He snarled. “Fuck that,” he mumbled as he turned to look at me. “She’s why I drink. I swear.”

It was odd. But I felt chemistry burning off both of them. I wondered if they even realized it. There was a definite attraction between the two. They might not want it, but it was there. I shifted my eyes to Marty who was watching me. He winked again and smirked. Like we shared a secret. He saw it too. Hanging out tonight might be just the thing to get my mind off my life. I would certainly enjoy watching this drama unfold in front of me.

“CAN I SAY THAT I’M glad you’re who Mack brought to dinner tonight and not another mindless bimbo,” Shay said opening the third box she had brought as she placed it on the table.

We had finished the meal. It had, in fact, been delicious. Marty might make a huge mess but he was a talented cook.

“They aren’t mindless. Ask Beulah. She had a neighbor who was a stripper that needed to put herself through college and take care of her kid,” Mack shot back at her.

“Yes. Well, that kind of stripper isn’t the kind you bring home. The last one thought that chocolate milk came from brown cows,” Shay said before putting a chocolate tart in her mouth and glared right at him as if she dared him to explain that.

“She was kidding,” he muttered.

“No, brother. I believe she was serious. She also didn’t know Hillary Clinton was once the First Lady. She had no idea who Bill Clinton was,” Marty reminded him. “But she did look good in the dress she had on, so I can understand why you missed her lack of common sense.”

Mack let out an annoyed huff as he reached to slide one of the boxes across the table. As he peeked inside he said, “In her defense, she was two his last year as president.”

Shay began to laugh as if that was hilarious. Tears filled her eyes and she wiped them as she still laughed.

“God, would you stop it!” Mack barked at her.

She covered her mouth trying to stop. Marty was grinning too. “Dude. We didn’t know she was only eighteen. I’d have kept that to myself.”

Mack shoved a cookie in his mouth and looked angry.

“Dinner was great,” I told them. “Can I help clean up the kitchen?” Hopefully, my subtle change the subject would lead them away from discussing Mack’s horrendous choice of females.

“Both of you are running off Beulah. Can’t y’all shut the hell up?” Mack said as he stood up with another cookie in his hand. “Sorry about them. But no. You don’t touch the kitchen. That’s his job. If he needs to destroy it then he can clean it. Or Shay can help him since she didn’t manage to bring me the one thing I asked for.”

“You’re enjoying those cookies just fine,” she snapped at him.

He held up both hands as if he was done with her. “Because that’s all we fucking have!”

Marty sighed then turned his head to me. “It’s a damn circus around here.”

Today had been a long day. I wanted to talk to Stone and make a decision. But leaving without being rude would be tricky. I didn’t want them to think I was leaving because they were fighting. Because honestly, it was keeping me distracted.

“You can go. No harm done. I’d leave if I didn’t live here,” Marty said. I started to explain when a loud knock on the door stopped me. It also stopped Mack and Shay’s fighting. Or more like their argument.

“I’ll get it,” Mack said and stalked from the room.

“He’s such an ass,” Shay muttered.

“Mmmmhmmm,” Marty replied but he was grinning like he didn’t believe her. I had to agree with him. She almost seemed to be enjoying the constant word battle with Mack. Like she had not brought the pie on purpose.

“It’s for Beulah,” Mack called and I stood quickly at the sound of my name.

“Stone must be looking for you,” Marty said as he stood up too.

Would he come here looking for me? It seemed unlikely. I folded the napkin I’d had in my lap, then dropped it on my used plate before leaving them there and going toward the door. I figured when he got home and he saw my car out front he’d be curious. But he could have called. My phone was in my purse, completely dead. I’d forgotten to charge it last night. I blame the alcohol—I was drunk.

When I walked into the entryway and saw him standing there, his eyes locked on me. Pausing, I wondered if I should explain or apologize. Did he even care? Had he tried to call?

“You’re not answering your phone,” he said sounding angry.

“We were loud—” Mack had started to make excuses for me but I interrupted.

“I forgot to charge it last night. It’s dead.”

Stone held my gaze a moment longer. His expression was unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was angry, concerned, or annoyed.

“You weren’t home when I got here. And—”

“I asked her to have dinner with us. I’m sick of Shay and Marty. Needed to change it up a bit,” Mack explained for me before I could say more. I glanced at Mack and he seemed relaxed. “There’s plenty left if you want to come in. Shay brought some expensive ass shit for dessert from the Elswoods.”

Stone shifted his focus back to me. “Are you finished?”

I nodded. But I was nervous. Unsure of his mood. I didn’t say anymore.

“I’ve already eaten,” he said to Mack. “But thanks for the offer.”

“Anytime,” Mack replied then turned to look at me. “Glad you could come tonight. You’re always welcome.”

“Even more welcome if I bring the peanut butter pie,” I said with a smile.

He chuckled. “Yes. Anyone is welcome if they come with that in hand. Fuck knows Shay isn’t gonna get one.”

“Goodnight,” Stone said abruptly as he opened the door and then looked at me as if I were supposed to move first. So I did. I thanked Mack again as I left the apartment with Stone following at my heels. The door closed behind him. I kept walking toward the stairs. There was tension and I didn’t understand why. Did he not like Mack and Marty? Was there a problem with me having dinner with them?

I didn’t ask.

Instead, I waited. Stone would tell me when he was ready.

When we reached the top of the stairs, I paused as he stepped around me and unlocked the door. He waved his hand for me to go inside first. I did.

The lights came on as we walked inside and I scrambled for the right words to say. If I’d just come up here when I got home I would have had time to prepare my thoughts. I couldn’t find the right words because I was nervous and unsure of how to broach the subject of last night.

“Goodnight,” Stone said simply then headed down the hallway to his bedroom. I stood there speechless as I watched him leave me standing there. He’d come to get me as if we needed to talk. But he was going to bed? Seriously?

“You came to get me to make me go to bed?” I asked unable to stop myself.

He stopped walking and stood there a few moments before turning back to me. “No. I came to get you because you’re naïve. Mack is a known womanizer. He’s not like Jasper. He’s a professional at using women.”

With that explanation, he continued on. Before I could think of something else to say or formulate more questions to ask, he was gone. His door closed firmly behind him.

And I was left alone. We hadn’t discussed anything. Not about me leaving or how long I should stay here. Nothing.