I began. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your message. When I got in on Friday night it was too late to call and then I totally forgot on Saturday morning because I woke up late and was busy running around getting ready.”
Heath, still staring at the door, shook his head and blinked. “Mind telling me what the hell is going on?”
I dropped my bag on a nearby chair and moved over to the fridge in the corner of the studio that served as a teeny tiny kitchen. “Want some water? I think I have a Dr. Pepper.”
“I’m fine. I bought a coffee on the way over here. I know better than to come over here and expect anything to be in the fridge.”
“Why are you here?”
Heath’s face fell. “Because I was fucking worried. Your mom keeps calling me because she can’t get a hold of you and it’s driving me bananas and what the fuck is going on between you and Drake?”
My head spun—all of that had shot out of his mouth in less than ten seconds and I was still trying to process it. “I have a cell phone. I don’t have any numbers punched into it.” I pulled it out and handed it to him. “Can you put your number in there? And I’ll call you so you’ll have—”
“Where’d you get this? This is the brand new Galaxy. People are on waiting lists for these.”
“Adam gave it to me.”
Heath shot me a pointed look, then focused on putting his number into the phone. Then he dialed the number, letting it ring his cell once and hanging up.
“So are you two banging yet or what?”
I took the phone back from him, pressing my lips together. “Or what.”
“What’s his deal? Can’t he get it up? You spent the entire weekend with him and he didn’t get busy?”
I took a deep breath. “Friday we couldn’t. The boat wasn’t there. So we went on an overnight trip last night and…”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
“Shit. I knew he was gay.”
“What? No…no, he’s not gay.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m not going to go into details. I just know.”
“Then what?”
“Things just keep getting in the way and then last night…” I unscrewed the cap from the bottle of water and took a long sip.
“What happened last night?”
“We spent the day together—had a terrific time. And yesterday before dinner we were talking in the Jacuzzi. He asked me about what happened to me in high school.”
Heath’s frowned. “How much did you tell him?”
I shrugged. “Everything. It was easier to tell him than I thought. It just all came out.”
“Okay so what does that have to do with not—” Then his face flushed and he grimaced. “Oh I get it. He doesn’t want to touch you now because you’re damaged goods?”
“What? No. No. I think it freaked him out for the opposite reason. He said he wasn’t sure I was ready. He said he wouldn’t forgive himself if I freaked out about it.”
“Are you sure he’s not just procrastinating? Maybe it’s an excuse not to pay you.”
I shrugged. “I really don’t think that’s it. I just don’t know.”
Heath shook his head. “Are you two dating or something? He’s picking you up at six?”
“It’s a family barbecue.”
Heath cursed.
“What?” I said.
“He’s playing you, Mia. This was a deal for one night. Now he’s treating you like his own personal call girl.”
I shook my head. “That’s not true. We haven’t—”
“You haven’t fucked. But you’ve done other stuff,” Heath said. “You don’t even have to tell me that. I know.”
I shook my head. “That doesn’t make sense. He hasn’t even…”
Heath shrugged. “There are all kinds. Maybe he gets off on denying himself.”
“Shut up, Heath. Stop trying to make this all sound sick.”
“Girl, it started out sick. It’s just getting worse.”
I plunked down at my kitchen table and Heath’s eyes flew to the shiny new laptop. He waved a hand toward it. “New phone. New computer. A fancy overnight stay on a yacht. What’s next? A car? What’s he buying with all these expensive gifts? He wants something. He wants more than one night.”
I rubbed my forehead. I felt so stupid at this moment, unable to figure out what the simplest things meant. Was Adam using me? For what? I couldn’t get the vision of that expression on his face out of my mind—right after he’d stopped himself and pulled away. He’d looked so disgusted.