Lag (The boys of RDA #2)(30)
Not letting go of my arm, he draws me down the hallway, but we continue on past the bathrooms. Once we’re far enough out of sight I don’t have to worry we’ll be seen I rip my arm from his hand.
“I’m here with my boss.” I spin on him and answer at the same time.
He leans in closer. “You didn’t mention a date with your boss.”
“You didn’t mention a date either. My invite was last minute and for work. You’ve obviously planned tonight.” I point to his tie, but I don’t think he makes the connection.
“Is it normal to come to these types of functions with your boss?”
His question and the damn quirky eyebrow send me over the edge and I lose the cool fa?ade I’ve tried to hold on to so well. With my back ram rod straight I lean toward him invading his space. “Is it normal for you to see two different girls on two different nights?"
“It isn’t what it looks like, Simone,” his hand goes to the wall behind me.
I cock my head to the side to show how unbelievable I find his statement. “Oh really, what is it then, Trey?”
I can’t wait to hear what typical male response he comes up with. She’s a friend. I’m doing her a favor. I didn't know she’d be here.
He breaks eye contact as his eyes fall to the floor. “She’s kind of my girlfriend.”
I’m ready to strike out at any of the possible answers I’d planned for him to think of, but I have nothing for this one. Girlfriend? Girlfriend!
I try to keep my voice quiet so not to draw attention to our hidden corner, but it becomes a little screechy against my best efforts. “Your girlfriend!?” All the water in my stomach drops and the room spins for a moment. Do I want an explanation for this?
“It’s complicated.” Trey’s eyes stay on the floor, but he sweeps his hands through his hair in agitation. As if I’m the issue in this hallway.
“It’s complicated?” I can’t believe this man. I seriously can't believe him. “This isn’t f*cking Facebook, Trey.”
At my use of the F word, Trey’s head pops up to meet mine again. “Mari and I have an agreement.”
He has an agreement with Mari? How f*cking super-duper sweet is that? My heart thumps against my chest and the need to throw up is present again. I look past him back to the party and realize for the first time I’m exhausted. The girlfriend revelation has sucked not only the oxygen from the room, but my strength as well. I can’t handle more.
I certainly don’t want to hear him give me some crap about his agreement with Mari. I’ve dealt with enough mistresses to know sometimes the wives don’t know and other times there's an agreement. I wish guys had warning labels so you wouldn’t waste any time on the ones that turn out to be *s.
The sigh I let out isn’t voluntary, but with it I release all my dreams of having more with Trey. “Let me uncomplicate it for you. We’re done." My voice is hard as ice and I step to the side of Trey and walk past him back to the party.
With my heart dead for the night, I’ll work on building up all the walls I’ll need to get me through this event without an issue. Trey Good is dead to me. At least until this weekend when I’ll take him out of his little box and deal with him through a pint or two of ice cream.
By the time I’m back to Roger’s side, I wear my best perky smile. He’s moved on to a new couple and hands back my bottled water without introducing me again.
When there is a lull in the conversation he turns to me. “Is everything okay?” Roger actually sounds concerned.
Before I answer Trey interrupts, “Simone, we weren’t done talking.”
Roger’s eyes widen at the comment and I involuntarily flinch before we both turn to a stony faced Trey.
“Oh, Mr. Good. Meet my boss, Roger Walters. I assure you any questions you have about starting an account with Lowry, Lowry, and Fink should go through him.” I smile at Roger and make sure to avoid eye contact with Trey.
Trey’s eyes narrow at me. “So it was about the account then?”
I make sure to match my tone to the hard one he asked with, “It’s always about the account, Mr. Good.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ugh. Thoughts of Trey kept me up half the night and without enough sleep, the warmth of the water from the shower spray isn’t helping to energize me for the waiting day. I’d turn it cold if I had more self-control, but who in their right mind makes the decision to take a cold shower? Not even learning Trey’s an * of epic proportions can make me that insane.
Trey stalked away from our group and I spent the rest of the night being the perfect companion to Roger. I smiled pretty and shook hands like nothing was wrong. But Trey’s look of betrayal before he turned and left played on repeat in my mind. By the end of the night, I regretted my final words to him. It was never about getting his account to Lowry, Lowry, and Fink, but in a time of weakness I played on his insecurities.
I press my head against the cool tile of my shower as water flows over my eyes. I’m not sure why I’m even concerned with how he feels. Why do I feel miserable and guilty over what I said? The man has a girlfriend. Most women would have gone psycho on his ass. I was nice and calm. Too nice, too calm. I should be pissed off, but I’m just sad. I turn back into the spray and rinse the conditioner from my hair, scrubbing extra hard to remove any traces of last night.