Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)(45)

“What?” I narrowed my eyebrows.

“That’s why you so easily suggested that Cavanaugh take you home last night. There’s already something going on between the two of you, isn’t there?” It was like he was working out a math problem in his head and didn’t like the answer.

I chuckled for a split second, until I blanched under my own revelation.

“Nooo,” I sounded like I was speaking to a toddler, “that’s why you insisted on taking me home.” My volume rose as I stood up in front of Adrian. “You already knew, didn’t you, Adrian, because I called him Bo in front of you and you told me you noticed a certain “look” on his face when he talked about me.” My eyes were wide with anger.

Adrian glanced to the floor before standing. His eyes finally met mine.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” My voice burned with fury.

My heart raced as I realized how misplaced my anger at Bo was last night. Not only was he truly trying to respect me, but both of us were manipulated by Adrian. Smug was a kind adjective compared to the ones going through my head at that moment. Betrayal is not something I take lightly. I stormed by Adrian, crudely opened the door and stood next to it with my arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

I couldn’t even begin to rationalize the reasons Adrian would splinter himself between me and Bo. Did he want me back? If so, why, and did I even care? Either way, I was so upset I couldn’t talk to him about it, not yet.

“Ember, come on.” That was all he could manage as he walked toward me.

“Don’t say anything about me and Bo to anyone, OK?” My tone was only a hair below a yell.

“I won’t. I’m sorry. Please be careful, Ember.” His voice sounded sincere again.

“Well, Bo hasn’t manipulated me lately, has he?” I arched one hell of an eyebrow.

“No, I guess you’re right, he hasn’t. But, you don’t know him well.”

“And you do?” I snipped.

Adrian shrugged unconvincingly, let out a sigh, and brushed my cheek softly before I turned away.

“Adrian-”

“Ember, look, I’m here until tomorrow. I want to try to get together again - just the two of us. There are still some things-”

“I’ll see you later, Adrian. I’m too angry to talk about this right now, but we will be talking about it.” I opened the door wider as I interrupted him, solidifying my stance in anger.

He turned and walked uneventfully out the door and down the stairs. When I heard his car drive away, I collapsed on the couch in tears. I had shared some sweet moments with Adrian last night only to find out he manipulated the whole situation, and for what? Adrian didn’t even make a move last night - maybe he felt guilty; he damn well better.

I called Monica and told her everything. She wanted to come over, but I needed some time alone. When I heard a knock on my door, I hung up the phone and angrily walked to answer it, preparing for round two with Master Manipulator.

I threw the door open rather ungracefully, and found Bo standing there, hands in his pockets and his head hanging slightly; he looked thoroughly tortured. I burst into tears at the sight of him, threw my arms around his neck, and sobbed heavily into his shirt.

“Ember, what happened? Are you OK?” He took a slow step into the apartment; my arms still around his neck, his arms around my body.

He gently unwrapped my arms from his neck, took my hand, and led me to my couch. When we sat, I placed my head back on his shoulder and continued to sob irrepressibly. Bo rubbed my shoulders silently, before he sat me up.

“Did Adrian do something to you?” His chilling look ceased my tears.

“N-no, not like that,” I managed to spit out, though my breathing was erratic from crying. Bo looked confused.

I told Bo about Adrian helping me up the stairs, rolling my eyes at the embarrassment all over again. I sheepishly admitted that I tried to kiss him in my drunken haze, but he rebuffed my offer and slept on top of the blankets with his clothes on. Finally, I took a deep breath before telling him about Adrian’s motivations for taking me home last night; that I understood only seconds before I kicked him out of my apartment. When I finished I just stared at Bo, awaiting his reaction. After a thoughtful pause, Bo’s forehead smoothed as he released a sly grin.

“Cunning son of a bitch, isn’t he?” He let out a muffled laugh.

“What?”

“Not only did he manipulate the situation in his favor so he could take you home last night, but he didn’t even try anything with you. Man, had you not figured out what his game was, he could have walked out of here looking like a knight.” Bo lifted his eyebrows in mock-awe.

“Bo, I was mortified when I woke up next to Adrian this morning. I was so angry at you last night for just letting me go with him, even though I knew you really had no choice. But when I put his whole puzzle together, I felt awful. I wanted to wake up next to you this morning.” I stared down at my hands, my eyes refilling with tears.

“Bo, I feel scuzzy and need to shower last night off of my body. Will you wait for me?”

“Of course.” His gaze reignited me and I wanted him right there. I pressed my lips hard into his mouth before heading to the shower.

The shower is undoubtedly the best place to think; the hot running water drowns out all the background noise from the brain. The haze of my hangover was beginning to wash away and I could finally assess my feelings in private. While my stroll down memory lane with Adrian was nice, it was also clouded by misinformation and underhanded motives. Adrian admitted that he panicked when Bo mentioned me; it sure seemed his motivations last night were guided by someone trekking on what he’d assumed was still his territory. Meanwhile, this beautiful man was waiting for me in my apartment and I wanted to be his, all his.