Free Getting Dumped by Tawna Fenske Page B

The volume on the TV went silent and I heard footsteps, followed by the click of my door latch and Pete’s good-natured baritone.
    “Hey there, can I help you?”
    There was a long pause, followed by another familiar voice. “Um, is JJ around?”

CHAPTER FIVE
    “Daniel!” I yelped.
    I launched myself across the room in a cloud of flying almond bits and powdered sugar. It was supposed to be quick and graceful, but I tripped over the corner of a rug. Down I went, skidding on my knees across the wood floor to come to rest between Pete and Daniel’s feet.
    I looked up to find myself at eye level with both their crotches.
    Lovely.
    Daniel reached down to help me to my feet, but Pete moved to do the same thing just a split second behind him. For an instant, the two held hands.
    They let go fast, like they cupped turds in their palms.
    I stood up fast on my own, not wanting to pick between them for assistance in standing. I dusted off my knees and looked from Daniel to Pete, then back to Daniel. I wasn’t sure why I felt so awkward about having them both in a room together, but I couldn’t deny the distinct urge to have the ground swallow me up.
    “This is quite a surprise, Daniel!” I said with more cheer than I was really feeling. “What brings you here?”
    Daniel’s jaw clenched as he deliberately avoided looking at Pete. “I called, but your cell went right to voicemail. I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d stop in and see if you wanted to go grab a drink. Looks like you have other plans.”
    Blue Cat chose that moment to leap onto the arm of the sofa and butt his head against Daniel’s thigh. Clearly, he wasn’t concerned that his mistress had a hot guy answering her door mere days after asking her boyfriend for space.
    Daniel scratched Blue Cat’s ears, looking slightly more concerned than my feline companion. Blue Cat purred loudly and drooled on my sofa, pleased that his favorite person on the planet had joined our cozy get-together.
    “Right,” I said, clearing my throat. “Daniel, meet Pete. Pete, meet Daniel. Pete works at the landfill. Daniel is my– um, my–”
    “Boyfriend,” Daniel supplied, reaching out to shake Pete’s hand. “Good to meet you.”
    “Dude,” Lori said from behind me, stepping on my heel to let me know she had my back. “That’s the first time you’ve ever said she’s your girlfriend. I thought there was some sort of company rule about that.”
    “The rules have changed,” Daniel said carefully.
    “They have,” I agreed, not sure we were just talking about the handbook. “Look, I’m kind of busy this evening, but maybe we could get together some other time?”
    “Right,” Daniel said. He glanced over my shoulder where Adam sat watching TV, politely refraining from adding additional awkwardness to the situation.
    “We’re not all here having an orgy, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Lori offered.
    Daniel frowned. “Why would an orgy be on my list of assumptions?”
    “I’m just saying,” Lori said. “It might look like a good setup for an orgy, but—”
    “Okay, then,” I interrupted, ready to bring the conversation to a halt. “Daniel, thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely evening.”
    “I’ll call you.” Before I could reach for the door, he leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. It wasn’t overt, it wasn’t passionate, but it was a kiss just the same.
    And I’ll admit, I kinda wanted more.
    “Good night,” I said, and closed the door. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me before I even turned around.
    Adam grinned. “Boyfriend?”
    “It’s complicated,” I told him.
    “Very,” Lori agreed as she perched on the arm of the sofa.
    “Okay,” I agreed. “So I’ll just finish up those apricot balls.”
    My cheeks were flaming as I turned and marched back toward the kitchen. Pete touched my arm. “Mind if I refill my water?”
    “Sure, right this way.”
    Lori shot me a questioning look, clearly