Chase Me (Broke and Beautiful #1)(13)

As Roxy flopped back against the outside of the building, the weight of those dark thoughts had her wishing she still smoked. In her purse, her phone signaled an incoming text message. She didn’t recognize the number, but based on the message, she knew who it was.

Is it Saturday yet? I’m starting to talk to your selfie.

Unbelievable. He’d made her smile. After a Lassie callback. Quickly, she saved the number under his name, Louis McNally the Second, and responded.

Is she saying anything back?

She’s telling me she wants to move the date to tonight. And that Louis looks lonely.

Oh, it was so tempting after the way her shitstorm cloud had rained on her parade this morning. She’d thought about him a lot since Monday. A lot. Weirdly, although they’d only met twice, she found herself kind of . . . missing him. Shaking her head at her dopey thoughts, she set off in the direction of Chelsea. This Collie needed to regroup.

I have plans.

So do I. But they involve us being in the same room.

You thinking about me naked again, Louis?

It’s becoming a habit. Come meet me for lunch.

No. Do you always pack your own?

Almost always. Today I brought cold pizza. Jealous?

Careful. Remember the last time you accused me of being jealous?

Why do you think I said it?

Where are you taking me Saturday?

Don’t be nosy. How did your audition go?

If anyone you know needs a singing telegram, send them my way.

Sorry, beautiful. Their loss.

A warm flutter in her throat had her pressing a hand to the spot, pausing on the sidewalk. Oh boy, there was so much trouble headed her way. Too bad she wanted to cannonball right into the center of it. She needed to keep her head above water with Louis, though. Jesus, he hadn’t even remembered the first name of his one-night stand. For all she knew, she was one of several girls getting sexy/sweet texts at that very moment. She’d been there before. Dated college guys, other actors. They all started out promising her an eternity of sunshine and roses. As soon as they got what they wanted, it was like flipping a switch, turning them from charming to disinterested. Smitten to . . . gettin’ . . . away. As fast as possible. In her experience, guys were always looking for what was next.

Her mother hadn’t exactly been brimming with helpful advice when it came to boys. Once, after a few too many Budweisers, she’d told Roxy that girls like them “settled.” They didn’t wait for some knight to come sweep them off their feet and gallop them out of the Tri-State area. At the time, Roxy hadn’t known what to make of that, but now, with some perspective, she wondered if her mother simply wanted her to fit into a pattern. If she managed to do some good with her life or find a decent guy, maybe it would remind her mother she’d only gotten married because she’d had the misfortune of being knocked up with her first and last child. A child who had the nerve to want more. To be more.

They never wanted me.

Roxy shook off the dark thoughts and glanced back down at her phone. At Louis’s message. Without any real guidance from her parents, she’d learned the hard way throughout high school and college that all men want only one thing. Sex. As long as she reminded herself as often as possible that Louis would be no different, she could enjoy him while . . . whatever this was . . . lasted.

You there?

See you Saturday xo

LOUIS TUGGED AT the collar of his dress shirt, wishing he were anywhere but at his future brother-in-law, Fletcher’s, bachelor party. This had to be every dude’s version of hell. Not that he didn’t like a decent bachelor party as much as the next guy. Beer, bullshit . . . the occasional boobs. But he wasn’t exactly thrilled about watching Fletcher get shit-faced for the final time before surrendering his “freedom.” Especially when the “old ball and chain” Fletcher’s friends kept referring to happened to be his sister. Their relationship might be the kind that would eventually land him in a straightjacket, but he still felt a strong sense of sibling loyalty.

For the tenth time in less than an hour, he slipped his cell phone out of his pocket with the urge to text Roxy. Was she actually busy? Maybe he’d read her wrong and playing hard to get wasn’t her intention. As the week wore on, it became increasingly obvious she was hard to get. No playing involved. Saturday could not get here fast enough. He wanted to see her face, talk to her. Figure her the hell out. Even if her lack of enthusiasm in regards to going out with him was less than satisfying. It didn’t hurt his pride at all. Really, it didn’t.

Work hadn’t exactly been great today, either. In between meetings, he’d called his boss in Florida to get an update on his request to extend the pro bono work in his contract. Doubleday still hadn’t had an answer for him, leaving him more than a little frustrated. What would he do if the answer was no?

He went to the fridge and pulled out a fresh beer. The plan for the night was to meet at Fletcher’s Upper West Side apartment before heading out to dinner. First, though, the group of ten guys was apparently waiting for some live entertainment to arrive. Fletcher made a big show of protesting the stripper, but Louis had seen him glance toward the door on more than one occasion. Louis couldn’t help but think the protesting had been for his benefit, in case tonight’s events ever got back to his sister. Yeah, right. As if he would tell her about her fiancé getting a lap dance. Knowing his sister, her reaction to that news would spur the apocalypse.