“I think we were drugged.”
His eyes widen. “You, too?”
“I woke up and remembered nothing. I know for certain that I hadn’t had that much to drink.”
“What the fuck?” He begins to pace. “Who would do this?”
I shake my head, totally confused. “I don’t know. Who would gain anything by setting you up with two prostitutes?”
Bart stares at the wall for a moment and narrows his eyes as they fill with contempt. “I know.”
“Who?”
“My fucking wife.”
“Surely not.” I stare at him. “You really think she’d stoop this low?”
“She’d do anything to make Jeremy leave me.” He drops his head. “And I think he just did.”
April
I glance up at the mirror behind the cash register. Oh man, I look like a freak.
Who wears their sunglasses inside shops? Women with black eyes, that’s who.
I’m supposed to be working from home today. I worked all morning, but this afternoon I’ve snuck out in search for a dress for the wedding this weekend.
I have to look perfect. I am meeting Sebastian’s lifelong friends, after all. I hope this bloody black eye fades before then.
I think I found the perfect dress. First store, first dress I tried on. When is shopping ever this easy?
“Next,” the cash register girl calls. I step forward, and my phone vibrates. I look down to see the name:
Jeremy
“How are you today?” The cashier smiles as she takes my dress and rings it up.
“Good, thanks. How are you?” I stuff my phone back in my bag. I’ll call him back later.
It’s just gone 9:00 p.m. when I climb into bed. I turn the television on in my bedroom and lie back. Time for some trash TV. My phone rings, and the name April’s Fool lights up the screen. I was wondering when he was calling me.
“Hi, there,” I answer with a smile. “I thought you’d forgotten me.”
“I’m downstairs. Buzz me in.”
I sip up in a rush. “What? Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
I run to the security camera and see him standing there with his overnight bag. Excitement fills me, and I push the buzzer as fast as lightning. I glance around at my apartment. Shit, it’s pretty messy. Oh well, it is what it is.
I do a little jig on the spot and open my front door as I wait for him. He’s here.
Gah, I’m seriously pathetic over this man.
Oh crap, my dress I bought for the wedding is laid out on the chair. I quickly roll it up in a ball and throw it in the linen cupboard. I don’t want to seem too eager.
The elevator dings, and he comes into view wearing his custom gray suit, carrying his black leather overnight bag. He looks every bit like the walking orgasm that he is.
His eyes find mine, and he gives me a slow, sexy smile. “Miss Bennet.”
“Here I am.” I do a little wiggle on the spot. “Looking hot in my flannelette pajamas.”
He chuckles and takes me into his arms to kiss me. “Flannelette works for me.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t back until tomorrow.”
“You wouldn’t believe the day we had.” He takes my hand, and we walk into my apartment. “I need a shower.”
“Okay, have you eaten?”
“Yeah, we had something on the way home.”
We walk into the bathroom, and he strips off his clothes and gets under the shower. I sit on the toilet to talk to him.
“So, what was so bad about your day?” I ask.
“Get this.” He soaps himself up. “Remember how I said I didn’t remember speaking to you last night?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I was drugged.”
“What?” My eyes widen. “By who?”
“Bart’s wife.”
My mouth falls open.
“You can’t tell anyone this.”
“I won’t. What happened?”
“I woke up and couldn’t remember anything. I started freaking out, so I went to see Bart. I got to his hotel room at the same time as Jeremy, and when we opened the door, Bart was asleep with two naked girls beside him. He was covered in lipstick.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Oh no.”
“But he doesn’t remember anything, either.”
I frown. “What?”
“His wife had him drugged and ordered hookers. Then she called Jeremy this morning saying that she couldn’t get in touch with him and asking if he could check on him for her.”
“Hang on, why weren’t they together in the room, anyway?” I ask.
His eyes hold mine.
“Yes, I know about Jeremy and Bart.” I scoff in a rush. “Everybody knows. It’s not half obvious.”
He shrugs, relieved that he didn’t reveal that secret. “How would I know? It’s a fucking weird set up if you ask me. Married to a woman with a boyfriend on the side.”
I roll my eyes. “Sleazebag.” My mind goes to Jeremy. “Oh no, poor Jeremy. Shit. He called me today and I didn’t pick up.”
He keeps soaping himself up. “So, yeah, Jeremy and Bart had a huge fight, and Bart was freaking out and screaming at his wife on the phone who swears it wasn’t her.”