Come Together (The Cityscape 3)

“It’s going to be hell,” I said, raking my fingers through my hair and resting my head in my hands. “Our parents’ divorces took years.”

“It’ll be worth it when it’s over.”

“I don’t even have a lawyer. Bill is a lawyer, so of course I’ve never needed one before. I guess I should ask . . .” I groaned. “So not looking forward to telling my dad about this.”

She grimaced. “Will he be mad?”

“How can he be? He gets divorced all the time.”

She giggled. “Well, maybe he’ll know a good lawyer.”

We both looked up when David walked in. Something always shifted when he entered a room. I didn’t call him over as he scanned the restaurant but took the opportunity to appreciate my new . . . what, boyfriend? . . . from afar. I couldn’t decide who was sexier: businessman David in his tailored suits or this weekend David I watched now in his jeans and aviators.

“What did I say about your phone?” He was angry, and he was stalking in our direction. I admired the sexy way he moved, surprisingly graceful for someone as tall and sturdily built as him.

His hand found the back of my chair and the other planted on the table, boxing me in. He was focused on me like he was waiting for a response, but I’d been too busy appreciating him to hear the question.

“What?” I breathed.

“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you since yesterday. You haven’t returned any of my texts or e-mails, and my phone calls won’t go through. Hell, I almost drove over last night just to make sure you hadn’t skipped town on me.”

By this time, I was pulling out my phone and examining it. “I don’t have any missed calls,” I said, showing him the screen.

He took the phone from me. After a moment of furrowing his brow with concentration, something I knew I would never grow tired of watching, he cursed under his breath.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s disconnected.”

“Oh. Bill must’ve canceled my plan.”

“Sounds like something he’d do,” Gretchen put in.

I sighed and took the phone back. I added a new phone plan to my growing list of expenses. I looked at David and pouted. “Sorry. I didn’t even think to check my e-mail last night.”

He closed the space between us to kiss me. “Hi, beautiful.”

I smiled. “Hi.”

He inhaled and gave me a harder kiss before pulling back to sit at the table. When he did, my eyes darted around the restaurant nervously. It was definitely weird, kissing in public.

“Just watching TV, hanging out,” Gretchen was saying to David. “We haven’t been feeling very motivated.”

“Understandable,” he said and swung his head to me. He reached over to grasp my thigh. “How are you, baby?”

“All right,” I responded, squirming slightly under the endearment.

He squeezed my leg. “One step at a time,” he said so only I could hear. “Together.”

I nodded and covered his hand with mine.

“Is that your stuff?” he asked, motioning to the duffle bag that currently held my life.

“Yep.”

“Everything?”

I nodded. “For now.”

“Work clothes?”

“Some of it. I’ll manage.” He glanced down at the tiny bag skeptically and then back at me. “Well, I might have to get more things from the apartment,” I conceded. “Bill didn’t take my key, so I can go next week while he’s at work.”

“No need. We’ll go shopping.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine,” I said. It was beginning to hit me that between a lawyer, rent, a new life and limited funds, things were going to become very tight for me.

“I’ll take you.” He glanced at Gretchen, who made no secret that she was listening to every word. “We’ll sit down and talk logistics later, but let me get you some things for work.”

“Logistics?” I asked.

“Yeah, money, apartment stuff, all that shit. We’ll figure it out, but for now, I want to take my girl shopping.”

“I couldn’t possibly – ”

“I’ll go,” Gretchen volunteered, and I gave her a look.

“Olivia, don’t argue with me,” David said, ignoring her. “Let me do this for you.”

Gretchen kicked me under the table, and I yelped. She raised her eyebrows at me and nodded.

“You’re a little persistent, aren’t you?” I asked him as he laughed silently.

“You have no idea. You and I are going to be an interesting couple.”

A couple. With David Dylan.His . . . girlfriend. I shook my head in disbelief.

“What?” h

e asked.

“This is just all so weird. I have a new life.”

He frowned. “I know. I worry about you. Just remember that I’m here for whatever you need.”

“So, you’re like her boyfriend, right?” Gretchen chimed in.

“I don’t know if that’s quite the right word,” he replied.

I snapped my head up. What?

“Roommate?” Gretchen suggested.

I jumped at David’s burst of laughter.

“Gretchen,” I squealed, staring daggers at her.

He rubbed his hand along my thigh. “If we need something to call me, then boyfriend works for now.”

Gretchen hummed thoughtfully, alerting us that there was something on her mind.

“Yes?” I asked her.

“It’s Saturday . . . Isn’t tonight the Revelin grand opening?”

David’s eyes cut to her as my mouth fell open. “It is?” I exclaimed.

He shifted in his seat. “I’m not going.”

“What? That’s a huge deal, David. You designed that hotel. Oh my God, you have to go,” I insisted.

“It’s not important,” he said, tearing his glare from Gretchen to look at me. “I’m taking care of you right now.”

“No.” I shook my head with determination. “Absolutely not. If you don’t want me to come, I understand, but you are definitely going. How can you say it’s not important? It is important, you’ve dedicated – ”

“Calm down,” he interrupted, smiling. “I don’t even want to go. We already did that bullshit soft opening. Although, can’t say I regret that night one bit,” he added. I blushed, remembering the oh-so-wrong, but oh-so-right night of life-altering sex in his hotel room . . . and then in his hotel room’s pool. “Really, I don’t care about it,” David continued. “The hotel’s been open a couple weeks, and everything looks good.”

My jaw clenched. “You’re going,” I declared. “This is a really big deal, and you have to be there, with or without me. I’m a big girl, I can take care of – ”

He cut me off with his palms in the air. “All right. I’ll go. But I’m sure as hell not going without you. That is, if you’re up for it.”

“I’m up for it,” I stated firmly.

“Then unless you have a gown rolled up in that bag, we definitely need to go shopping.”