“Not at all,” Maren said with a confident shake of her head. “I know she’s leaving my shop, and as much as I’ll miss her, I support her a hundred percent.”
“And that’s why I love you,” Lyra said, kissing Maren on the cheek. “And I agree with Maren. Libraries aren’t going anywhere. There are too many of us who still appreciate books. And if nothing else, schools will make sure students need books for their term papers.”
“Good point,” I said, taking a swig of my champagne. Maren was right; the tiny bubbles tickled the base of my nose.
“Yes, it is,” Hudson said with a smile. “So, Peter, I heard you work for Ekisaito. I’ve heard it’s next to impossible to even get an interview with that place. How’d you get that gig?”
Damn it.
I could feel Maren tense as her posture changed and she looked away. Placing my hand on her thigh and squeezing gently, I answered Hudson’s question. “Friend of a friend got a hold of my resume and gave it to her supervisor.”
“Ahh, I see. You know what they say…it’s not what you know, but who you know, ” Hudson said with a snarky laugh and a smirk that seemed almost vindictive.
Who is this guy?
“Peter’s brilliant,” Maren said, narrowing her eyes at Hudson. Her tiny nostrils flared ever so slightly, and her scowl was clouded in anger.
Hudson waved a hand in front of him, shaking his head wildly. “Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise.”
“I mean,” Lyra tilted her head back, shooting him a dirty look, “it kinda sounded like you did.”
Lyra had my back—I stared at her in awe. She was defending me to the guy she was dating. I guess we were finally friends. And despite the mounting tension at our table, I couldn’t help but smile at her with appreciation.
Lyra Castillo is a freaking badass. And she’s my friend.
“Sorry, I’ve just been burned a few times, so I’m a little jaded—my apologies, Peter.”
“No problem,” I said, gulping down the rest of my champagne. I wasn’t thin skinned by any means, but it definitely felt like an unnecessary dig. Hell, we’d only just met an hour prior. “You’ve been burned?”
“Professors have to publish, right? Well, there have been a few times that I’ve been passed over by publishers for others who have been working the system longer. So I can only imagine that it’s even worse in corporate America. That’s all I meant.”
“Look, man, it’s totally fine, all right? No worries.”
This time it was Maren’s turn to squeeze my thigh as she reached for the bottle and poured us all another round.
“So how long were you married, Hudson?” Maren deadpanned, and I almost spit out my champagne.
“Mare,” Lyra chided her. “Not cool.”
“No, it’s fine. I deserve it—uh, which time?” He raised an eyebrow, and I knew he was trying to trip her up, and he’d succeeded because Maren’s mouth dropped.
“Um, either time.” Maren shrugged, holding her shoulders up in an awkward pause as she waited for him to answer.
“Five years the first time and six this time.”
“Maybe third time will be a charm,” Maren said, her words were laced with sarcasm, and Lyra did not look pleased. “Lucky number seven, right?”
“Let’s go dance,” Lyra said, yanking Hudson from his seat.
“Uh, I don’t know. Not much of a dancer.”
“Don’t make me beg,” Lyra said, taking his glass of champagne and placing it on the table. “We’ll be back.”
Maren turned to me. “I’m sorry. I think I just crossed a line there, not sure what came over me.”
I laughed. “You were in rare form, but I think she’ll forgive you.”
“Truth serum, I guess.” She downed the rest of her champagne. “Besides, he’s a douche. I have no idea what she sees in him.”
“Attraction is subjective. Maybe she has no idea what you see in me.”
“Nah, she knows why.”
“Indulge me.”
“Well,” she licked her lips, “you’re gorgeous and smart and unbelievably kind. And you’re very funny…even though you tell dad jokes. And Lyra loves how you take care of me.”
“She had my back tonight; that blew me away.”
“I noticed that too. Believe me, when you have Lyra in your corner, you feel it. Big time.”
“I’m starting to get it.” For a moment, my mind wandered back to Hudson and why Lyra was so attracted to him. “I think I just figured it out! He looks just like that actor… What is his name? Paul Rudd.”
“Oh my God.” Maren’s eyes flashed. “That’s it! How did I not notice that before?”
“Wasn’t he in Clueless, and isn’t that one of her favorite movies?”
“Yes! And she obsessed over him for years! That’s gotta be why, because I can’t see anything else even remotely attractive about that guy.”
“To each his own, right?” I said with both of my eyebrows raised. “But as far as what he said to me, it’s fine. I know I deserve my job, and that’s that. I don’t need his validation.”
“God, I love you,” Maren said, her voice breathy. She leaned in and her lips brushed mine. “I love that you know who you are. Like, you truly know. Most of us are just pretending.”
I leaned back. “I call bullshit on that. I’ve never known a woman who was more self-assured than you, Maren.”
She bit her lip to stifle a grin. “They say fake it ’til you make it.”
“You’re way too modest.” I shook my head, pulling her in for another soft kiss. Intensity crashed through me as I kissed her again and again. She ran her fingers through my hair and climbed to sit on my lap. I put my hand on her thigh as I steadied her with my other arm, resting my hand on her hip. “And so sexy.”
“So with the holidays and everything, I keep forgetting to tell you something.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah?”
“Your mom scored one of my favorite authors. You know the one we talked about a couple months ago? She’s going to sign at the shop.”
“That’s awesome,” I said with a genuine smile. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” she said, glancing away before looking back and forcing a demure smile. “But it means I can’t come to San Francisco. I know you wanted me to and I wish that I could—”
“Shh,” I whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. “Don’t worry. We’ll do it another time.”
“But it’s Valentine’s Day.”
I shrugged. “We’ll delay it…or move it up.”
Maren blinked again and again. “Did your mom already tell you?”
“No, why?”
“It’s just…you’re letting me off the hook way too easily.”
“Maren, it’s your business, and I want it to do well. Getting an author like this is huge for you, and I want to be supportive. Am I bummed that you can’t come? Of course. But we’ll figure it out.”
She kissed me hard, and I rubbed her back with my hand. The sequins flipped against my palm, tickling my skin. “You’re amazing, you know that?” she said between kisses. She placed both hands on my cheeks and her demanding lips pressed to mine, her tongue twisting and curling seductively against my own. My dick was so hard I thought I was going to explode. I tilted my head back and groaned. “What are you doing to me?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes hooded and her smile seductive.
“It’s only ten o’clock. If you keep kissing me like that, we’ll never make it to midnight.”
“Who says we have to? Maybe we could ring in the new year in your bed.”
“Don’t tease me, woman,” I said with a chuckle. Maren nuzzled into my neck, planting warm kisses on my skin. A shiver ran down my spine.
“Who says I’m teasing?” she said with one eyebrow raised.
“Then let’s get a cab,” I replied, waiting for her to change her mind. I didn’t think she’d want to leave Lyra behind. And I had
to snap her back into reality. But if I was honest with myself, if she wanted to leave, we were going to leave. I wanted nothing more than to have her in my bed.
“I’ll tell Lyra,” she said with a seductive grin.
“I’ll get us a cab. See you in five?”
“Make it ten. I’d better apologize for my wisecracks.”
I laughed but nodded. “Not a bad idea.”
Maren and I went back to my apartment, and by the time either of us even noticed a clock, it was well past midnight. Drenched in sweat and curled up in my bed, Maren perked her head up to look at the clock.
“Well, we missed it. It’s twelve fifty-two.”
“Happy New Year,” I said, gazing into her eyes as she placed a hand on my cheek.
“Happy New Year, Peter.”
Chapter 21
MAREN
Things between Lyra and I were tense as we opened the shop back up on January second. Even though I’d sent several texts to her on New Year’s Day and she’d told me things were fine, it was all too obvious that things between us were far from fine the moment I laid eyes on her.
“Morning,” she said, behind large sunglasses before taking a sip of her latte. She crossed one arm over her chest and grasped her other arm as she held her coffee and followed me into the shop.
“Morning,” I said in return, attempting to kill her with kindness. “Great to see you.”
She said nothing.
“Did you have a relaxing day yesterday?”
She shrugged. “It was fine.”
“Did you and Hudson spend the day together?”
“Yep.” She removed her coat and placed it in the cabinet behind the register. Normally she would grab mine too before stuffing them inside. But today she ignored my outstretched hands and closed the door before turning on the registers.
“Okay then,” I said, shoving my coat and purse inside the cabinet. It wasn’t that I expected her to do it for me or anything like that, but it was part of our routine, part of “us.” And I knew I needed to tuck my tail between my legs. Lyra deserved a heartfelt apology.
“Listen, Lyr—”
“Save it, Maren. I’m so not in the mood.”
“C’mon, at least give me a chance to apologize. I know I screwed up.”
“We broke up, okay?”
“What?”
“I broke up with Hudson yesterday.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not enough. He’s gorgeous, yes, but let’s face it, he’s a little pretentious. And I hated the way he talked to Peter.”
“It didn’t faze Peter, so please don’t let that be a factor here.”
“No, I know that, and that’s part of what I like about Peter—he goes with the flow and he’s kind to anyone you introduce him to. You two are the first people Hudson has met, and look at how he acted. He was an ass.”
“Good point. Who knows how he would act with your family.”
“Can you see him making some offhanded comment about my abuela’s food? I think smoke would literally come out my ears and I’d have to murder him in front of my entire family.”
“Okay, slow down—he hasn’t done anything that bad. So he was a little snobby with us, maybe he was nervous.”
“That’s not all.” She shook her head, her eyes welling up. “I had no idea that he was married twice until New Year’s Eve.”
“Shit, seriously? I was wondering why you didn’t give me a heads-up on that."
“I mean, there are just too many red flags. And the sexual chemistry is still lacking, so what’s the freaking point? I’m not that lonely to lower the bar this far. Just because the man is gorgeous—it’s just not enough.”
“He looks like Paul Rudd,” I said with wide eyes. “Peter pointed that out the other night.”
“Duh,” Lyra said, rolling her eyes. “I mean, that’s what drew me to him in the first place. They could be brothers.”
“Indeed.” I nodded. “So, what now? Are you two going to stay friends?”
“Nah, we weren’t friends to begin with. I’m just hoping he doesn’t fail me.”
“If he fails you, then you sue his ass.”
A sardonic laugh left Lyra’s lips. “Ha! We’ll see if it comes to that.”
“Was he really upset?”
“He blamed you.” She laughed again.
“Totally fine with me. I’ll take the blame if it means that you’re off the hook.”
“Starting the new year off right, huh?” she said, smacking her lips and shaking her head. I knew she was embarrassed.
“Yes, actually.”
Lyra looked puzzled. “Huh?”
“You’re starting the year fresh, unattached. Who knows what’s on the horizon for you, Lyr? The man of your dreams could walk through that door right now.”
Two seconds later, Dev strolled into the shop, and Lyra’s mouth dropped. “Nope, nuh-uh, no way! Go home, Universe, you’re drunk!” She shook her head vehemently and walked to the back room. The swinging door swished back and forth once she blew past it.
“What’s her problem?” Dev asked, confused.
“Long story,” I said with a laugh. “What’s up, Dev?”
“Happy New Year to you too, Maren.”
“Oops, sorry. We were just knee deep in a conversation. Happy New Year, Dev. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Well,” he said, glancing around the store, a carefree twinkle in his eyes. “I want to buy someone a gift. Peter said you sell first editions.”
“I do,” I said, lighting up. I was always happy to help customers find first editions of their favorite novels. “Something in particular?”
“Yeah, The Great Gatsby.”
I almost spit out my coffee. “Those cost thousands….like many, many, many thousands.”
“Aw, man, really? I thought I was gonna be all romantic.”
“Is it her favorite book?”
He nodded. “Of all time. I thought I was going to earn major points if you know what I mean.”
“New girlfriend?”
“Nah, I wouldn’t say that.”
“Then what would you say? I’m just curious.”
“I’m talking to someone right now, not sure if it’ll go back to anything or not. But let’s just say that we rang the new year in right.” He winked at me.
So did Peter and I.
I paused for a beat. “Wait, you said back. What did you mean by that?”
Dev opened his mouth to speak but said nothing. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and looked up at the ceiling.
“No,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “You were finally starting to get over her, at least that’s what Peter said—”
“You can’t say anything to him, I mean it. He’ll kill me—I’m serious, Scott too. They’ll kill me dead.”
A deep-weighted sigh left my lips. “Dev, this isn’t healthy.”
“You only think that because of everything you’ve heard.”
“From you. For goodness’ sake, Peter and Scott aren’t even allowed to say her name in your presence.”
“Things are more complicated now. And I was pissed off…”
“And you’re not anymore?”
His expression did a complete one-eighty. “Hell no.” He shook his head. “I’m happier than a fat kid eating chocolate cake. Except she’s the cake. Get it?”
“Yeah, I got it.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “So you said you’re ‘talking.’”
“Yeah, well, obviously we’re doing more than talk.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “But we’re not back together. Not yet, but I’m working on it. Laying the groundwork.”
“How did it happen?”
“I bumped into her at a party.”
“When?”
“Geez, don’t you have a lot of questions? You’d better not be interrogating me just so you can fill your boyfriend in later.” He held up one finger, pointing it in my direction, serious.
“I wouldn’t do t
hat, Dev.”
“Fine. I ran into her a couple of weeks ago, before the holidays. And her birthday is next week—that’s why I wanted to find the book.”
“That book will cost you a year’s salary—if you want the original dust jacket and for it to be in good condition. But let me see what I can find.” I grabbed my laptop. “I might be able to find a damaged one for fifteen hundred dollars.”
“For a beat-up book?” He tilted his head forward, his eyes bugging out of his head. “Um, no, thanks.”
I giggled. “Maybe you could get her a nice candle? I have some scents that are on the seductive side.”
“Now we’re talking…” He paused. “Unless they’re fifteen hundred dollars.”
“How about twenty?”
“That’s more like it.”
“Go ahead and look around, and let me know if you find anything she’d like.”
“Thanks, Maren.” He smiled warmly, patting my arm. “You’re all right.”
Just as Lyra emerged from the back room, the bell over the front door dinged again. I turned to greet the customer, but was more than irked to see Cara DelVecchio and her stone-faced glare pushing the door to the side as if she owned the place. Not even acknowledging me, she stalked toward Dev.
“Dev, you said you’d only be, like, five minutes. I’ve been waiting.”
Always a pleasure, Cara.
Lyra and I locked eyes before rolling them at the same time. We erupted into laughter. I covered my mouth as I walked to the register.
“Real mature,” I heard Cara mutter under her breath.
“Here, smell this. Do you think she’ll like it?”
“I barely know her.”
“Fine, then. Do you like it?”
“I mean, I don’t really like anything here. Why don’t we go somewhere else?”
“Where?”
“I don’t care. Anywhere else,” she muttered.
“Not cool, Cara. C’mon, I’m buying this one.”
“Fine, whatever.”
I inhaled deeply as I mentally prepared for them to join me at the counter. Dev placed the Breakfast in Bed candle in my hand. “Nice choice; this one is popular.”
“I mean, it smells like pancakes. Can’t go wrong there.”
“So, Maren, aren’t you so excited for Peter?” Cara asked, looking down at her fingernails.
Melt With Me: A With Me In Seattle Universe Novel Page 19
