Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
It felt good to have someone flirt with me, to feel like someone wanted to touch me.
I smiled. “Yeah, it is, Tarryn.”
She looked up at me from under thick lashes. “You want to go somewhere else for a drink? Maybe your place?”
Shit. The moment of truth. Tarryn was off-the-charts sexy—that wasn’t even a question. And I knew we’d have a great time; we had history that removed any doubt about that. There also wouldn’t be any expectations after—it would be exactly what she said, easy. A good time. And part of me wanted to go. It had been a while. The physical urge was definitely there. Yet…I had so much emotional turmoil. So, so much. While I inwardly debated what the hell I should do, my cell phone started to vibrate on the bar. Devyn’s name flashed on the screen. Finally.
You shouldn’t answer it.
It’s almost four o’clock in the afternoon. She’s been out of court since ten this morning.
You’re clearly not a priority to her.
Maybe you need to stop making her your priority.
But I really wanted to talk to her.
Tarryn glanced down at my vibrating phone, a curious smile on her face. “Need to answer that?”
I pursed my lips. Fuck. I couldn’t ignore it. “Yeah, I do. I’m sorry. Will you excuse me for a second? It’s a business call.”
“Of course.”
Stepping away from the bar, I swiped to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey. I’m so glad I finally got you.”
My brows drew together. “What do you mean finally? My call log doesn’t show anything I missed.”
“Oh, I called alright. And texted. Heath apparently thought it would be funny if he changed your name to Mia’s and Mia’s name to yours in my contacts. So I’ve been texting Mia, thinking it was you. I thought it was odd that when I asked what you were doing, you said you were running out to get tampons, but I figured you were just being funny.”
“So you texted me today?”
“Of course. I wasn’t even out of the courthouse before I texted you the good news.”
“What happened in court?”
“Your friend was a godsend. I can’t thank you enough for referring me to him. We got right in with a judge, and he granted me temporary, emergency custody. I have to jump through a million hoops, like a background check, home inspection, interviews with social workers, et cetera. But the kids can stay with me legally now. I’m so damn relieved, Owen.”
It felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders, which was fucked up because this wasn’t my burden to carry. “That’s great. Congratulations!”
“Anyhow, I’m sorry I didn’t reach you earlier. It wasn’t until I asked if you wanted to celebrate with me later that I finally figured out what was going on. Mia responded that she’d love to hop on a plane, but she had a new artist showing tonight. Mia manages an art gallery.”
I’d stepped into the hallway that led to the bathrooms to talk on the phone. Two loud, drunk guys came out of the men’s room laughing. Devyn heard the commotion.
“Are you still at work?”
“No. I, uh, stopped at a bar for a beer with a friend.”
“Fun! Which one? Maybe I’ll come meet you for a celebratory drink.”
I hesitated, not sure how the hell to answer. “Umm…”
“Oh. Oh gosh,” Devyn said. Apparently, she knew me better than I’d realized. “It’s not a guy friend you’re with, is it?”
“No, it’s not. Tarryn is an old friend. She dropped by the office earlier.”
Devyn was quiet for a few heartbeats. When she spoke again, all the happiness in her voice was gone. “Sorry to interrupt. Have a good time.”
“Maybe we can have a drink a little later?”
“It’s fine. I actually have a lot of stuff to do anyway. I need to go.”
A minute ago she’d had time to come celebrate with me. Now she couldn’t wait to get off the phone. “Devyn—”
“I’ll talk to you later, Owen. I just wanted to tell you the good news. Thanks again for everything.”
“Devyn, hang—”
“Bye, Owen.”
She hung up before I could say anything more.
I stood in the dark hall, unsure what to do next, for almost a full five minutes. Did I take Tarryn home with me? Give myself the push I probably needed to move on from Devyn? Or did I go home and pine for a woman who had no interest in being with me? I knew what felt right in my heart, but where had listening to my heart gotten me? Nowhere fast. That’s where. So maybe it was time I started listening to other organs.
Before I could finish deliberating, Tarryn came strutting down the bathroom hall.
I held up my cell. “Sorry about that. I just hung up.”
“No problem.” She pointed behind me. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll meet you back at the bar.”
When I returned to my seat, the bartender walked over. He motioned to my near-empty beer and the drained martini glass next to it. “You want another round?”