Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) (31 page)

His expression goes lazy. “Not at all. It’s no big deal.” She can see on his face he isn’t telling the truth, but decides not to push it.
I probably don’t want to know anyway.

Instead, she washes her hair while Nathan takes the soap and rubs it over her, paying special attention to her breasts, ass, and between her legs.

“You know, there are other parts of my body, too.”

“Don’t I know it. I’ll get to those soon enough.”

After finally rinsing herself, he starts trying to soap her again. “Hey, stop it.” She laughs, swatting his hands away. “I’m clean.”

Nathan grins. “Just trying to be helpful.”

“Sure you are.”

She closes her eyes and smiles to herself, rinsing the conditioner out of her hair. When she opens them, Nathan is studying her, but he’s not grinning anymore. There’s a serious expression on his handsome face, his green eyes intense.

“What is it?” Blair asks. “What’s wrong?”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “Nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

He shakes his head. “Just had a crazy thought, is all.”

“What?”

“Wondered how it would have been if things had turned out different for us years ago, you know? If they hadn’t gone south the way they did.”

Blair blinks, tries to hide the impact of his words. A hammer to the chest.

“You ever wonder about it?” he asks softly.

“No,” she lies. “Never.”

He nods, seems to accept this. “Yeah. Not good to dwell on the past anyway.”

She swallows. “Best to let it go.”

They finish their shower, both of them quiet. Blair wants to go back to their playful joking, but can’t find it within herself. Nathan doesn’t seem in a playful mood anymore, either.

After getting dressed and disappearing into his office with a bowl of cereal, he finally emerges a short while later to tell her he’s taking the Honda to Brody’s today.

“Is there something wrong with it?”

He snorts. “That car runs like shit, needs a tune-up.”

“I see.”

“If I’m going to keep driving it around, might as well take care of it.”

And then he’s out the door. Doesn’t kiss her goodbye—not that he ever has, despite their intimacy.

He made me come three times last night, yet I’m still in the friend zone. Talk about crazy.

Taking her iced coffee with her, Blair goes over to the living room with her daily list. Fiona is still asleep on the couch, her black eye mask covering her face. There’s writing on the mask Blair never noticed before, and she stops to read it. Written in fancy cursive, it says, ‘The Bitch is Sleeping.’

Blair laughs to herself. Since Fiona’s been staying here, Blair usually hangs out in her bedroom during the mornings, but perversely decides to sit in her comfy living room chair and experience her normal routine for a change.

Maybe I can pretend she isn’t here.

After a few minutes, that proves difficult when Fiona pulls her mask up and glares at her. “
What
are you doing?”

“I’m working on my daily list in my own living room.”

Fiona lies back down, sighing with annoyance. “It’s bad enough I can’t sleep all night with the way you two carry on, but now you’re going to
sit
out here, too?”

Blair stares at her in amazement. “You’re complaining about Nathan and me being noisy?”

“I’m glad you worked out your marital issues, but my
God
, do you have to be so loud? It’s like listening to bad porn every night.”

“You’re one to talk, with all your weeping and wailing!”

Fiona sniffs and pulls her black mask back down. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“Of course you don’t.”

It’s Monday, Blair’s day off, so she goes back to writing her list until Fiona flips her eye mask up again.

“Could you just
go
?”

Blair taps her pen against her notebook. “You
do
realize this is
my
home, right? And I’m not the servant here to clean up your messes or do your bidding.” She taps more rapidly. “In fact, I really wish you’d leave and go stay in a hotel.”
And to think I actually felt sorry for Fiona.

“What’s eating you this morning?” But then Fiona gives a wicked laugh. “Or maybe someone’s
not
eating you this morning, is that it?” She laughs some more and lies back down, covering her eyes again.

Blair pushes up from the chair, grabbing her iced coffee to take with her. She walks past Fiona then turns and, before she can stop herself, dumps the entire drink on Fiona’s breasts.

“Aaaaah!”

Blair smiles as Fiona screams, rips her eye mask off, and leaps out of bed.

“Are you
crazy
?” Fiona shrieks, dancing around like an evil queen from a fairy tale as she tries to brush the freezing coffee off her silky black nightgown.

“Oops,” Blair says with a smile. “Guess I spilled my coffee by accident.”

“Accident!” Fiona screams. “That was no
accident
!”

“Gosh.” Blair tilts her head to the side, amused to see a small ice cube stuck to the lace in front of Fiona’s nightgown. “I’m not usually so clumsy.”

“You did that on purpose. Admit it!” Fiona glares at her.

“Of course not. Why would I pour freezing coffee all over you?”

“Aren’t you going to at least apologize?” Fiona demands.

Blair smiles sweetly. “I’m really sorry about that.”

Fiona continues with her glare, though for some reason, there’s the hint of a smile around her mouth. “Oh,
God
, don’t bother. I already know you’re not in the least bit sorry.”

After the coffee incident, Blair goes into the bedroom to change clothes. Unfortunately, she spilled a little bit of it on her jeans, though they’re dark enough she doubts it’ll stain.

Fiona is in the bathroom. Blair cleans up the coffee mess in the living room, pulling the sheets off the bed and hoping the couch’s mattress doesn’t stain.

Even so, it was worth it.

When Fiona emerges from the bathroom, she’s dressed more casually than Blair has ever seen her in ripped designer jeans and a faded black T-shirt Blair is certain cost a fortune.

“I’m taking you out for coffee,” Fiona announces.

“Pardon?”

Fiona gives her a wicked smile. “Seeing as you accidentally spilled yours.”

“Don’t bother.”

“No, I insist. I’m going out with you. I want to,” Fiona pauses for dramatic effect, “
apologize
to you for my abhorrent behavior.”

Blair’s brows go up. “You do?”

“I do. So please, let me buy you a coffee.”

“I don’t know.” Blair mulls this over, suspicious of Fiona’s intentions. “You’ve been a terrible guest, and I think I’ve been more than generous.”

“Very generous. That’s why I want to apologize.”

“Any sane person would have thrown you out by now.”

“It’s true!”

“I should probably still throw you out.”

“Please, don’t. Not yet. Let me try and make it up to you first.” Fiona’s expression is so sincere that, against her better judgement, Blair finds herself agreeing to go have coffee.

They drive Isadora to La Dolce Vita. Blair has a couple of cake sketches she wants to grab anyway, as a few new ideas have come to her about an upcoming wedding.

“This is your bakery?” Fiona questions with wide eyes.

“Yes, it is. My business partner, Natalie, and I own it.” She glares at Fiona, almost daring her to say something rude, but Fiona only nods, looking around with interest.

It’s early morning and busy, since they just opened. Blair tells Fiona to have a seat, and she’ll be right out. In the kitchen, she says hello to everyone and grabs the sketches she needs, especially the ones for Kiki’s cake. She talks to Natalie briefly, who seems amused Blair brought Fiona with her.

“The Wicked Witch is here? I may have to come out and say hello.”

Blair gives a dry laugh. “You should definitely come experience her for yourself.”

When Blair goes back out front, she sees Fiona has found a window seat and has already ordered a coffee for each of them.

“Did you actually pay for those?” Blair asks. She knows from Nathan that Fiona avoids paying for anything whenever possible.

Fiona picks up her drink. “Of course. I told you I wanted to buy you a coffee.”

“I was really more interested in the apology.”

Fiona sips her drink then appears stunned. “My
God
, this coffee is perfection.”

Blair can’t help her grin. “I’ll tell Carlos you said so.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll tell him myself. A talented barista is a gift.” Fiona smiles, but then her eyes narrow as she considers Blair. “I must admit, you’re more successful than I imagined.”

Blair snorts softly. “I know that’s supposed to be a compliment, but why does it feel like an insult?”

Fiona smirks.

“So, are you really going to apologize to me?” She studies Fiona. In the window’s natural light, there are a few faint lines near Fiona’s eyes, though she still doesn’t look forty.

Fiona leans forward and lowers her voice. “Why is it you don’t comprehend the huge favor I’ve been doing for you?”

“Favor? I don’t think so.”

“Nathan’s in your bed, isn’t he?”

Blair stops swirling the straw for her iced latte.

“Do you honestly think he’d be there if I hadn’t intervened?”

Blair reflects on this and isn’t entirely sure of the answer.
Would he be in my bed?
Obviously, it’s one of the reasons she never kicked Fiona out.

“So, is Nathan in love with you yet?”

Blair doesn’t say anything.

“What exactly
is
going on?”

“None of your business, that’s what.”

“Why not tell me? I’m a surprisingly good listener.”

“I find that doubtful.”

Fiona tilts her head a little. “Try me.”

Blair looks into Fiona’s blue eyes, thinks back to what happened in the shower with Nathan, and then the way he left without kissing her goodbye. The way he treats her like a friend. A strange desperation grips her.

It’s not like there’s anyone else I can confide in about this.

She can’t tell Tori, since she’s not going to want to hear about her brother’s sex life—plus, understandably, her loyalties are divided. And despite her friendship with Natalie, she’s not sure if she wants to tell her either, since she’d then have to explain the whole pitiful history.

And I don’t want anyone to know how pitiful I am.

But after hearing Fiona cry on the phone every night, begging Sachi to take her back, one thing is abundantly clear.

Fiona knows all about pitiful.

So Blair lowers her voice and tells Fiona. Not every detail, but enough to understand the problem.

Surprisingly, Fiona leans in and listens carefully as Blair explains the situation. She doesn’t respond right away, just considers things.

“So, he’s still talking to Sonia.” Fiona picks up her coffee.

“Who’s that?”

“The Spanish girlfriend.”

“Have you met her?”

“No, but from everything I’ve heard, you’re lucky I’m here to help you with all this.”

“Why?”

“Because you
need
me.” Fiona speaks earnestly. “Believe it or not, I used to be a real bitch.”

“
Used
to be?” Blair can’t stop her laughter.

“I’ve mellowed considerably.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ve mellowed since I fell in love.” Fiona’s voice quivers a little on the word
love
.

“I’m afraid to think of what you were like before.”

“Quite the terror.”

“How’s it going, anyway?” Blair asks. “With Sachi.”

Fiona doesn’t say anything, just glances around then lets her breath out. “Since you’ve shared with me, I’ll share with you. I can do that.”

Blair waits, as Fiona seems to be trying to gain some composure. Oddly, for all Fiona’s personality defects, Blair can’t help still feeling sympathy since they’re kind of in the same boat.

“It’s not going well at all.” Fiona grips her coffee cup. “I’m not quite sure how I got into this situation. You’re lucky to be in love with a
man
who doesn’t want you, instead of a woman.”

Blair tries not to be insulted by Fiona’s phrasing. “I don’t feel lucky.”

“Men are so easy. Such simpletons. They think with their dicks first.” Fiona sighs. “Women are far more complex. Sachi says she doubts my sincerity, thinks I’m being,” Fiona pauses, “overly dramatic. That I love the drama.”

Blair nods. “You
are
kind of dramatic. Maybe you could try toning it down.”

Fiona shoots her a look. “The love of my life is ditching me. What would you have me do?”

“Instead of weeping and wailing into the phone every night, maybe try talking to her.”

“I
do
talk, but then I get upset!”

Blair nods. “I know, but you’re trying to win her back, right? You need to show her you care about what she wants, too.”

Fiona seems to mull this over. “Maybe.”

They talk a little more about Sachi and just as they’re leaving, Natalie comes over. Blair introduces the two of them.

“Very nice to meet you,” Fiona tells her. “I was just telling Blair how impressed I am with your bakery. There’s so much
more
you can do, though.”