Page 23 of Detour

Everyone laughs. Except for Coty. He just looks pissed.

Rolling my eyes, I say, “I don’t think so. I’ll be sure to send over some good earplugs when that happens.” I waggle my eyebrows at Beckett earning another round of laughter. Coty still isn’t amused. I thought it was funny. “Anyway, thanks for letting me tag along tonight.”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

Upstairs, Marc and Beckett bid me goodnight then disappear inside. Coty hangs back, quietly watching me. His gaze locks onto mine and that pesky chill returns, making me want to wrap my arms around my middle. Instead I turn to unlock my door.

“Did you like riding with me?”

Absently, I throw over my shoulder, “Yeah, it was fun.”

“No.” Coty’s chunky boots drag across the concrete, sending echoes down the hall. I spin to find him less than a foot away. “Did you like riding with me?” He doesn’t stop until there are only inches between us.

Firmly pressed against the door, I work to get the key out of the lock behind my back. A light sweat breaks out on my forehead despite the subsiding temperature. Swallowing, I say, “It was…an experience.”

Leaning forward, Coty reaches behind me leaving only a breath of space between our faces and twists the key out of the deadbolt. My eyes never leave his even as he pulls back brandishing the key like a gift. When I grab for it though, he keeps it just out of reach, toying with me. Little does he know, I’m broken and can’t be played with, so rocking onto my tiptoes I pluck the metal from his grasp.

“That guy from the other night isn’t going to get mad, is he?”

“What guy?”

“Drew, was it?”

Realization dawns and a laugh slips past my lips before I can stop it. Coty’s eyebrows plunge downward. Drew is protective of me, even bordering on overprotective at times, but confronting my neighbors over a friendly motorcycle ride isn’t really his style. If I were to admit to riding on a street bike, the worst he’d do is give me a lecture I’d roll my eyes through. I know for a fact he’s raced his pretty Acura plenty of times so his hypocritical speech would fall on deaf ears.

“You started your day eating breakfast with me while I was half naked.” Recovering, my eyes harden, my tongue pressing into my cheek. “Then you ended it with your legs wrapped around me. I just want to be prepared if some dude shows up at my door pissed off. I know I would be.”

I can’t stop the sting of his words before they land as carelessly as they were delivered. How dare he turn this into something he knows it’s not. Yes, I enjoyed spending time with him today—more than I should’ve—but for him to twist that into something perverse is insulting. Insinuating Drew, or any man, has a say in what I do is even worse.

Too many emotions fight for purchase in me but I’ve had years to perfect covering them up, so I just paste on a mocking smile, saying, “Who says I’m ending my day with you between my legs?” I push my door open, slipping past the threshold. “Excuse me while I make sure all my windows are closed. Wouldn’t want to wake the neighbors.” I add a wink for good measure then slam the door shut.

Fuck.

Him.

CHAPTER 12

Angela

“G et out.”

Ignoring me, Beckett makes himself at home in the front seat of my Jeep, a downside to not having doors attached for the summer, but I don’t have the time, or patience, for his antics right now. Today’s the last day to pick up my cap and gown for graduation and I’m already running late from swinging by my apartment after work to grab the rest of the payment.

This week’s gone by agonizingly slow with only school, work, home, repeat. I haven’t seen the neighbors much except for the occasional greeting in passing. It’s been a little awkward but necessary —for everyone—so, I’m surprised to see Beckett now. His blond hair is wet like he just got out of a shower and he’s wearing a dark blue shirt that says You Lost Me At “I Don’t Ride” with long cargo shorts. A tattoo I hadn’t noticed peeks out from under a sleeve. It looks like a line around his bicep but random spacing keeps it from being totally solid.

“Why are you ignoring us, neighbor girl? I thought you liked us.” He actually has the nerve to look put out, too. The couple times I was able to make it down to the pool, he would wave morosely from the balcony but otherwise remain silent. I hated it. And I hated that I hated it. I should welcome his silence, considering who his alliance is with, but Beckett’s like an innocent puppy wagging his tail in excitement over every little thing. You can’t help but get caught up in his good mood. Okay, he’s not that innocent, but still, his enthusiasm is infectious. Mostly. Just not today.

I sigh. “You guys are okay. I mean from what I know about you guys so far you seem nice enough. I had fun on Sunday and dinner was great.” His chest puffs up at the compliment. “But I’m really busy. Like right now, I need to leave, damn it,” I growl.

“Have you talked to Coty?” He continues when I only drop my eyes, saying, “He’s been off all week.”

“Like from work?”

“No, not from work, smartass. Just his attitude. He’s been…moody.” He raises his eyebrows like that surprises even him.

I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, yeah? Are your cycles not synced up anymore?” I can tell the period joke went over his head by the blank look on his face. Pressing my head into the headrest, I peer over at him. “I don’t know what you want from me. I have no idea what his problem is. We haven’t spoken since after the ride and that conversation didn’t end well. So, whatever is going on with your friend, it has nothing to do with me.” And it’s true. Last weekend Coty was accommodating and generous. He knew what I wanted, what I needed, without me even having to say a single word. He was flirtatious and downright sweet. But then he turned, flipped an accusatory switch, and grew outright angry. Around the same time I took that call from Drew. “Now, will you please get out, so I have something to wear to my graduation?”

Instead of listening, he buckles his seat belt, the click emphasizing his intention.