Fighting for What's His (Warrior Fight Club 2)

Havana was not amused. “Yes, which is why we can now admire it from afar.” They all laughed. “So now, back to your apartment-hunting…”

Shayna sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to you about that. I have appointments tonight at six thirty and tomorrow at seven to see some new places. Any chance you can come with me? My roommate’s busy, and I’d go myself, but it’s more fun with someone. And also it gives me witnesses for the craycray that’s out there because you wouldn’t believe the half of what I’ve seen the past few weeks.”

Havana’s whole face slid into an expression of regret. “Damn, I’m sorry, Shay. I can’t. My mom and I are heading out of town tonight for my cousin’s wedding on Saturday.”

Oh, shoot. Shayna had totally forgotten. “That’s right. I knew that. Don’t worry about it.” She really could go herself. It wasn’t that big of a deal, even though she knew Billy wasn’t going to be thrilled.

“I’m free,” Malik said, shrugging. “I mean, if you want some company.”

“Really?” Shay grinned up at him, feeling like she was slowly building a community—and a life—here. Just like she’d wanted. “I warn you, it’s a battlefield out there.”

He smirked. “I grew up in NYC. DC is a baby city by comparison.”

“Okay, then, you’re on.”

That afternoon, she texted Billy: I found a friend from work who can go with me tonight. Just FYI!

She wasn’t sure why she left off that it was a male friend, but given Billy’s over-protectiveness, maybe it was for the best.

Barely a minute had passed before he replied: Good. And good luck. –Wingman

She stared at that word. It was a cute and funny way to sign off. But it also made her wish that Billy Parrish could be so much more than that to her.

Chapter Fourteen

“Who calls a studio a two-bedroom apartment?” Malik asked after they left her Thursday night appointment.

Shayna rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Now I know why the listing said two hyphen bed hyphen room apartment. I thought the second hyphen was a typo.” Instead it turned out that someone was really subletting a studio—one room with two beds—and asking $900 a month to do it.

“Damn, I’m sorry, Shayna.” They paused out in front of the apartment building that was not to be her new home.

“Don’t be. Something will come along. At some point. I hope.” She chuckled and mentally scratched possibility number seven off the list. “You wanna grab something to eat? My treat.”

It was the least she could do, even though the comparison to the routine that she and Billy had created made her miss him something fierce. Which was probably stupid since it’d only been a day since they’d last gone out together.

God, she had it bad, didn’t she?

“I’m game to do that tomorrow, but tonight I have to finish a piece so I can have it on my editor’s desk before morning,” he said, his bright hazel eyes filled with regret.

“Oh, good luck with that, then. And tomorrow sounds great. Thanks again, Malik. I appreciated the company.”

He smiled. “I told you I’d be happy to explore the city with you.”

Shayna laughed. “Bet you weren’t expecting to start with the seediest parts.”

They said good-bye at the metro, each of them needing a different line. Forty-five minutes later, Shayna was walking up Farragut carrying a bag of Indian take-out. She found Reuben sitting on his front porch with Ziggy. “Hi, guys,” she called out.

“Oh, Shayna. How are you this fine night?” Reuben asked. Zig got up, chased his tail, and barked all at the same time.

She laughed. “I’m okay. I’ve been trying to find a new apartment but it’s surprisingly not that easy.”

Reuben waved her in. “Come on and join us if you have a minute.”

“I do,” she said, greeted by a very happy Ziggy the moment she stepped through the gate. “Hi, Zig,” she said, bending down to give him a pet as best she could with the take-out in her arm. As she approached the porch, Reuben went to stand. “Don’t get up,” she said. “I’m happy with the stoop where I can pet Ziggy.”

Smiling and nodding, Reuben settled himself in again. “So what’s going on with finding an apartment?”

She put her takeout behind her where Ziggy wouldn’t knock it over and gave Reuben the run down. “I’ve looked at seven places so far, and every place has either had strange personalities or poor conditions. And several more have cancelled before I had a chance to see them because someone else rented them first. Those were probably the good ones.” Ziggy pushed his head under Shayna’s hand, making her laugh.