Page 104 of Shark’s Edge

“Not important,” he said without a pause. “And I wouldn’t call you at this hour if it wasn’t important. We’ve got a big problem with the city. We need to brainstorm, and fast, or the groundbreaking isn’t going to happen on schedule.”

“Fuck me! Goddammit, Grant! We have the press lined up. It has to happen.” I scrubbed my hand down my face and around to grip at the back of my neck. My patented stressed-out move.

“I understand that, Bas,” my best friend said with patience I probably didn’t deserve. “That’s why I’m calling you.”

“Fine. Where?”

“Your place?” he asked, sounding as tired as I suddenly felt.

“Fine.” I checked the time on my phone’s screen. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

“Where are you?” he asked, merely being a nosy shit.

“Goodbye, Twombley.” I ended the call and let my head fall forward until my chin hit my chest.

Motherfucker!

I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t have a choice. I needed to fill Grant in on all the shit that happened with Terryn and Cinnamon too. Outside of the amazing time I’d spent with Abbi, the entire day was a fiasco. I rubbed my eyes, trying to think of what to tell Abbigail. I had heard the water running in the shower when I was on the phone. I quickly pulled my boxers and pants on and turned to go talk to her in the bathroom.

But when I spun around, she was standing in the doorway of the bathroom. She looked like every man’s perfect dream girl standing there wrapped in a fluffy towel, backlit from the fixtures in the small, steam-filled room behind her.

Except my girl had nothing but utter disappointment on her face, having overheard the conversation I’d just ended with Grant.

She knew I was leaving.

I’d just taken her virginity, and now I was leaving.

Score one for the asshole.