add that I’ve also been busy with another man.

“It’s okay,” he says. He pauses for a moment, then goes on, his voice more hesitant. “I was calling to ask if you wanted to grab a drink sometime?”

The cab in Nathan’s truck is quiet and Dean’s voice is loud, so I know Nathan heard the question. This is also confirmed when his hands tighten around the steering wheel so much his knuckles turn white. He’s looking at the road now, but I still see the anger in the slant of his eyes.

It may be a twisted part of me, but I like his reaction. It tells me he doesn’t want me to see Dean because he wants me for himself. I am absolutely fine with this because I want the same.

I keep my eyes locked on him when I tell Dean, “You’re very sweet to ask, but I’m afraid I have to decline.” Silence stretches over the line, so I add with sincerity, “I’m sorry, Dean.” Then give him a bit more because he deserves the truth. “I started seeing someone.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Nathan’s grip on the steering wheel loosens and some of the hardness in his facial features relaxes.

“Oh. Okay.” Although his next words are said with an upbeat tone, I can still hear the disappointment. “That’s good. Great, I mean. I’m happy for you, Emberleigh.” He laughs, but it comes out sounding strained.

A twinge of guilt niggles at me. I trust Jessika one hundred percent, so if she says Dean is a good guy, added with my short time I spent with him, I truly believe he is. He’s just not the guy I want. That guy is sitting next to me, and from what I can see, not doing a very good job of forcing back a smug look.

I roll my eyes and get back to my phone call.

“Thank you. And again, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I get it and it’s cool.” He clears his throat. “Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ve got another call coming through.”

Not knowing if that’s a lie or not, but not blaming him if it is, I give him his out, which is an out for me as well.

“Okay, Dean.”

“See you around, Emberleigh.”

“Bye.”

I hit the End button and drop the phone to my lap. Before I blow out the deep breath I just pulled in, my hand is tugged from my lap, my fingers intertwined with his, and both put back in his lap.

A smile tugs up my lips and stays there the whole way back to my place.

ChapterFourteen

Nathan

I FLICK MY CIGARETTE AWAY AS I push open

the door to Dirty Rumors, one of the strip clubs Dad owns. Heading toward the back hallway where his office is, I tip my chin at Carl behind the bar as I pass. I pay no attention to the girls practicing their routines on the stage. I may be a voyeur, but I’ve seen every move they could come up with hundreds of times. Watching strippers on stage no longer does shit for me.

I tap on the black door before opening it and walking through. My dad’s at his desk, on the phone, and when he sees me enter, he juts his chin toward a chair. I take a seat and throw an ankle over my knee to wait for him to finish.

“All right, Jerry. My kid just walked in. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up and ready Thursday.”

A moment later, he hangs up and drops the phone to his desk. He runs a hand through his hair before leaning back in his seat, his laced hands over his stomach. My old man is in his early sixties, but doesn’t look a day over forty. He works out regularly to stay in shape, and his salt-and-pepper hair only adds to his appeal. Or so I’ve been told by multiple females who have worked for him over the years.