“Will you have a cup of coffee with me? I promise to be quick.”

“I’m really not trying to be rude, but what’s your angle here? I’ve had a crappy day and I’m not in any mood to dance around the subject. Ben is mine, I’m not giving him back, and I don’t plan to share him with you. Is that what you needed to know?”

“He said you were blunt.”

“Caroline, I know he cares about you. I know you were together for several years. If you’re trying to be my friend, asking me to do something Ben doesn’t know about isn’t the way to do it.”

“I’m not trying to get him back. I just thought we could be friends.”

Erin was so tired. “As I said, you’re going about it entirely the wrong way. How would you feel if you were in my shoes?”

“I’d want to size up the competition.”

Erin laughed. “That might be true if I thought you were competition. But Ben’s not a prize to be won. I’d never play with him like that, and if you would, you weren’t worthy of him. To be quite honest, at this point, I can safely say we’re not friends. Mission accomplished.”

“So you’ll stop Ben from seeing me?”

“Is that what this is about? I haven’t stopped him from doing anything. He’s an adult. What is your deal? Seriously? I mean, Ben cared about you once. He still does, from what he tells me. There must be some redeeming qualities about you. But I’m really failing to see them right now.”

“Erin? What’s going on?”

She turned to see Ben approach.

“I don’t know. I was just asking Caroline that right now, but she seems unwilling to answer me clearly.”

“Maybe we should all go upstairs.” Ben put his arm around Erin’s waist.

That was the last thing Erin wanted. She just wanted to go and take a bath, not play some passive-aggressive games with an ex-girlfriend.

At the same time, she didn’t want to upset Ben, so she sighed long and tired and walked toward the elevators.

Once inside she turned to Caroline. “Not to be rude, but as I said, I’ve had a very crappy day. Why don’t you talk to Ben and deal with whatever is bothering you. I’m going to take a long bath.”

She tried to turn and go down the hall, but Ben was on her in three steps. “What is wrong? Did she say something?’

“I’m not having a good afternoon. I don’t want to deal with this. I don’t have the energy. I spent the morning in an assault trial. I got into a fight with Todd. I went to work, dealt with my friend who was upset. Came home and your ex is waiting in my lobby wanting to talk to me behind your back. I’m very tired and I need to be away from people right now. Deal with her and get her out of my house.”

He touched her cheek, drawing his thumb over her lips. “I’m sorry it was a shitty day. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Bring liquor and be naked.”

He grinned. “Of course.”

Ben watched her retreat into their bedroom and close the door. He took a deep, calming breath and turned back to Caroline, who was busily taking in the place.

“What’s going on? I thought you went back home. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see her. Is that a crime? I’m back in Seattle to check on my dad. They’re taking the cast off his hand and so I was downtown and I had the address.”

“It’s not a crime, but it’s not normal. You’re a bit past the wanting to check out the new woman stage, aren’t you? In any case, I don’t like that you’ve gone behind my back.”

“She said that too. I like her. She puts you first. I’m going to go. I really didn’t mean to upset her. It sounds like she had a bad day. I should have called first. She’s right. Do you think we could have dinner before I go back home? Bring Erin and Todd too, if you like.”

“I don’t know. Caroline, you don’t understand her at all. She’d never stop me from having dinner with you if I wanted, but she takes our relationship really seriously. If she feels you’ve tried to go around that, you may have done permanent damage here.”

“I’m sorry. I was here and I just, I missed you. I wanted to see her with my own eyes, this woman you speak of like you never did of me.” She looked up at him and he shook his head.

“Get out. You don’t get to do this.”

“I wasn’t coming on to you. I wouldn’t do that. Not to you and not to her. We were close once. I miss that.”

He went to the door and opened it. “You need to go. I’m not joking. I understand what you did. I understand why you did it. But it’s not okay. I love her. I love what we have together and she gets me like no one else. Not you, not Todd, not Greg, not my family—no one has accepted me and understood me like Erin. I choose her well-being over anything else. You have to go.”

She looked sad, but she nodded and went into the hallway. “I am sorry. I really didn’t mean to cause all this upset. I just wanted to check her out, see if I had any competition should I want you back. Stupid, I know. But I’m sorry.” She raised a hand and walked away.

He shut the door, not watching her a moment more. Only seeing the lines around Erin’s eyes.

He knew about the fight. Todd had shown up, really pissed off, and they’d talked it over. Ben had left work in his hands and decided to come home a little early. The workmen would be packing up next door in a few minutes, but they’d leave through there anyway. He and Erin were alone, and that’s what counted.