Accidental Tryst (Charleston #1)(79)

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"Do I call him?" I asked.

"No!" said Annie.

"Yes, of course," said Armand at the same time.

It was Sunday, and the three of us had driven out to Sullivan’s Island to have brunch at The Obstinate Daughter. Annie had left my sweet godson with his daddy, but she kept wincing and pressing her boobs.

"Damn it." She shook her dark curls. “This is like nature's way of trying to make sure you don't abandon your baby. My boobs are about to explode."

"Por favor . . ." Armand complained.

"Go pump," I said. "We'll be here." I was currently enjoying a bottomless mimosa on the house as a result of all the social media I'd done for them.

She maneuvered out of the booth with her bag, and then I got the update from Armand about how business was going and his plans for expansion of the café.

"Oh, don't look now," whispered Armand, suddenly agitated. "There's a famous actor behind you."

"Where?" I turned.

"Ugh, I said don't look."

"Sorry." I scanned the area but didn't see anyone. Oh wait, someone looked familiar. "He was in Prometheus." And he kind of reminded me of Trystan. Or maybe Trystan was all I could think about. "The guy who becomes infected and gets his girlfriend pregnant with the alien baby?"

"That's the one. He's muy caliente."

And I had unprotected sex with a self-proclaimed serial dater not once but twice. An alien baby might be a blessing. I was on the pill of course, but . . .

"You are thinking about sex," Armand observed.

My eyes snapped to his, mortified. "How did you know that?"

He shrugged. And waved his fingers in the direction of my face. “You bite your lip and your cheeks go all red. But you didn't look happy. Was it bad sex? Is this why you are all crazy and sad?"

"Ugh. It was good. Amazing."

"And?"

"And I . . . nothing." I picked up the champagne glass and had another sip of orange juice and sparkling wine. "There's nothing."

"Maybe you should let it go then?"

"Exactly what I said." Annie slid back into the booth.

"That was quick," I said.

"Yeah, they were ready if you know what I mean."

Armand shook his head.

Annie smirked at him, always enjoying his discomfort with female workings. "All I'm saying is," she turned back to me, "don't breadcrumb the guy if you have no intention of seeing him again."

"Breadcrumb?" asked Armand. "Is this another sexual thing only women know?"

Annie laughed. "No. I mean, if he was hurt by your rejection, let him get over it. Don't message him and call him to make him feel better. It could lead him on again. It's selfish, it's only about making you feel better."

"Huh," said Armand. "That makes sense."

"But—" But I wanted to call him. I missed him. Goddamn it, I missed him. How was that even possible? I hadn't known him a week.

"Look, I'm not an expert on relationships," Annie qualified. "I'm only an expert in how to complicate one by getting pregnant."

"She speaks truth." Armand nodded.

"Unless of course, you want to see him again?" Annie asked.

I folded my arms. "He lives in New York."

"And will be running a business down here." Annie cocked an eyebrow. "Visiting a lot."

Armand pursed his lips. "Again. She speaks truth."



* * *



I spent the rest of Sunday afternoon back in my little cottage, finishing up a few custom drapery orders and then organizing my meeting schedule for the week. I rolled out my yoga mat and went through my workout until I was sweaty and empty-headed.

But my clear mind didn't last long. Despite the fact there was absolutely no evidence Trystan Montgomery had inhabited my life and home the last few days, there he was in my head again. I never asked him how his dinner with his family had gone on Friday night. It must have been hard. And then we'd slept together and I'd bolted. I never asked him what the L stood for in his name. I never—

My phone rang and I startled. I normally turned it to silent when I did yoga; I must have forgotten. I got up and looked at the screen.

D'Andre.

I answered immediately, my first thought being it was something about David.

"What's up, Emmy?"

"I'm good, D'Andre. All okay up there?"

"Good, good. David's good. Talking up a storm today. Got a visitor actually."

"He did?"

"Trystan Montgomery."

My stomach dropped. "God. Really?"

D'Andre chuckled. "Yep, knew you'd be surprised."

"What did he say?"

"I don't know, he just signed in and asked where to find him."

"H—How did David do?" What did they talk about? And why? God, I had so many questions. But also, I was never sure how David would react to new people and new situations. "Was David okay?"

"Good. He was a little scattered, but they chatted for a while. Couldn't stay and eavesdrop. Wish I could have."