I had this ace in my back pocket, too. If one or both of us is Mitchell’s son, then if Dad died and she tried to take all his money, we could sue based on being entitled to more of the estate as Mitch’s sons. I’ve been consumed with building a case to fuck her back should she fuck me or my father over.
“The big apple?” Austin tries again. He’s been to New York, plenty. He’s just trying to move the conversation along.
“Life in the big apple is what it is. Just like you’d expect. Been a workaholic the past few years. In addition to what I’ve done with CC, I’ve got a healthy portfolio. Made it that way with earnings. Haven’t touched that first maturing trust fund. It’s just sitting there earning interest. What about you?”
“We’re not talkin’ ‘bout me yet; tell me about Carly. What’s the deal there?”
“No deal. I have every intention of fucking her is all.” I slice into and take a bite of my steak.
He smiles. “She doesn’t seem like she wants to fuck you. She woulda paid money to disappear into a puff of smoke when you approached their table tonight.”
I scoff, then swallow. “Because I saw her naked an hour before that.”
His jaw drops, and he blinks, then leans forward, urging me to continue.
I shrug. “Shower was broken in the main bath, so she used mine while I wasn’t home. I walked in.”
He laughs.
My mind wanders off to the image of her in my shower. The smell of her conditioner. And then her horrified face when I scared the shit out of her.
“Yeah, I figured,” Austin mutters.
“Figured what?” I ask.
“That she looks that good naked. I can see by your face.”
I take another bite of my steak, saying nothing but giving him a meaningful look.
He shakes his head. “Lucky fucker. If you can convince her you’re not Satan incarnate.”
“Might be a challenge,” I muse.
“You’re up for it.” He cracks open his lobster tail.
“I’m an asshole and a dumbass,” I say. “Let’s talk about you now.”
***
When I get into the apartment, the lights are all out except for the light above the stove. It was out when I left and now it’s on.
I stop and stare at it.
She turned it on.
She turned it on, so I’d come in to a bit of light, not stumble around in the dark.
I put my keys down and head to my room.
I go into my bathroom and see her stuff is gone.
I also see she’s picked all my shit up off the floor and washed out my sink, which was pretty fucking nasty earlier.
I roll my eyes, turn out the light, undress, then hit the hay.
23
CARLY