“Nice place,” Mike teased, as they unloaded the truck.
“It’s not too bad.” She tried to sound up about it, but the place was a bit depressing. At least it was clean and the neighbours were trying to make a difference by planting trees and flowers, or painting the buildings when needed.
“No, hon, it’s not bad.” Nick hugged her close. “I’ve seen worse.”
The door down the hall from hers opened and a very cute girl walked out. Amy sucked in a breath, her thoughts going to that disastrous night, the one where she’d made the decision to leave her living situation and find a place of her own. But before then—before finding the guy in her bed—she’d seen Pink. No, that wasn’t her name, but that’s what Amy had named her. Could this cute little thing really be the same girl? In all of New York, how the fuck had she picked the same building—the same floor—as Pink?
“Hey,” Pink said as she strolled past.
Amy mumbled something, but she had no idea if she sounded intelligent or not. Good Lord, she could talk a judge or jury into finding for her client, she’d spoken at symposiums and for groups, had given reports to some of the toughest customers in the city, but she couldn’t even manage, ‘Hi, my name is Amy Miller’ when faced with Pink?
“Hello, Amy, you going to survive?” Nick’s voice broke through.
“What?”
“Oh, Nick, she’s got it bad,” Mike said.
“Shut up, guys, I have to live here.”
“Yep, I think this place is starting to look better to her,” Nick said.
Amy’s face heated. They were right. She no longer minded the small space, the bad location or the neighbourhood. Pink lived here.
* * * *
Luke woke at five in the evening to his alarm, and almost tossed the clock across the room until he remembered his date with Bryan. Only it wasn’t really a date—just two guys getting together. But, God, he wanted it to be a date.
Bryan was the first guy he’d met who hadn’t wanted to get into his pants on first sight. It was different, being with someone who wanted to talk to him. He was jaded, of course. He either hid up in his apartment or went to parties to be seen. Neither place led to picking up guys who would be interested in anything more than the candy-coated shell that he’d become.
By five minutes to five, he was ready to go. He went down early, hoping that Bryan was already waiting for him. The elevator doors opened to the lobby and a spiral of fear wound through him when he saw the place was empty. Should he wait for Bryan or head back up? He felt like a fool at being so excited to see Bryan. If the guy didn’t show, it would crush him.
The door opened and he saw Bryan standing on the street, his back to the building, and it looked as if he was talking to someone. Excitement shot through Luke and he picked up his step, glad that he hadn’t been stood up.
“Bryan,” Luke called as he stepped out of the building. Bryan stepped aside and Luke’s steps faltered. The pink-haired pixie who’d previously been hidden by Bryan’s body smiled up at him. His heart stalled, then beat wildly in his chest.
“I hope you don’t mind. I ran into Nichole earlier today. I asked her to come.” Bryan looked a little sheepish.
Luke smiled at the pair. Part of him wanted to drag both of them back upstairs and take care of his growing wood, but the idea that someone might actually care about him as a person wound through him. “Let’s go grab some food.”
They walked side by side for a few feet, then the pedestrian traffic got too thick. He reached back and grabbed Bryan’s hand, and Nichole grasped onto Bryan as they threaded their way through the pack. By the time they’d made it two blocks, the crowd had thinned and they fell into step, laughing about the situation but none of them dropping hands.
Luke felt like a million bucks as he walked into the restaurant with Brian and Nichole. No, they weren’t runway models or actors, but they were both wonderful people and at least Bryan seemed to like him for who he was, not for what he did.
They ordered their food and Nichole sat between the men, so that Bryan was sitting directly across from Luke. She leaned her elbows on the table and flashed Luke a smile.
“It’s good to see you.” Nichole picked up her spoon and toyed with it before putting it down.
“I didn’t know if I would get a chance to see you again.” Luke’s gaze swung to Brian then back to Nichole.
“I’m surprised you would even want to,” Nichole said.
“Why do you say that?”
“I know who you are now.” Nichole’s gaze slid to Bryan. She lifted her brows and smiled.