Page 27 of Rock Me

I nod, my relief huge.“Back to tomorrow, the people I work with are big on parties for all occasions.So that was my boss, Dan Wilson, who got the message from Ava that I wanted to cancel, and he isn’t letting that happen.”

“I agree with him.You should celebrate your birthday with your friends.I’ll be fine here.I promise not to leave the apartment while you’re gone.”

She sounds sincere, and I appreciate that she wants me to be with my friends.But that isn’t the plan.“That’s not what Dan suggested.”

Or what I want, which is why I pulled the plug on the thing to begin with.

“You are not staying here alone.Dan takes protection very seriously, as do I.But he lost his wife to cancer awhile back, and because of that, he believes in living life to the fullest.”

“That’s so sad,” she murmurs.“But so sweet at the same time.”

Dan would have a heart attack at being called sweet, although that’s what he is, deep down inside.

“It is.And Dan said, and I quote, ‘Life’s short.We’re having your party.Just bring the girl.’”

Summer gapes at the suggestion.

I understand.I canceled because I am working, and bringing Summer around my colleagues and friends is too intimate even for people already sleeping together.Sure, I decided to allow myself this time with Summer, but I also need to keep my heart protected.Bringing her into my inner circle of friends and life won’t help me in that regard.

“Go with you?No.”She waves a hand in dismissal.“You go on, and I’ll be safe and sound right here.”She pats the sofa for emphasis.

I shake my head and groan.“Sorry, but I can’t do that.Dan’s the boss.He said to bring you.You said you have no plans.Which means we’re going to a barbeque tomorrow at noon.”

Even if she isn’t any keener on getting up close and personal with my life than I am with letting her.We don’t have a choice.

***

Summer

I tap myfoot nervously against the floorboard of the Uber we are taking to Ben’s boss’s house.He sits beside me in silence.I chose a floral casual dress for the occasion, and unlike my trips to the gym or the studio for work, I have no intention of documenting my day for social media.Ben’s friends and his day are off-limits to the prying public.

I am nervous about going to the birthday party for Ben because I don’t know his friends and am not sure I belong there.Until yesterday, I had no idea when Ben’s birthday even was.After he was fired fromStar Power, I attempted to do the obligatory postmortem stalking of my ex only to discover he doesn’t have a social media presence.No photos to torture myself with and no birthdate mentioned online for me to see.

I do, however, have a photo of us stuck in my wallet, a selfie I coerced him into taking while we were sharing ice cream, and which I had printed so I could look and mourn what might have been.He doesn’t need to know that, though.

I was wrong in thinking he wanted to regroup and pull away the morning after.Instead, he seems to have come to terms with the fact that the desire between us is off the charts and ignoring it isn’t going to work.He has, however, put an emotional wall up between us, and I really can’t blame him.We might be in a good place when it comes tous, sex being a good icebreaker, but we aren’t a couple in the true sense of the word.

I glance out the window at the typical New York traffic on the highway and sigh.

Ben closes his hand over mine.“Relax.It’s just the people I work with.They’re nice, and you’ll feel comfortable.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, turning toward him.“And I promise I won’t do anything to let them know we… hooked up or whatever.I don’t want to get you into trouble again.”I glance away, knowing that despite apologies given, that is still a sore subject for him.

A wry smile pulls at his mouth, which on Ben becomes the equivalent of a sexy grin.“If I know Dan, he wouldn’t be surprised.Trust me when I tell you, there’s nothing traditional about this group.They mix family and business, but I don’t think we need to give them things to gossip about, either.”

I nod in understanding.“Agreed.”I’ll handle this however he wants to and take my cues from him.

“What else is on your mind?”he asks.

I don’t want to admit to my nerves.I handle large audiences.I’ll deal with his friends.“I couldn’t get you a gift,” I say instead.

And I really do feel bad.I found out about the event less than twenty-four hours before it was to take place, and I am house-bound as dictated by my bodyguard, the birthday boy himself.

He leans an arm on the back seat.“I don’t need presents.I don’t even want a party.”

“Well, it sounds like you were outvoted, so you might as well enjoy it.”

“I intend to.I hope you will, too.At least you’re getting out of your apartment and going to a place where you don’t have to worry about anyone getting near you.It’s a house full of bodyguards.”