The Book of Rook

Chapter 22

PHOENIX

After I move most of my things into Rook's room, I decide to go to Angel's house and break the news to her. I take the subway so it's about a twenty-minute ride.

She hugs me when she opens the door. "It's been forever since I've seen you. How are you?" We walk towards her living room and sit on the sofa.

Shit, I forgot. The last time she saw me, I was running out of the restaurant when I saw Rook with his date. This is going to be much worse than I thought. "I'm good. Rook and I spoke so we're ok."

I watch as her eyebrows pinch together. "And here I was hoping you came to your senses."

"Meaning?"

"Stopping this charade of playing house with a well-known playboy. You're gonna get your heart broken."

I roll my eyes. This again. I swear if I have to hear her spew the same crap about Rook and his past, I'm going to vomit. "It's not like I haven't heard this speech before. Maybe record it and hit play so you won't have to waste your energy."

"Nix, I'm just looking out for you. After Brad, I was hoping you would stay single for a while and not hook up with the first guy you meet."

Now I count to ten and take a deep breath. "Rook was not the first guy I met." Well, technically I didn't really meet him in Cancun since we barely spoke and I tried to go on some dates when I went back home. Not my fault those fizzled. I rub my hand over my face in frustration. Seems I picked up that habit from my husband. I try not to smile at that.

I feel Angel grab my hand. "What the hell is this?"

Well, here it comes. "Rook and I went to Vegas and it seems we got married."

At first she just stares at me and then jumps up from the sofa. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope, serious as a heart attack, cuz."

"This is typical Rook. He probably planned this all along to get you to sleep with him. I'm just surprised he went the extra step. Is this even real? He probably lied to you so he can screw you."

"Wow, Angel. If you must know, I slept with Rook before we went to Vegas and I saw the certificate so it's real. Well as real as a Vegas wedding can get." Her eyes are as wide as saucers. She opens and closes her mouth like a fish. If the situation wasn't so serious, I would laugh at her. I think I really did it this time. "Angel, I love how you look out for me, but I can do much worse than Rook. He's been nothing but cordial, sweet and thoughtful since we've been together."

"Yeah, together for what? about two months?" she says sarcastically. "You barely know him and you slept with him?"

Now I'm getting pissed. It's not like he took my virginity. "And how long did it take for you to bang Cam?"

She crosses her hands across her chest. "That's different."

"Why? Because it's Cam. I'm sure Tristan and Lyle have wild stories about Cam from college. It's different since you had a front row seat to Rook's shenanigans. He's not that person. The Rook I know is a gentleman and puts me before himself."

Angel gives me a snarky look. "I hate to bring this up but he's had a crush on me for years and I don't want him to use you to get to me."

"Oh my God! Cocky much? Get over yourself. He doesn't even mention your name when we're together. Did it ever occur to you that he grew out of this crush since you've been with Cam? He's not stupid. Did you think he was going to cry his life away waiting for you when you wouldn't give him the time of day?"