My phone begins to ring. I lean over, kissing her shoulder as I lift the screen and see Lex’s name. Amelia’s expression falls as I answer the phone with her still beside me.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“We need a game plan for Murphy. I’m heading to your place now.”
I pull myself up, almost as if a splash of cold water has been thrown all over me.
“You’re heading to my place?”
Amelia pulls the sheet over her, eyes wide with fear. The veins in her neck begin to pop out while she jumps out of bed, naked.
“Yeah, see you in five.”
I hit “end” on the call, placing my phone on the nightstand.
“Don’t panic,” I tell her.
“He just said see you in five.” Amelia stumbles for the bathroom, kicking the door frame in the process while she shouts a string of profanities. Returning seconds later, her dress is on though her hair is a wild mess. She exits the room, returning with all her belongings in hand, including her boots.
“It looks like you’ve had sex all over your apartment.”
“Well, we have had sex all over the apartment,” I remind her while trying to put my pants on.
“Why are you not panicking?”
“Because you’ll hide in my room, and all is well.”
“All is not well,” she cries, barely able to breathe. “My dad is coming, and you were just about to stick your dick in my ass.”
“Oh, so you have thought about it?”
“Will.” She places her hands on my chest with a serious expression. “I love you, but seriously, get changed because you’re freaking me out.”
The second the words register, a silence falls between us. The doorbell rings, leaving no time to dwell on the three words which escaped her lips in a moment of panic. I pull on my tee, closing the bedroom door and head outside.
The living room and kitchen don’t look that bad. Surely, she’s overreacting as most women do.
I open the front door, motioning for Lex to come in since it would be odd to have this discussion in the hall. That, alone, would raise suspicion.
Dressed in a pair of jeans, knitted sweater, and winter jacket, it’s easy to assume that coming here is out of desperation—his attire rather casual and unlike the normal business suit he wears.
“Did I interrupt anything?”
“No, not at all,” I say, suddenly conscious.
“I’ve forgotten all about bachelor life.” His eyes wander around the apartment, followed by a short chuckle. “Who sucked your dick this time? I hope it’s not that new girl you hired.”
I shake my head, oh the irony of the question. “No more mixing business with pleasure. Just a woman I met at a bar last night. Great set of tits.”
“Nice.” He smirks, removing his jacket. “You gonna call this one back?”
“Yeah, why not?” I say casually. “So, about Murphy, what’s the game plan with him?”
Lex speaks for almost an hour, and while he has some great ideas, my mind is completely elsewhere. I nod on occasion, throw in a couple of suggestions not to look like an idiot, but it doesn’t erase the fact that his oldest daughter is hiding inside my bathroom like a fugitive on the run.
“Listen, I’m going to head off. I’ve got a flight back to LA tonight but hoping to drive to New Haven to see Amelia for lunch.”
“New Haven? They’re predicting a storm, and the roads are icy. Are you sure it’s a good idea?”