Bloom

I hadn’t seen her again until she appeared at the seafood place the other night.

Slamming my apartment door shut, I head toward Darcy. “Get out.”

That sets her back down on her ass on my sofa. She pivots so she’s facing me, her long legs crossing as though she’s settling in for the long haul.

I’m tempted to yank her up by the arm to toss her out, but I don’t. I won’t put a hand on her. In her twisted mind it would be akin to a marriage proposal. I intend to stay as far away from her as I can.

“You left a few things at my place.” She points a long red fingernail at a brown paper shopping bag. “Check it out.”

I know what’s in there. It’s the shampoo she bought for me that smelled like sour citrus. I hated it. It never touched my hair.

The clothes she picked out for me are undoubtedly in the bag too.

T-shirts with cartoon characters and a brand of jeans that I’ve never worn.

I turned it all down when she offered it and left it behind when I ended our short-lived relationship. She called me months ago to ask me what to do with it all. I told her to donate it or toss it in the trash.

“Take the bag and go home, Darcy.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I told you never to come here again.”

“When I saw you at the restaurant, I felt something between us.”

“I can’t speak for you, but from my end it was annoyance. Or frustration. Irritation maybe. Take your pick.”

Her head tilts. “You don’t mean that.”

“I mean every word.” I point at the door. “I’m leaving. You need to get out.”

I’m about to chase Athena down. I left her alone for too long and then she had to deal with Darcy. I don’t blame her for checking out of here without a word to me.

“Fine.” She slides to her feet. “Sparky misses you.”

“Your dog bit me, Darcy.” I lead the way to the door. “I doubt like hell he misses me.”

Trailing a finger over my back, she rounds me until she’s standing right in front of me. “I bit you too. Do you remember?”

I can’t say that I do.

The sex was sex. That’s it. There was nothing attached to it but a need for release.

Swinging open the door, I ignore the question. “So long.”

“So long?” she parrots back. “That’s it?”

I wait until she’s cleared the doorway before I respond. “That’s it.”

With a slam of the door in her face, I fish my phone out of my pocket and scroll to Athena’s number.

I press dial as Darcy tosses out a few choice words that include what a fucking asshole I am.

She might be right. I don’t care. I have one focus at the moment and that’s Athena.

Dammit. I wish she would answer the phone.

Chapter 20

Athena

“How did you deal with all of Jeremy’s…” my voice trails because what the hell? How do I ask my sister-in-law how she put up with all of my brother’s ex-lovers?