You and I Forever (7 page)

“
What?” She stutters out, stopping abruptly just feet from the front steps of my building. “What do you mean you found him?”

“
He's in Washington. He's training the manager there for the next few weeks.” I say, adjusting the weight of my book bag that is hanging heavily against my shoulders.

“
Wait, back up. One, how do you know it's him? And two, who the hell is he?” She asks, her patience going straight out the window.

“
His name is Dax Riley. He was the manager of Bentley's Philadelphia club but then Bentley pulled him out to help train in Seattle. I knew it was him because he said he visited
Allure
a few weeks ago and he looked exactly like the guy you described. Though it's the tattoos that made me pretty certain. I asked him if you danced for him and I knew immediately that you had based on the way he smiled at the question but didn't answer.”

“
He smiled?” She looks at me half panicked. “Like smiled like it was a fond memory?” She asks, fanning herself with her hand.

“
Oh and the biggest part, he's coming to Chicago when he's finished in Seattle!” I practically scream, laughing when I register the look on Lo's face. “He's going to be a manager at
Allure
!”

I'm not sure if she wants to scream, puke, or cry. Or maybe all of the above. Her cheeks are bright red and she looks like she needs to sit down for a moment.

“
You're fucking with me right?” She asks, letting out a nervous laugh that is so not Lo like.

“
Not at all.” I say, smiling excitedly. “And you were right by the way. Total hottie. And those tattoos... Good God that man is the perfect combo of business and bad boy.”

“
Right?” She jumps in. “I thought so too. There was just something about him. I don't know how to explain it. Something that just really drew me to him and it wasn't just his looks. Do you know what I mean?”

“
Trust me, if anyone knows what you mean, it's me. I felt the same way about Bentley. Everyone goes on and on about how sexy he is but it wasn't that for me. I mean, obviously the initial attraction was, but beyond that, there was just something so different about him. Something that had me unable to shake the feeling he left me with.”

“
Exactly.” She agrees, clearly having experienced something like this with Dax.

“
Well he will be here in a couple of months.” I raise my eyebrows up and down at her.

“
Yeah but as my boss.” She says, laughing immediately when she realizes what she just said. “Sorry. Totally didn't even think about that.”

“
Uh huh.” I laugh.

“
So Josh is for sure leaving then?” She asks, returning to the fact that there is going to be a new manager at
Allure
.

“
I don't think so why?” I ask, confused by her question.

“
Because why else would we be getting another manager?”

“
Cora?” I question, thinking that it's pretty obvious.

“
No because Malcolm is taking Cora's spot.” She says, shaking her head. “Apparently he has a degree in business. Who knew?” She shrugs, clearly saying she didn't. “Didn't you know about any of this?” She asks.

“
Well it's been a few days since I have been to the club but Bentley never mentioned it.” I admit, feeling more than a little frustrated by that fact.

“
I overheard Josh talking to Shira. I am pretty sure he's leaving. And if he is, it makes sense that Dax is coming.” She says.

“
Overheard what exactly?” I ask, deciding that if Bentley is going to keep me in the dark, I will just have to rely on Lo and her incredible eavesdropping skills.

“
I guess they are shifting the area. Shira was telling Josh about a New York opening. Apparently one of the New York managers moved to the club in Philadelphia, which makes sense considering Dax was there and is now in Seattle. Shira was only a temporary fill until they could move someone else into the position at
Allure
and considering they are already training Malcolm, and Shira is splitting her time between us and Seattle, so she's not even really here full time, I think it's safe to say that her days of being in Chicago are dwindling down.”

“
You got all that from listening to Josh and Shira?” I throw her a confused look.

“
Well that and I overheard Josh and Malcolm talking in the office. I will never understand why people choose to have closed door conversations with the door cracked where anyone can just walk up and listen to what they are saying.” She looks up innocently and then meets my gaze again.

“
You're ridiculous.” I can't help but laugh.

“
So how do you feel about that?” She asks, cocking her head to the side to study me.

“
How do I feel about what?” I ask, not sure what she's getting at.

“
Josh going to New York.” She says in a way that makes me think the question should have been obvious.

“
I mean, if it's what he wants, good for him.” I say.

“
But you don't think that Bentley is sending him there on purpose?” She asks, for the first time really giving me the hint to what she is talking about.

“
I wouldn't think so.” I trail off, now wondering if maybe she's right. Maybe Bentley didn't tell me about any of this because he didn't want me figuring it out.

“
It makes sense. I mean, what man wants his woman working with a dude she used to bang. Especially in the club where they used to do it.” She laughs at my shocked expression. “I'm just saying.” She holds her hands up in front of herself. “I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now honestly.”

I open my mouth to say something else but then immediately fall silent when I catch sight of Aaron crossing the parking lot towards us. He has his eyes turned down to the phone in his hand and it doesn't appear as though he even knows that me and Lo are standing just feet from him but that doesn't stop my stomach from twisting at the sight of him. Lo follows my line of sight and realizes what I am looking at just as he looks up and realizes we are here.

His face drops slightly when he catches sight of me and his eyes immediately begin scanning the area, no doubt looking for Bentley. “Hey, isn't that........” Lo starts, but then immediately closes her mouth when he quickly turns around and starts heading in the opposite direction. Laughing, she turns her face towards me with a questioning look.

“
Aaron. Yes.” I say, smiling when I turn my eyes back towards Lo. “Had I known all it would take was for Bentley to scare some sense into him, I would have had him punch him out a long time ago.” I laugh, flipping my eyes back to Aaron who is now several feet from us.

“
Come on. I'm starving.” Lo says, pulling my attention back to her. “And I want every detail of your encounter with my mystery man while we eat.” She laughs, peeling open the door and walking inside of my building.

****

Lunch with Lo was enjoyable but I couldn't really keep my mind focused on her rambling on and on about Dax. As much as I played it off to her that I couldn't care less that Bentley hadn't told me about all the changes taking place, the truth is, it bothers me.... A lot.

I guess I feel like we should be past this point. If he doesn't want me and Josh working together anymore, the least he could do is tell me himself instead of going behind my back and shipping him off to another state.

I mean, sure, I will miss Josh but as a friend, nothing more. But this isn't about Josh leaving. It's about Bentley not being upfront with me about why. Pushing up in my bed, I grab my cell phone off of the nightstand and pull it off of the charger.

If Bentley is not going to tell me the truth, I will find it out directly from the source. Scrolling through my contacts, I click on Josh's name and put the phone to my ear. It rings several times and just when I am certain that the voicemail is going to pick up, Josh's voice comes on the line.

“
Logan?” He questions, clearly surprised that I am calling him.

“
Are you moving to New York?” I ask, not even bothering to say hello.

“
What?” He questions, clearly confused.

“
Are you moving to New York?” I ask again.

“
Why are you calling me this late at night to ask me this?” He questions.

“
Answer the question Josh.”

“
Yes.” He gives me a one word answer but doesn't attempt to say more.

“
Are you going to New York because you want to or because Bentley asked you to?” I ask, holding my breath, waiting for him to speak on the other end.

“
It's not that simple.” He says, clearly not wanting to get into this with me.

“
Tell me the truth Josh. Did you volunteer or something? Do you want to go to New York?” I ask.

“
I mean, I hadn't really thought about it before.” He starts, but I cut in.

“
Before what? Before Bentley suggested it?” I ask, laughing through my frustration.

“
This is a good thing Logan.” He lets out a long exhale. “I need this.” He admits. “So no, while it wasn't my idea, I think it's for the best.”

“
Josh...” I start but he cuts me off.

“
Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Even when I tried to make you feel like you had. You deserve to be happy and it's clear that you really love him. So yes, I am going to New York. And yes, I want to.” He says.

“
Okay.” I breathe out, not at all happy about how Bentley went about this but glad that Josh seems to have made peace with everything.

“
I will see you at the club this weekend Logan. I gotta go.” He says, not waiting for me to say goodbye before disconnecting the call.

Dropping my phone on the nightstand, I lay back down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. This is a good thing, I replay Josh's words. And while I agree that it is time to move on, I hate that Bentley felt like he needed to go behind my back to make it happen. Maybe we haven't come as far as we'd like to think we have.

Chapter
Seven

“
So then, Josh is for sure leaving?” Lo flops down on the couch in my dressing room and pulls off her hot pink heels, stretching out her toes as she slides each one off.

“
Apparently so.” I say, turning towards her from my seat in front of the vanity.

“
Have you asked Mr. Marvelous about it yet?” She asks, smiling.

“
No.” I shake my head. “I think this is a conversation best had in person. Not that it's a big deal. It really isn't. I just wish he had been up front with me about it.”

“
I get that. I do.” She says, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “But I also see where he's coming from too. I mean, would you want him working side by side everyday with a woman you know for a fact he used to sleep with?” She asks.

“
Pretty sure he has probably slept with half the people he works with.” I retort, crinkling my forehead and trying to shake away the thought.

“
Good point.” Lo laughs, clearly finding more humor in it than I do. “So on another note, did you ever start your period?”

“
Yes, thank God.” I sigh out, turning slightly to drop my brush onto the vanity before turning back to Lo. “I was convinced the test was wrong when I still didn't start but thankfully it came last week.”

“
Wonder why you were so late.” Lo observes, crossing her legs in front of herself.

“
No idea. Stress maybe.” I shrug, knowing it could be a number of things. “I'm just glad I'm not pregnant. Could you imagine? Bentley would freak out.” I stop mid laugh when Lo's face morphs from humor to panic.

“
Would I now?” Bentley's voice washes over me from behind and I spin to find him standing in the doorway of my dressing room. My stomach immediately knots tightly and I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks.