Bait: The Wake Series, Book One(51)

Reggie said no immediately. Nora said no, too, but only after a few seconds.

“Why? I'm thinking about two men?” I looked between them. They were sharing some sort of glance.

Nora asked, “Can you picture either one of them with another person and be happy for them?”

It would have been difficult picturing Grant with another woman, but if he was happy, then I guess I could be happy for him. Then I thought of Casey and seeing him with that girl. It made me feel violent and nauseous. I didn't want to go into all of that with them though. That would make me look even worse than I already did.

“No,” I confessed.

Nora said, “Then you aren't polyamorous. It makes me happy to see my lovers with other people who make them feel good, both emotionally and physically. So, I side with your body, not your brain.”

I was back at square one. “Reggie, what do you think?”

“Reggie?” Nora choked. He gave her a look and she said no more.

“Honestly, I don't think that Grant would ever run after you like I saw—” He stopped. I had to tell him his name.

“Casey.”

“Casey run after you. Did he know who I was?”

“No.” I hadn't thought about that.

“And if that was his girlfriend and you didn't mean anything to him, he'd be getting the hell out of there when you spotted him. I saw the look he gave me. He saw how buff, as you said, I am, but it didn’t deter him in the slightest. In fact, when I mentioned the word, sister, he seemed relieved. I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt. He's not a robot.”

I really wanted to call him. I wanted to hear, from him, what happened. I finished my glass of wine, poured myself another, and went to the guest room where I'd be staying.

It was getting late, but it would still be pretty early in San Francisco. If that was where he was even going. I considered texting, but I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted to hear his voice when he told me what was going on.

I dialed his number.

He picked up on the second ring.

“Finally,” he said, then sighed on the other end of the line. Texting was fun, but actually calling on the phone felt so much more intimate. Faintly hearing him breathe healed something that was wounded in me.

“Hi.”

“I was hoping you'd call.” I heard his relief over the line.

“We need to talk and I thought this was better than sending messages back and forth.” The day before I’d been excited to actually hear him and I’d planned to call him for that reason. That was before her. That was before I said yes to Grant. But, my want for Casey hadn't changed.

“Are you staying with your brother?” he asked.

“Yeah, how was your flight back? Are you in San Francisco?”

He had to sit next her on the flight to California and it must have been awkward. Clearly, she wasn't a very big fan of mine.

“I didn't go back.”

He didn't go back? He didn't go back.

“Where are you?” My heart raced.

“All depends. Do you want to see me?” he asked.

Of course I wanted to see him. I wanted to talk to him. I needed to tell him how I felt. I needed to get things off my chest even if I was clearing the air with the wrong man. Nora and Reggie were right. I had to know.

“Yes,” I told him, “I really do.”

“I came back to the Omni, but it’s pretty late,” he said.

“I don't care.”

He laughed and it sounded exponentially better than my imaginary Casey-laughs, causing the thick sludge that coated my gut over the past day to clear away.

“Send me your brother's address and I'll come get you.”

Did I really want to do that? I needed advice.

“Okay. I'll text you.” Then I hung up, not waiting to see what he'd say.

When I walked into the living room I heard Reggie speaking. Nora was by the door and he was standing close to her. It appeared like either they'd just been kissing or I interrupted them right before.

“I called him,” I announced. “He didn't leave Chicago. He wants to meet with me. To talk. What should I do?”

They looked at me and Reggie took a step away from her. She straightened her dress, flattening the front with her long, slender fingers.

My brother walked to the back of a chair not far from where they stood.

“Do you want to talk to him?” he asked, but his face didn’t indicate his preference. Perhaps he didn't have one. Maybe his preference was the same as mine.