Gentleman Nine(58)
“How’s Jennifer Barney?”
“Jennifer Barney is a co-worker and a friend. There’s nothing going on with us.”
“You’ve moved onto someone else, then?”
“I haven’t been with anyone, Amber. Not one person since you.”
“I don’t believe that for a second. Wasn’t that the point of breaking up with me?”
“No. It was never the reason.”
“I’m confused.”
“I know.”
The sounds of footsteps approaching gave me pause.
Then came Channing’s voice. “Honey, I’m ho—”
Dead silence filled the air as Rory and Channing stared each other in the face. Bruiser barked once as if to interrupt the tension.
Channing was the first to speak. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Rory gritted his teeth. “Me? Where did you even come from?”
“I live here.” Channing’s tone reeked of satisfaction.
Rory’s eyes darted toward mine. “What?”
Feeling like I needed to flee, I forced out a response instead. “Channing’s working in Boston until the end of the month. He’s been staying with me.”
Rory placed his hand over his chest. He looked truly flabbergasted and extremely upset. The color drained out of his face. He didn’t have a right to feel that way, but the physical reaction he was having proved his shock was very real.
“How long have you been here?” Channing asked.
“Ten minutes.”
“Why did you come, Rory?”
“That’s not any of your business.”
“Amber is my business now.” Channing’s fists tightened, and he ground his jaw.
“Is that so?” Rory looked toward me. “Is something going on between you two?”
I honestly didn’t know how to answer that. Not only was it none of Rory’s business, but I truly didn’t know how to characterize what Channing and I even were. We hadn’t labeled our relationship. He gave me no guarantees about what was going to happen once he left. I chose to remain silent.
“To use your own words, that’s not any of your business,” Channing answered.
Just then, Christine entered the kitchen. Her eyes were groggy as if she’d just woken up from a nap. She squinted. “Rory Calhoun?”
“Mrs. Lord? What are you doing here?”
“I live here. At least, until the end of the month. Amber and Channing took me in. I sleep in Channing’s room. Channing sleeps with Amber.”
Bruiser barked again, and it echoed throughout the kitchen.
Rory’s face turned white as he clutched his chest then held onto his stomach as if he was going to throw up. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
All eyes were on him. No one seemed to know what to say. This situation was as awkward as it got.
His lips trembled. “Amber, can we please go somewhere and talk?”
A part of me wanted to tell him to go straight to hell. But another part of me, the part that knew this man inside and out could see that he was truly hurting right now. Whether his feelings were justified or not, I felt like I at least needed to allow him to say what he came to say.
“I’ll grab my coat.”
Channing followed me as we left Rory standing in the kitchen with Christine and the dog.
“You want me to come with you?” Channing asked.
“No. I’ll be fine.”
“Where are you gonna go?”
“I don’t know. He’s acting really odd, and I know he may not deserve my sympathy, but it’s not in my nature to hide from confrontation, even if it might upset me. So, I’m going to hear him out.”
Channing looked disappointed, but he respected my wishes. “Text me if you need me.”
“I will.”
“Did you know he was coming here?”
“No. He surprised me.”
“You had no clue?”
“Well…I never mentioned this to you…but he’d texted me asking if he could see me. I never gave him an answer, so he just showed up tonight.”
He shook his head. “Unbelievable.” As I was about to leave the room, he stopped me. “Wait.”
“Yeah?”
He gripped my wrist and pulled me into his arms, planting a firm and possessive kiss on my lips. “I need to tell you something just in case you don’t know.”
“Alright.”
“Whether you realize it or not, he’s going to try to convince you to take him back tonight.”
“I don’t think so. He’s just—”
“He is, Amber. There is no doubt. But I can’t let you go listen to him without telling you that I’m falling in love with you. This whole thing between us…it was never just sex for me—as much as I might have tried to convince myself otherwise. That delusion ended the moment I was actually inside of you. Every single time we’ve had sex, I was making love to you.” A look of fear spread over his face. “I don’t know what shit he’s going to be feeding you tonight, but there is no way I could let you go with him without making my feelings crystal clear.” Cupping my cheeks, he said, “You don’t have to say anything. In fact, I don’t want you to. I’m not looking for a response. I just needed to get that out.”