Entwined with You(52)

“I’m good.” He shoved one hand in his pocket and rocked back on his heels. “I think Tat and Trey are as close to monogamy as I’ve ever been. It’s working out for me so far.”


I found the whole arrangement fascinating. “Ever worry about shouting out the wrong name when you’re coming?”


His green eyes sparkled. “Nope. I just call ’em all baby.”


“Cary.” I shook my head. He was incorrigible. “Are you going to introduce Tatiana to Trey?”


He shrugged. “I don’t think that’s the best idea.”


“No?”


“Tatiana’s a bitch on a good day, and Trey’s just a nice guy. Not a great combo, in my book.”


“You once told me you didn’t like Tatiana very much. Has that changed?”


“She is who she is,” he said dismissively. “I can live with it.”


I stared at him.


“She needs me, Eva,” he said quietly. “Trey wants me, and I think he loves me, but he doesn’t need me.”


That I understood. It was nice to be needed sometimes. “Gotcha.”


“Who says there’s only one person in the world who can give us everything?” He snorted. “I’m not sure I’m buying that. Look at you and your no-name guy.”


“Maybe a mix-and-match situation can work for people who don’t get jealous. It wouldn’t work for me.”


“Yeah.” He held out his mug and I tapped it with my own.


“So Cristal and … ?”


“Hmm …” His lips pursed. “Tapas?”


I blinked. “You want to take my dad out?”


“Bad idea?”


“It’s a great idea, if we can get him to go along with it.” I smiled. “You rock, Cary.”


He winked at me and I felt a little more settled.


Everything in my life seemed to be shaken up, most especially my relationships with the people I loved most. That was hard for me to deal with, because I relied on them to keep me on an even keel. But maybe when everything settled down, I’d be a bit stronger. Able to stand a bit straighter on my own.


It would be worth all the turmoil and pain if so.


“Want me to fix your hair?” Cary asked.


I nodded. “Please.”


WHEN I got to work, I was disappointed to find a very unhappy Megumi. She gave me a lethargic wave as she buzzed me in, then dropped back into her chair.


“Girl, you need to kick Michael to the curb,” I said. “This is not working out for you.”


“I know.” She brushed back the long bangs of her asymmetrical bob. “I’m going to break it off the next time I see him. I haven’t heard from him since Friday, and I’m driving myself crazy wondering if he picked up anyone while doing his bachelor barhopping thing.”


“Eww.”


“I know, right? It’s just not cool worrying about if the guy you’re sleeping with is shagging someone else.”


I couldn’t help but be reminded of my earlier conversation with Cary. “Me and Ben and Jerry’s are only a phone call away. Holler if you need us.”


“Is that your secret?” She gave a short laugh. “What flavor got you over Gideon Cross?”


“I’m not over him,” I admitted.


She nodded sagely. “I knew that. But you had fun on Saturday, right? And he’s an idiot, by the way. One day, he’s going to figure that out and coming crawling back.”


“He called my mom over the weekend,” I said, leaning over the desk and lowering my voice. “Asking about me.”


“Whoa.” Megumi leaned forward, too. “What did he say?”


“I don’t know the details.”


“Would you get back together with him?”


I shrugged. “I can’t say. Depends on how well he grovels.”


“Totally.” She high-fived me. “Your hair looks great, by the way.”


I thanked her and headed to my cubicle, mentally preparing my request to take off from work if my dad called. I’d barely turned the corner at the end of the hall when Mark bounded out of his office with a huge grin.


“Oh my God.” I stopped midstep. “You look insanely happy. Let me guess. You’re engaged!”


“I am!”


“Yay!” I dropped my purse and bag on the floor and clapped. “I’m so excited for you! Congratulations.”


Bending down, he picked up my stuff. “Come into my office.”


He gestured me in ahead of him, then closed the glass door behind us.


“Was it tough?” I asked him, taking a seat in front of his desk.


“Toughest thing I’ve ever done.” Mark handed me my bags. Sinking into his chair, he rocked back and forth. “And Steven let me stew over it. Can you believe that? He knew all along I was going to propose. Said he could tell by how I freaked out I was.”