Alphahole (Alphahole Roommates 1)

“Yeah.”

“Or, let me know what time your flight comes in. I’ll pick you up.”

“Oh?”

“Maybe we’ll grab dinner. Or take out.”

“Take out would be good.”

She wants that, she’s got it. That means we’re at the apartment that much sooner. “See you tomorrow, peaches. Hope your father’s good. Your sister, too.”

“Thanks, Hot Sauce.”

“Call me tonight if you want. I’ll be at the condo in New York after work. Be nice to hear your voice before I go to bed.”

“Okay,” she whispers, and I think she likes that I want that.

“Later.” I end the call.

***

On the way back, I get a text from Jude to call him, so I do.

“Hey, man,” he says. “You ever leave your phone in that apartment any time last week?”

I think back. “Yeah. Ran to the gym once or twice, usually leave it upstairs. Forgot it one day, the day I went to work in the company cab. Came home at lunchtime to grab it.”

“Got footage of Bella Wilson in your lobby talking up Seth Hughes Tuesday.”

“Fuck. I think that was the day.”

“Okay, then. I’ll let you chew on that. Followed Bella and she met with your mother again today. Your mother handed her an envelope of cash.”

I roll my eyes.

“I may have found the thing, Aiden.”

“Yeah?”

“Your mother could be having a fling with Roger Greer. She’s been at their house regularly the past three weeks. I figured she was visiting the wife, but she met the husband at a hotel yesterday afternoon, borrowed her maid’s car, tryin’ to go unnoticed. I put a colleague on the task since she knows she’s been watched likely by me. She might figure since you’re in New York, you’re not keepin’ tabs. Either way, she broke pattern and revealed a fair bit.”

I blink. Sienna’s father and my dad have played golf a least twice a month since I was in puberty. He’s probably Dad’s best friend.

“They’ve been playin’ it cool if this has been goin’ on any length of time. Then again, Roger Greer was working in Paris the last several months, until three weeks ago. Your mother has gone there twice, but I haven’t followed, as you know.”

“Shit.”

“My employee got pictures of them yesterday in a clinch through the hotel window. Oh shit…call you later? Something’s up here, staking out for another client.”

“Yeah, Jude. Thanks, man.”

I let all this roll around in my brain for a bit.

And I decide that tomorrow when I’m back in San Diego, I’m paying my mother a visit.

I get to the New York office late afternoon, work until nine, and then head back to my condo.

My condo feels empty. Weird how having a roommate for a week now has me feeling the emptiness when I’m gonna be alone overnight, something I used to prefer.