“Us?” I asked suspiciously, as I went to open the door and got the answer to my question a second later. Standing there were Julia, Salome and José. “What are you guys doing here?” Despite the semi-flustered tone in my voice I was glad to see them. I needed all the buffers I could get during the adjustment period with Theo. But one of my least redeeming qualities was my tendency to push people away when I needed them most.

“Obviously we’re here to offer you moral support, rude ass,” Julia chastised me as she pointedly stared at the two bins full of my stuff Salome was holding. My best friend knew only too well that my “I am an island” thing was usually a cry for help.

“Sorry,” I apologized, ushering them inside. “I’m a little tense because of...” I waved a hand in the direction of the living room as explanation.

“We’re here for you, babe.” José was the first to take a step forward. He quickly gave me a peck on the cheek before nosing around the bedroom. “Girl...this is nice.” He stretched out the word making it sound more like “noooooice,” making me laugh. And the room was baller.

“A professional had a hand in this for sure,” I agreed. I was usually a snob about design, but whoever did this penthouse had taste. My room colors were a palette of earthy greens and browns, and even though those colors were a bit more masculine than what I would’ve selected for myself, it worked. The bed was huge, with a headboard done in a mocha quilted leather that reached halfway up the ceiling. The wall behind it was covered in a gorgeous floral wallpaper in burgundy, gold and dark green. Across from the bed was an outrageously lavish fireplace done in wrought dark metal and shiplap that I was planning to take with me when I left. The balcony was spacious and had two comfy chairs with a table in between overlooking the Dallas Arboretum grounds. It was full-on Texas-style chic and there was no way I could afford a hotel with this kind of room in it, not without hurting my plans for BB.

“This is pretty swanky, Albita, you should not feel obligated to come back to my place.” That was Julia, who was already perched on a leather wingback armchair, her feet propped up on the matching ottoman. Yeah, my spoiled ass was not going to leave this place and go to the Holiday Inn just because I could not handle Theo’s dick print in those gym shorts. I’d just have to control myself.

“Yoooo, you could have an orgy in that shower.” That contribution came from Salome, who’d gone into the bathroom with the bin containing my toiletries.