Black

Erin lifts a brow. “Sure looked like the walk of shame to me.”

“We work together. She came over to help me with a project, and we stayed up late talking. She fell asleep. Nothing happened. End of story.”

I shake my head. “Nope. Sorry. Try again.”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s right,” Erin agrees. “You don’t bring girls home. Ever. Not with us in the house. Not to fuck and certainly not to talk.”

“She’s different.”

Erin and I both gasp, and he stands up, clearly frustrated.

“I mean I don’t look at her like that. I don’t want to fuck Lauren. She’s a cool chick.”

“Remember that whole getting-to-know-someone thing we talked about earlier?”

“I am getting to know her,” JJ insists. “As a friend. She isn’t my type at all. I look at her the way I look at you two.”

“Or maybe she’s exactly your type, but you’re too afraid to take a chance.”

“Maybe you should open the goddamn box.” JJ picks up the box and shoves it at me.

Erin sits cross-legged on the bed. “He’s right. Your love life is much more exciting. Open the box.”

I start pulling the bow off and JJ asks, “Are you going to tell me where the brownies are?”

“I didn’t really hide them. They’re on the kitchen counter. Now go.” Erin waves him off, and JJ scurries from the room as I lift the lid and set it aside.

Erin tries to peek in, but I push her aside and take out the envelope that’s laying on top.

Slipping my finger under the edge, I tear it open and pull out a note, along with a small silver key.

Shae,

A car will be waiting for you outside your building at seven-thirty. This key will open the door to the roof of my building. Meet me there. Bring the blanket and frosting. I have plans for both. See you soon.

Rex

I drop the letter, and Erin snatches it up as I reach inside the box. There’s a small purple tub with the familiar Sugar logo and a plush, white blanket.

“You’re so lucky,” she croons, holding the letter to her chest.

That’s pretty spot-on with how I feel. “So are you.”

“Jacob’s amazing, but we’ve been together for years, and he hasn’t done anything remotely this sweet.” Setting the letter down, she reaches for the frosting. “A tub of icing? What’re you going to do with that?”

“I’ll give you one guess.”

She studies the tub and turns to me, a gleam in her eyes. “Shae Black, you dirty girl.”

“What are we talking about?” JJ asks, returning to the bedroom, a brownie in each hand. “Oh good, you finally opened the box. Was I right? Was it from loverboy?”

“They’re going to have a romantic evening on the roof of Rex’s building,” Erin announces. “They’ll cuddle under the stars, and he’s going to lick chocolate fudge icing off her body.”

“Whoa, what?” JJ takes a step back. “Way too much information,” he says, continuing to step backward until he’s out of my room.

Folding the blanket, I tuck it back in the box along with the icing and stuff the key in my pocket.