Incentive (Infidelity Universe)

“We had sex one time.” I wince against a bony punch in the ribs and gently push her away. “Ten minutes in a bar bathroom, Apryl. It wasn’t your heart I was fucking.”

“Don’t minimize my emotions.” She stabs a finger at her chest. “What I feel is real!”

I catch Reese’s grin out of the corner of my eye and struggle to keep a straight face. It really is kind of funny…in a sad, mentally unstable way.

“Why, Decker?” She flings herself at me, arms wrapping around my waist and face buried against my chest. “You just threw me away like it meant nothing.”

My hands hover in the air above her as she hangs on my body. I should tell her the truth—she lost her appeal the moment she went from cute to batshit obsessive—but I’m not that vicious. I want her gone, not emotionally destroyed. So I opt for an easy out.

“My grandma died,” I say in a quiet tone.

“What?” She lifts her head and searches my eyes. “How?”

“She was…” I say the first thing that pops into my head. “Beaten.” I slide a hand down her back, as if seeking solace. “Someone broke into her house and beat her with a baseball bat.” I’m going to hell.

“Oh my God. I had no idea.” Just like that, her hysteria evaporates, replaced with soft petting hands and adoring eyes. “I’m so sorry, Decker.”

Reese folds his arms across his chest and does a piss poor job of hiding his grin.

Laugh it up, asshole.

“I have to leave town for a while.” I grip her shoulders and put space between us.

“For the funeral?” She clutches my wrists. “I can go with you. You know, if you need”—a vixenish smile—“comforting.”

My stomach turns. “I’ll be fine. Can you go get Dan for me?”

“Yes, of course.” She strokes my chest. “When you get back… Well, you have my number.”

I probably shouldn’t tell her I deleted it. “I’m in a hurry, Apryl.”

She moves in for a kiss, and I turn my head right before her lips graze my jaw.

“Okay, I’ll just…” She steps back. “I’ll be waiting for your call.”

I give her a wave. Keep walking. There you go. Don’t forget to take your meds. The door closes behind her, and I blow out a breath. Fuck.

“What was that?” Reese huffs a laugh.

“A mistake.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

“I’m embarrassed for you.”

I drop my head back and close my eyes.

“You have any more mistakes following you around?” he asks.

“We’re not talking about this.”

“I mean, she didn’t even notice me standing here. Those crazy eyes were all for you.”

“Enjoying yourself?”

“Tremendously.”

A few seconds later, Dan opens the door, wearing the requisite server uniform. The sleeves of his button-up are rolled to the elbows, and the end of his necktie is tucked beneath an apron.

“A dead grandma, dude?” He hugs himself, hunching against a biting gust of wind. “Do you even have a grandma?”

“Not that I know of.”

“I was going to warn you away from Apryl.” He shakes his head, grinning. “Gorgeous girl. Tight pussy. But clingy as a chronic STD.”

“Yeah, thanks for the heads up.” I glower at him.

“I’ve been trying to call you the last couple days.” He gives Reese a cursory glance and turns back to me. “Where’ve you been?”

“Lost my job. Phone was shut off, but it’s back on now. Long story. Anyway, I’m heading out of town for a while.”

“What? Why?”

I’ve known this guy for years and don’t want to lie to him. He’ll see photos of me with Laynee eventually, but until then, I’m bound by an NDA. So I keep my answer vague.

“I met someone.”

He looks at Reese, who leans against the building wearing an unreadable expression.

“Not him,” I say. “Well, yeah, I met him recently.” I do quick introductions. “Reese isn’t the reason I’m leaving.”

“So what’s the deal?” Dan rubs a hand over his shaggy blond hair, studying my face. “Are you in trouble?”

“Nothing like that. This is a good thing, man. I just need you to trust me.”

“Yeah, okay. How long will you be gone?”

“A year.”

“No shit? That sounds serious.”

“I’m keeping my apartment.” I pull a key from my pocket and place it in his hand. “It’s yours for the next year. Rent-free.”

“No, I…” He stares at the key and curls his fingers around it. “I thought you were behind on the rent.”

“Rent and utilities are taken care of. Don’t ask questions, Dan. Just say thank you and move in.”

“I can’t. This is too much.” He tries to give the key back.

I shove my hands in the pockets of my jacket. “Where’re you sleeping this week?”

His eyes cut to Reese and return to me. “Here and there.”

“Homeless shelter?”

“I’m working things out, picking up extra shifts, and—”

“Now you have one less thing to worry about. You’d do the same for me.” I pull him in for a one-armed hug and step back. “I’ll call you when I’m settled. We good?”