“I don’t mean to change the subject, but did you get the text from Nicole? We need to go for our first fitting next Saturday. I think we need another ladies’ night out.”

“Sounds good. I did get the text, but with everything that happened today, I didn’t get a chance to respond.”

“Don’t worry. I told her we would be there.”

“Thanks, Becca.” Jenna raised her brows, apparently wondering why she had called me by that name. It made me think of Matthew. “Becky. Sorry. I don’t know what possessed me to call you that.”

“That’s okay,” I let out short laugh. “Let’s get on your computer.”

“To do what?”

I curled my lips into a wicked smile. “To look at toys.”

“What?”

“So you can rock Matthew’s world even more.”

Before I could get up, she gripped my wrist. “You just said Matthew instead of Max. What’s going on with you two?”

I wanted to tell her what Matthew had told me about his deceased fiancée, but it was something between him and I. He was Max’s brother, so I thought I should keep it to myself just in case somehow it got out that I told Jenna, Jenna told Max, Max told Matthew that I told Jenna. Yup, that sounded confusing even in my own mind.

“Nothing,” I finally said.

She gave me a look with one eye closed, as if she was asking me if I was telling the truth.

“Don’t give me that look,” I said, almost laughing. I couldn’t stop smiling. Matthew and I had a one-night stand, but I didn’t want to tell Jenna about it now. I didn’t want her to think badly of him, or judge what we did. Our friendship was complicated. Hell, I didn’t even know what we were to each other.

After I tugged Jenna out of the bed, she headed to her computer. I, on the other hand, got a text, so I took out my phone from my back pocket. It was from Matthew.

Sorry. I have to cancel dinner. I have something important to take care of for Max.

Matthew had texted me yesterday, asking me out. I texted back.

No worries. Take care of Max.

It had to be something about the lawsuit. Had Jenna not told me about it, I would have thought he decided to have dinner with a real date. That would have hurt a little.

“Are you going to sit next to me or are you too busy thinking about Matthew, Becca?”

Scowling at her, I strode toward her. “I was not thinking about Matthew.” Hearing her joke like that indicated she was feeling better.

“Uh huh. Sure.”

“Shut up.” I nudged her shoulder with mine after I squeezed in to the other half of the chair.

I’D ALWAYS CALLED MAX before I went to bed, so not doing it felt so odd. I don’t know why I didn’t, only that I was so furious with him. I wanted to punish him. It was silly and immature, but when you’re that angry, you just don’t care how much it might hurt the other person. I didn’t even know if it mattered to him. After all, he could have called too. Then again, I did tell him I needed time to think, but that didn’t mean to stay away.

Tossing and turning in bed, I thought about what my friend, Ethan, had said when I had run into him at Stellars. He had given me a funny look when I told him I was dating Maxwell Knight. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me, since the world seemed to know he was being sued. When I thought about that reality, I felt so bad for Max. Still, right now, I needed to blow off some steam.

I knew if he tried to sweet-talk me, there was a real possibility I would go flying back into his arms. As if there wasn’t enough to deal with, if Luke called me one more time, I was going to tell him off. It’s something I would normally never do, but the anger inside me was giving me the fuel I needed to act out of character.

29

THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I couldn’t stop thinking of Becca. I just couldn’t get her out of my mind. Trying not to text or call her was proving to be difficult. She was becoming the drug I needed to make me smile. It wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t Jenna’s best friend. If things ever got ugly, Jenna would never speak to me and that would make life difficult, since I’m convinced she’ll be my sister-in-law someday.

Oh, what the hell. Becca knew I couldn’t give her more than friendship. Not seeing the harm in having dinner with a friend, I texted her.

What are you doing, Becca?

Working!

What are you wearing?

What? Lol!

There was a short pause and another text popped up soon after.

Naked.

I’m coming over.

No!!! I’m just kidding. I’m really working! Play with yourself.

I like to play with myself, but I’d rather play with you.

That sounded too flirty and I regretted sending that text. It was just so easy with her, to be me. Before I could delete it, another text popped up. She was fast.

I can play dirty, but I gotta work.

She just made me miss her even more.

Go out to dinner with me.

Nope! Gotta work. Lots to read.

Come on. I’m giving you my sexy pout and if you were here, you wouldn’t be able to say no. So either I come to you and let you see my sexy pout while you’re naked or you come meet me for dinner. Your choice.

There was a pause.

Okay. Where and what time?

I don’t remember how many times I told myself we were just friends, but every time I saw her, she stole a little more of my heart. It wasn’t just that she was super hot; there was more to her. It was so easy to open up with her. She was slowly healing me. The more time I spent with her, the more the memories and pain of Tessa started to fade.