High Strung (Power Station Book 1) (21 page)

“His apartment has a heap of security. I need like a retinal scan just to get in the door.”

I was exaggerating. I had no idea what I needed to do to get in his building but I assumed I wouldn’t be able to just walk in off the street.

“So surprise him at the door. Turn up.” Megs stopped eating. She was serious. Like I could just turn up on his doorstep unannounced.

“What if he is doing something, or someone else?” Even though we hadn’t explored the boundaries of what we were doing, I was hoping this wasn’t a possibility. He had said things last night, things I hoped just weren’t for my benefit. There was still I had a tiny bit of doubt. Okay, more than a tiny bit.

“Ash, he wouldn’t.”

“Do I know that?”

“Well, one way to find out. Go there and see for yourself.” Megs pushed her spoon into the half-eaten pint, hopping to her feet. “Go, then report back.” She yanked on my arm.

“I can’t just go. I need to change or something.” I glanced down at Jersey and jeans. I wasn’t even wearing makeup.

“Ash, he won’t care what you’re wearing. Stop making excuses and go.” She tugged on my arm again.

“I’m going, I’m going.” I rolled my eyes, lifting myself from the couch. “Sit back down and elevate the foot. I can see myself out.”

“’Bye. Call me,” Megs called out from behind me. I knew she would start burning up the phone if she didn’t hear within an hour.

“’Bye.” I grabbed my purse and phone and headed out the door.

Megs was right. I needed answers or at the very least some kind of definition as to what we had going on.

****

I paced in the front of Dan’s building; the wind tunneled through the high-rises and it was freezing. I needed a strategy. I had been partially right about the security. While no retinal scan was required, you did actually need to be a resident. Though the whole element of surprise would be gone if I called him and told him I was here. If he had anyone up there then she could easily be shoved out a back entry. Think Ashlyn, think. I paced. My Vans padded softly against the concrete. It came to me. Brilliance. Pizza.

I called a local pizza delivery and gave them Dan’s address, paying for it on my sad and overused credit card. It’s not like the pizza charge was going to make a huge difference in the big scheme of things, I was already skating on the poverty line. Besides, it would be worth it for my peace of mind.

I waited, hoping my brilliant plan would work. See, I’m sure I wasn’t the only girl who had thought up the whole order-a-pizza-and-get-into-meet-the-band idea but my version had a twist. While ordering said pizza and making payment, I tipped them an extra ten bucks to deliver it with a message. I wanted credit for the pizza so when the delivery guy showed up he would tell Dan I had sent it as a gift. Which of course he would accept because, it’s not like I was going to send him flowers. Then the second part of my plan would spring into action but this was largely dependent on the delivery driver. This was one time I was hoping for a bored stoner who didn’t care about job integrity.

I waited. And waited. Finally after thirty agonizing minutes, a car with a pizza box mounted on the roof came into view. Thankfully no one had called the cops to report the redheaded loiterer who was talking to herself in the street.

I raced to the door just as the delivery guy was buzzing the intercom. I put my head down, pretending to fish for my keys in my purse.

“Yeah.” Dan’s unmistakable voice burst through the speaker.

“Hey dude, I have a pizza delivery for Dan Evans.” The driver was not only bored but also clearly not interested. I hit the jackpot of slackers. Score.

“Um, I didn’t order any pizza. Wait, what kind is it?” Dan’s confused voice made me smile. He sounded adorable, knowing he didn’t order pizza but still interested in the possibility of pizza.

I continued digging around in my purse, not that I needed to bother with my theatrical display. Delivery guy didn’t even glance at me, let alone care I was there.

“It’s peperoni with extra cheese but it’s already been paid for. Some girl called Ashlee Murphy sent it to you.” Delivery Dumbass read off his provided receipt. I wanted to choke him. How fucking hard is it you say Ashlyn? My parents had a lot to answer for - I’d never had my name on a lunch box growing up.

“Dude, do you mean Ashlyn?” I breathed a sigh of relief thankful Dan pieced it together.

“Dude, I didn’t take the call, I’m just the driver. Do you want this pie or not?” Dumbass barked into the intercom. So much for service with a smile.

“Yeah, sure. Let me buzz you up. I’ll code you into the elevator. Just hit P.”

I pretended to insert my key as the lock popped open, walking through casually to the elevator. Dumbass followed close behind me, giving me a sideways glance as we both reached for the P on the button.

“You going to the Penthouse?” I raised my brow at him, pretending to act surprised.

“Yeah, I’ve got a delivery.” He tapped his padded delivery bag like I was an idiot and couldn’t see he was holding a pizza. Visual reinforcement was obviously important because the uniform he was wearing wouldn’t be a big enough tip off.

“I didn’t order pizza.” I acted annoyed, giving him the stare down, holding the door open to stop the elevator’s assent.

“Look, lady. It’s for some guy called Dan.” Dumbass was getting annoyed or impatient. I didn’t care for either of his moods.

“Dan is my neighbor. He is also a shitty tipper and an asshole. He should know better than to let unauthorized people into this building. You could be a murderer or a thief. Give me your stinking pizza and I will deliver it myself to him, where I will give him a piece of my mind.” I held the door open, unrelenting.

“Here.” He tore open the Velcro flap and shoved the box in my hand. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit.” He stalked from the elevator and back out toward the door.

I smiled at myself, pleased with my ingenuity. I now had access and the pizza. It was a win-win. I let the metal doors close, my silent victory bubbling from the inside.

My heart pounded as I moved up the floors, I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or from nerves. Dan had asked me to come by later. Technically we hadn’t discussed time, so this was later. He had also randomly shown up at my door so precedence had been set. Yes? Yes!

The elevator doors parted, opening out to the Penthouse floor, Dan’s door only a few feet away.

I knocked loudly on the door, wondering if Dan had video surveillance. Pizza in hand. Feeling a little vulnerable.

A stunning brunette opened the door, her beautiful brown eyes shining brightly. My phone buzzed from inside the pocket of my jeans. I decided that what was in front of me deserved more attention. Her long legs clad in designer jeans, her ample boobs strained against her fitted cotton top.

“Hey, thanks!” She handed over a five-dollar bill and accepted the box from my hands.

I blinked, dumbfounded. Did I trip and hit my head on the way up here? My mind couldn’t register what my eyes were seeing.

“Umm...” I looked at the money in my palm, which had taken the spot of the pizza box.

“Oh Sorry. That’s just the tip. Dan said the pizza was paid for by some girl. Is that right?”

“Yeah.” That’s right,
some girl
. The very girl who is standing in front of you. What an ass. Not only was he with someone else but they were going to be enjoying the pizza I had paid for. I secretly hoped they both choked on it.

“Mommy,” squealed a little boy as he ran to the door and hugged his mother’s legs, aka the women standing in front of me; he must have been no older than three. What? I lost all muscle control of my face as my mouth dropped open and my eyes almost popped right out of my skull. There was no mistaking the resemblance, Dan’s dark hair and eyes in a tiny little boy package. What the actual fuck? He had a fucking kid? I felt like I was going to throw up.

Unable to speak and quite impressed I still had the ability to move, I slowly turned to walk away. I should have known better. What was I thinking? He was a player. What did I expect? The kid had definitely thrown me; I couldn’t believe that clown was responsible for another human being.

Blindly I rounded the corner, desperate to get back into the elevator and as far away from here as possible. Whatever we had been doing was over. Dan wasn’t going to get the opportunity to explain, I believe it was all fairly self-explanatory. There was no way in hell I was going to stoop and make a scene, why should I bother? I was worth more than that. Granted, we hadn’t spoken about being exclusive and technically we weren’t even dating, but I would be no one man’s alternative. My phone buzzed again from my pocket. Once again, bigger fish to fry.

I didn’t see the body I collided with. My face mashed rather spectacularly into a warm and muscular chest. It was hard to breathe but he smelled good. Nice. Death by pectorals would be a cool way to die.

“Ashlyn?” Troy’s throaty voice pulled me from destiny with suffocation. Great. The scenario would be so much more enjoyable with an audience. Not.

“Oh, hey.” I casually righted myself, trying to keep my expression neutral. No doubt he had been covering for his bestie. Even though inside I felt like a bunch of explosives just had a party with a box of matches, I wasn’t giving either of them the satisfaction. Yep, nothing to see here, folks. “I was just leaving.”

“Leaving? Dan called and mentioned you and pizza.” Troy looked confused. I wondered if woman and child in Dan’s apartment would have the same level of confusion. Perhaps they needed a diagram. See here, people, this circle of crazy is you and
this
is Ashlyn, walking away. Dumbass. I wasn’t sure if that insult was directed at Dan or myself. Either one was a viable option.

“Ashlyn. What the fuck?” Dan’s unmistakable voice boomed from behind me. He actually had the nerve to sound surprised and irate. Seriously, the balls on this guy.

My mind conjured up which slow and painful death would be most satisfying. “I really underestimated you, Dan Evans. Well done. Worst judgment call of my life.” I fought the urge to applaud. This for me was a new kind of low.

“Me?” He narrowed his eyes as they raked over my body. “I’m not the one who turned up to your apartment and disrespected you. Troy, so help me, if this is your fucking doing, I’m going to punch you right in the nuts.”

“Dude, ease up. I get you’re upset but it’s not the end of the world. Now kick it down a notch or me and you are going to be having words.” Troy glared at Dan.

“Troy had nothing to do with this. Your friend stayed loyal to the end.” I had no idea why I was defending Troy; right now I couldn’t stand the sight of either of them. A huge bonfire with all things Power Station sounded like a good idea, possibly followed by a Dan voodoo doll I would castrate. “And as far as disrespecting goes, you are in a class all onto yourself. Take a good look, Dan, ’cause I’m out of here.”

“Fuck.” Dan grabbed my arm and blew out a slow defeated breath. “Look, maybe we can work through this. I should have told you. It just didn’t come up.”

Was I hearing him correctly? Was this man actually that delusional? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as I shook off his grasp. “Didn’t come up? What is wrong with you? How can you be with me in any capacity and not have fucking told me, Dan? I shouldn’t have to walk up here and find out like this. What if I hadn’t been here today? Would you have ever come clean?”

“Of course, eventually. I didn’t think it was going to be an issue. You know you are partly to blame here, too, Ash. You should have said something.” He folded his arms in front of his chest looking disappointed.
He
was playing the victim card? No words. Okay maybe I had just a few left.

“Oh my god. You have the nerve to blame me? Excuse me while I call the men in the white coats, Dan, because you are even crazier than I thought.”

“Hey guys, maybe lets move out of the hallway. I think you both need to calm down. Yeah?” Troy tried to play the diplomat. Delsuionville had another resident it seemed. Calming down was not on my agenda. Along with ever seeing or speaking to either of them again.

“I cannot believe you’re asking me to calm down. Troy, I’m appalled.” And disgusted and most of all hurt, I finished the sentence in my head.

“Ash, I know he sounds like a lunatic but Dan’s just passionate. Honestly, let’s sit this down and see if it’s something you guys can work through. You came all the way down here. With a pizza.” Troy smiled as he continued to mediate.

“Which was straight up one of the sexiest things any girl has ever done. Until you show up...” Dan waved his arms wildly in front of me, “like that.”

“There is nothing to work out. I’m not sorry I showed up. At least now I know the truth. The only thing I
am
sorry is that I wasted any of my time on you.” My voice sounded strangled, a mixture of anger and betrayal. I was trying to maintain control but my body was not co-operating.

Dan blinked as if seeing my hurt for the first time. His unexplained anger slightly receded. He had to know this was the end. There could be no coming back from here. He hissed out through his clenched jaw. “I hate the motherfucking Bruins!”

“What?” My brain went into free fall and I wondered if I had missed a part of the conversation somewhere. The part where that comment actually made sense.