“Why couldn’t Gino do this for her?” I asked, struggling to hold my end of the sofa that Kason and I carried up the flight of stairs to Giselle’s second-floor condo.
“He went back to Florida,” Kason explained, having no trouble holding the sofa even with his wrist in a cast.
“I’m shocked he’d take time out of his busy schedule to come here,” I said, trying not to sound as disgusted as the guy made me.
“Same.”
“They do have these things called delivery guys,” I said, readjusting the sofa in my arms. “Isn’t Gino supposed to be loaded?”
“Yeah,” Kason said. “But you should know from your father, rich guys are always the cheapest.”
“And the biggest assholes.”
We shifted the sofa to get it through the open doorway and carried it to the vacant spot in Giselle’s living room. I’d never been to her condo before. Never had a reason to. She’d only been in it for a year and never once during that time had she invited me over. I guess, when she thought I was gonna try to make out with her at any given moment, avoiding me was easy.
I walked around, taking in the cozy living room with family photos on the coffee table. The connected kitchen was equipped with brand-new appliances, white cabinets, and gray marble countertops. I could see Giselle in this place. It fit her.
“Don’t go getting pervy and look in her bedroom next.” Kason was sprawled out on the sofa we just delivered. “She’ll kick my ass.”
“You’re already here,” Giselle said, floating through the doorway in super high heels and a long flowy coat.
I froze, not expecting her to show up. Kason said she was working.
She froze, too, noticing me in her kitchen. “Oh. Thayer. I didn’t know you were helping.” She looked disappointed to see me. The last time we’d spoken had been in the hotel hallway before Gino interrupted us.
Kason finally sat up from his spot on the sofa. “I thought you were working?”
She slipped off her coat revealing a tight green dress that accentuated all her curves. “Shay’s helping out today so I could make sure you got in,” she explained, tossing her coat down on a chair. “But it looks like you managed just fine.”
Kason held up a key. “Mom gave it to me.”
“I should’ve figured.” Giselle snatched it from his hand. “You guys want a drink?”
“No,” I said as Kason said, “What do you have?”
She moved to her refrigerator, maneuvering around me to avoid touching any part of me, and pulled open the door. “Beer or water.”
“Is it even a question?” he asked, moving to her and grabbing a bottle of beer from her hand.
“You want one, Thayer?” Giselle asked me.
I shook my head as I leaned against her counter.
“He’s trying to be good before his date,” Kason explained, taking a seat at her kitchen table.
Giselle glanced to me. “Date?”
“Yup,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Do I know her?” she asked.
“She’s in one of his classes,” Kason explained.
“Where’re you taking her?” Giselle asked.
What the fuck? These were a lot of questions from someone who barely even spoke to me anymore.
“Snowboarding,” Kason answered for me.