Down for Her by Melissa Chambers (best e books to read txt) 📗

drink of the beer and stares at the cup like she’s never had it before. She downs the rest and sets it down. “Man, I feel good right now.”

I pour her another beer.

“No,” she says, holding both hands up. “I’m not drinking your alcohol again.”

“It wasn’t my alcohol that you drank last night.”

“Still. I’m not going to get in anyone’s way these next few weeks. I’m just going to keep to myself and utilize that business center as much as possible, trying to find a way to bring in some more money quickly. Let me tell you, the last couple of hours have been an eye opener. Everyone wants first and last month’s rent, plus deposit, fees, and all kinds of stuff. I don’t know what I was thinking coming down here.” She takes another long drink of the beer I poured her. “Now that I see what it’s going to really cost to live, I’ve got to step up my game.”

Cohen comes up to the table and pats me on the shoulder. “Wild party last night, man.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t on purpose.”

“Those are the best kind.” He points at Kylie, squinting one eye. “Kylie, right?”

“Yep. And you’re…Logan?”

“Cohen. Logan’s my cousin.”

“Yes, I knew that. Sorry.”

“No problem. You’ve got a lot of names to keep up with. Brett told me at lunch the other day that they stuck you with him and Val for the weekend. Are you the one who cleaned their house?”

“Yeah, as a thank you for letting me stay for the weekend.”

“That place was rank. How’d you get the stench out?”

“You’re one to talk,” I say. “Your place is just as bad as ours was.”

“Yeah, I’ve got to get Logan off his ass to help me clean our place. Our moms are coming this weekend.”

Kylie’s eyes go wide. “I’ll do it…for forty bucks…if you can provide the cleaning supplies?” She turns to me. “Or if I can borrow yours?”

I shrug.

Cohen studies her. “Seriously?”

“I’m totally serious. But you’ll have to pay me in cash that day.”

He squints as he considers the offer.

“You think a girl is gonna want to sleep with you in that filth?” I add. Not that I want Kylie in Cohen and Logan’s unit or anyone else’s, for that matter, but if this gets her on her feet sooner, hell yeah, I’m in her corner.

He meets Kylie’s hopeful gaze. “Done.”

She grins. “Can I do it tomorrow after work? I can come straight there.”

“That works for me.” He turns to me. “We’ll come to your house while she’s at ours.”

She clasps her hands in front of her chest. “Awesome.”

He hits me on the shoulder. “I like this girl, Brett. You could do much worse.”

This is where I should explain that it’s not like that, but I really don’t mind him thinking we’re together, especially since Kylie’s getting ready to be up close and personal in his house.

Simone and Bailey come up to our table, and she hugs both of them and tells them about her day. I realize the more people who discover her, the more relationships she’s going to build. She’s going to meet guys and they’ll like her. They’ll want to date her, and they’re definitely gonna want to hook up with her. If I don’t make my move soon, someone else will.

14

Kylie

Tori’s unit is laid out exactly like Brett’s. Same art on the walls, same vinyl couch, same tile flooring. But the vibe in this place is definitely more cold and stony. Maybe it’s because Tori’s not a morning person. I passed her in the hallway this morning on my way to the bathroom, and she didn’t even look at me, much less say good morning. I get the distinct feeling she’s regretful she asked me to stay with her.

I was so thankful when she offered, because I’ve only spent a little bit of time with Jack. While he seems perfectly harmless, he may not be. Tori and Brett don’t like him, even though they appear to be some form of frenemies with him. But he gives the impression that he’s a nice, helpful guy. Part of me wishes I would’ve taken him up on his offer to stay at his place. But the other part, ridiculously, wants to stay as close to Brett’s unit as possible.

It’s stupid. I know. Because Brett clearly isn’t interested in me and maybe even has some doubts about me. Of Jack, Tori, and him, Brett was the only one who didn’t offer me a place to stay. His silence spoke volumes that he wanted me out of his house. I try not to read too much into it, because he was so kind to let me stay for the weekend. But I thought we were getting closer.

I walk to Cohen and Logan’s unit, which is right next door to Brett’s. Cohen answers and greets me with a smile. He’s maybe a couple of inches taller than me with rich, dark hair shorter than Brett’s but not too short. His distinctly blue eyes contrast with his hair color, and his nose sits crooked, which only makes him cuter than your typical hunk with a perfectly chiseled nose.

“Hey. Come on in,” he says with a deep tone to his voice.

Upon first glance, I assess that the job might be slightly less taxing than the one on Saturday, but not by too much. The place is, of course, exactly like Tori’s and Brett’s—the same décor, the same teal faux leather couch and recliner, and at least one picture of sand dunes like in Tori’s unit.

I don’t see any food lying in pans on the floor, but the dishes in the kitchen spill out of the sink onto the countertops, and there’s some sort of slop on the kitchen floor that was never cleaned up.

“I’m guessing you don’t use your kitchen?” I ask.

“Not since it got like that. I’ve been staying at my girlfriend’s place for a few months, but we just split.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you still okay with doing this