Things I didn’t like to think about.
Things I’d kept on the back burner far too long because I thought I had more time to deal with them.
Things I had to deal with sooner rather than later, now that I’d made a commitment to a woman.
Daphne and I saw each other a lot in the evenings. We usually studied together, though I spent a lot of time staring at her over my book. We hadn’t made love again. Even though I was constantly hard in her presence, I didn’t want to pressure her.
We never ate lunch together, as our schedules didn’t allow it. I sat with Murph in the cafeteria. Patty approached us.
“Hi, guys,” she said.
“Hey,” Murph said. “Want to join us?”
“Thanks, but I already ate with Daphne. I was supposed to meet my biology lab partner after lunch, but she blew me off. Just thought I’d say hi.”
“You’re welcome to sit down,” I said.
“No, that’s okay. See you guys around.” She walked away and out of the cafeteria.
“That was slightly awkward,” I said. “You haven’t called her, have you?”
“No. I haven’t called Sloane either. I’m pretty into Lorraine right now.”
“I’ve said it before, Murph. You’re going to hell.”
“And I’ve said it before. What a way to go!”
“How’s the new place working out?”
“It’s good. A lot less drama.”
While I enjoyed having someone else around the condo, I’d decided not to get a new roommate. This way, Daphne and I could be alone whenever we wanted to be. I really wanted to ask her to move in with me, but she was so young and it was way too soon. Waking up next to her each day would be like waking up to sunshine. Granted, in Colorado, we usually woke up to sunshine anyway, but Daphne was sunshine times a hundred.
A lot less drama.
Murph’s words invaded my headspace.
I’d never thought of my life as “drama,” but he had a good point. I’d gotten myself into a mess six years ago, and it was still a huge part of my life. I compartmentalized it. Didn’t think about it.
Except now I had to think about it. Had to deal with it.
Time to call a meeting of the Future Lawmakers.
All except Rod Cates. He hadn’t been involved since high school, and now he and Theo’s sister were engaged. How I wished I’d gotten out long ago.
Hindsight was always twenty-twenty.
I finished my meal quickly and excused myself. I didn’t have a class this afternoon, so I went back to my condo to make the requisite phone calls. Tonight I’d be dealing with some major shit.
I opened the door, and—
“Good, you’re here.”
Wendy’s voice.
“How the hell did you get in here?”
“You gave me a key, remember?”
“Yeah, and I’ve changed these damned locks two times since then.”
“Brad,” she cooed, “surely you know by now that I get whatever I want.”
Mental note: Call locksmith again.
“I’m busy. What do you want?”
“A pound of flesh,” she said. “You went to my parents behind my back.”
I cleared my throat. That was the least of what I’d done, as she’d soon learn.
“You’re damned right, I did. You’ve always been a little crazy, Wendy, but you’ve gone mental now. You pulled a gun on Murphy.”
“That little thing? I wasn’t going to hurt him.”
“Do you think that matters? He moved out. I lost a roommate because of your shit.”
“You don’t need a roommate, Brad. You’re worth millions.”
“Maybe I like having a roommate. Did you ever think of that?”
“I—”
“No, you didn’t, because you never think of anyone but yourself, Wendy. You’re a classic narcissist. Everything’s about you.”
“You’re a shrink now? Diagnosing me?”
“I’m no shrink, but I don’t need a medical degree to recognize a crazy person when I see one. Sane people don’t go around waving guns.”
“Tell you what,” she said. “I promise never to pull a gun on anyone again.”
“Good.” Though I didn’t believe her.
“If…” she continued.
“I’m no longer making deals with you.”
“Sweet, sweet Brad,” she snarled. “What makes you think you have a choice?”
“There’s always a choice, Wendy,” I said. “Always.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Daphne
“Come in.” My voice was unsteady after the knock on the exam room door.
Kathleen marched in with a smile on her face. “All set?”
I nodded.
“Okay. I need you to scoot to the edge of the table and put your feet in the stirrups.”
The stirrups weren’t actually stirrups at all. They were metal notches. I’d been wearing sandals, so my feet were bare, which made me feel all the more exposed. I secretly wished for a pair of socks, even though that made no sense.
Kathleen washed her hands at the sink and then put on a pair of blue rubber gloves. “Since this is your first pelvic exam, I’m going to explain to you what I’m doing as I do it so you’re informed.”
Please, don’t. “Okay.”
She squirted something onto her fingers. “This is a lubricant. I’m going to put it on your vaginal opening so I can insert the speculum.”