Easton got up to pay, and I fiddled with my phone, not really doing anything but not knowing what else to do.
Watching my best friend’s walls crumble for a man who earned her love was one of the best things I’d ever witnessed.Jules deserved to be loved by someone, and that someone was Cole, but didn’t I deserve love, too?
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that Easton startled me when he reached out his hand. I hesitated before taking it. Seeing Jules and Cole together verified that it was time to relinquish my arrangement with Easton.
Chapter 21
Everything I’d eaten churned in my stomach as I followed Easton’s car back to his house. Just like my best friend, I was also in love.
Hell, maybe if I cried and vomited, Easton would end this arrangement so I wouldn’t have to.
But then I remembered Easton had already seen me vomit, and cry. It was the night we decided on this dumbass agreement. Easton had kept his word, every morning ensuring I hadn’t manifested feelings for him. It was his way of reminding me that we were only sex, and we weren’t destined for anything more.
Easton’s arm pointed out of his car, indicating where to park in the swanky underground parking garage. My insides were jumping and ticking with emotions as I parked and got out.
Easton ran up to me, and from his frown I knew he was upset I didn’t wait for him to open my car door. The perfect fucking boyfriend.
Shit, I am going to vomit and cry.
No, Rachel. You will suck it up. You will go into his apartment, touch his perfect body one more time as a goodbye,and break off the agreement, never mentioning your growing feelings.
Cole may not have received my peptalk, but I sure was taking advantage of inspirational Rachel.
My hand was sweaty and a tad bit shaky when I placed it in Easton’s outstretched hand. He glanced down at me, his frown still in place.
“You okay?”
“Yes, just nervous to see your place. I hope you hid all your sex toys.” I leaned into his shoulder, pretending I was being playful and didn’t need him to hold me up.
“I keep those in my sex dungeon. How many times do I have to tell you I’m not a heathen?”
“Sex dungeon. Sir, you surprise me.”
“Got to keep you on your toes so you don’t get bored.”
We both fell silent as we took the elevator to the top floor. When the silence became unbearable, I allowed myself to ramble.
“You mean to tell me you live in a penthouse, and we’ve been slumming it in my tiny house? Sir, I’m disappointed in you.”
He growled, pressing me against the elevator wall. “You know how I feel when you call me sir?” He ground his erection against me and I arched into him. “You drive me fucking crazy.”
The elevator door dinged, signaling we’d made it to the top. Holding my hand, we walked to his door, he typed in his code, and the door quietly unlocked.
“Fancy,” I said when we walked into the spacious foyer. I stopped when he turned on the lights to let me see his space. It was magnificent. “Okay, fancy was not the right word, extravagant.”
The bottom floor was an open plan. The living area had large black leather couches, that quite honestly didn’t lookcomfortable. Everything was black and imposing, like the area didn’t want you to relax.
“Would you like a tour?” Easton asked while I continued to glance around.
“Yes, please.” I tore my eyes from the only beautiful thing besides Easton in the room … the large picture window framing the bustling city below. The lights shined as cars sped down the empty late-night street.
It was the only thing I liked so far, and it also oddly put my worries in perspective. Easton and I were tiny nothings when it came to the whole world, people down there didn’t care about my heartache and that made me feel better.
Jules was right when she said that this was my only time living as Rachel, and I better make it the best Rachel life I could. Unfortunately, the conclusion was I needed to let Easton go.
Easton, completely in the dark to my feelings, led me around the first floor. His kitchen was just as imposing, with scary, shiny black appliances, some of which I had no idea what they did. Fuck, even the downstairs bathroom’s toilet was black.
I followed Easton upstairs, and surprise, surprise, more fucking black. We ended the tour in Easton’s gigantic bedroom. His bathroom was also sporting black fixtures, although I admit the black whirlpool tub could convince me to give it a whirl with little to no cajoling.