Candy Ever After (Hot Candy 2)

Right on top of my heart.

***

Only tomorrow morning Candy’s not at work.

I know because I drive Jet there. He did sleep after I joined him on the sofa, but fitfully, and he barely picked at the breakfast I made him before we left home. Normally it’s a short bus ride for him, but today I said to hell with it.

I need to fix this, whatever it is, to get Candy back. We need to fix this. Jet is happy when she’s around, and I… Yeah, I’m happy, too. Can’t deny it. She makes me smile. I like her nerdy moments, and her sleepy moments, and her sexy moments. I mean, the girl’s hot.

But I also appreciate how she takes care of us, how she touches both of us, hugs us, kisses us, holds us. How she takes the time to talk with me about books, and tease Jet until he relaxes. How she cares for him. How well she fits in our liv

es.

“She’s not here,” Donna says. “Didn’t come in today. She texted me to let me know she isn’t feeling well.”

Jet and I exchange worried glances. She’s sick? Or she doesn’t want to see us? Either option is a stone hanging around my neck.

Worse still, Jet looks like he might punch someone, and Donna is his boss. Not a good idea. So I get in front of him to catch any errant punches.

“Look, we need to speak with her,” I tell Donna. “It’s important. Can you perhaps give us her landline number, or her address?”

She shakes her head. “You guys seem like good boys, but if you want that information, you’d better ask her yourselves.”

Damn. “She forgot her cell phone at our place.”

She tsks. “That explains why she texted me from her roommate’s phone. Sorry, guys. No can do.”

She’s right. She shouldn’t hand out Candy’s info to random strangers. Only… we’re not random strangers anymore, are we?

I pull Jet aside. “We have Candy’s cell phone. We can call her roommate later on. What was her name?”

“Bry,” Jet mutters, hope lighting up his eyes.

I have her cell tucked in the pocket of my suit jacket. I turn it on. The background on her screen is a grainy photo of her with… two guys. I squint at it.

Me and Jet? I don’t remember this pic.

Anyway, I scroll through her contacts, feeling like a douche for doing that but hoping she’ll forgive me. We have to talk.

She has to explain.

“Hello?” a chirpy voice answers. “Who’s there?”

“Brylee?” I say.

“Can’t be. I’m Brylee. Who are you?”

I pull the phone from my ear, stare at it incredulously, return it to my ear. “Yeah, you are Brylee. I am Joel. I’m looking for Candy.”

“Then try a candy shop.” She hangs up.

What. The. Hell.

Jet is frowning at me. I shrug and call again.

“Look, Joel…” Brylee says. “She doesn’t want to see you right now. Especially you.”

Okay, I didn’t expect this. “Why?”