Darwin's Natural Selection Read Online Free Page B

to believe him.
    “He’s a big guy,” Tom said slowly, trying to ignore a shiver of panic at the thought of Darwin. “Blond.”
    “You’re seriously bringing this guy tomorrow night? As your date?” she asked.
    “He’s not going to turn out to be a blow-up doll or invisible friend or anything, is he?”
    “He’s a real guy—flesh and blood, I promise.” And muscle and bone and skin, all bound together in one terrifyingly beautiful package. Tom shook off the thought and the panic that came with it.
    “Well, I guess I’ll meet him tomorrow night then.” Anne paused, then added, “If this is all a ploy to get out of meeting Yancy, I’m going to kick your ass, Tommy.”
    “Of course it’s not.” Tom closed his eyes.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Can’t wait to see you both. Bye.”
    Even after Anne ended the call, Tom still held his phone to his face.
    How the fuck was he supposed to get himself out of this mess?

    *
     
    He never did get to watch any of the shark show.
    Instead, he spent the evening staring at his cell phone. Tom knew he had two options—face Anne’s scorn, triumph and pity at the dinner the following night, or call Darwin. He’d gone out to his truck and retrieved the crumpled ball of paper with the guy’s number, but he hadn’t been able to get to the part where he actually dialed.
    “You’re such a chicken,” he muttered to himself, reaching out a hand and giving the corner of his phone a little push so it spun in a circle on his granite countertop. “He seemed perfectly nice. Plus there will be a ton of people there. What could possibly go wrong?”
    Logic wasn’t working. His hand still refused to pick up the phone and dial.
    His cell rang, startling him so badly he almost fell off his stool. Tom’s hand fumbled to grab the phone, sending it skidding toward the edge of the counter. He managed to grab it right before it plunged to the floor.
    Flustered, he didn’t check the caller ID
    before answering.
    “Hello?”
    “Tom,” a too-familiar voice purred.
    Tom rested his forehead on the heel of his hand. This was perfect. All the evening had been missing was his asshole of an ex.
    “What do you want, Andy?” Usually he tried to be a little more tactful but Tom was flat out of patience and tact.
    There was a short pause before Andrew spoke again. “I was just calling to see how you were doing, but if you don’t want to talk to me…”
    Tom sighed. “Sorry. It’s just not a good time.” A touch of guilt made him add, “I’m having a bad night.”
    “Tell me about it,” Andy groaned, and Tom closed his eyes for a moment. “Guess what happened to me this morning?”
    “Really, Andy,” Tom said through gritted teeth. “It’s a bad time. Really, really bad. I’ll call you back later.”
    As if Tom hadn’t even said a word, Andy continued his story. “Mickey moved out.
    Just packed up and left.”
    “Who’d you cheat on him with?” Tom asked.
    With an offended huff, Andy asked, “Why do you have to assume it was my fault? Mickey’s no angel.”
    “Fine.” He was zero for two in getting annoying people off the phone tonight.
    “What happened?”
    After a short pause, Andy admitted, “Okay, so maybe I did sleep with another guy. But it didn’t mean anything!”
    “Maybe not to you, but it means something to Mickey,” Tom replied. It meant something when you did the same thing to me.
    Andy blew that off with a noncommittal sound. “We should grab a drink. Talk about our bad nights.”
    “No.” The word was out before Tom even realized it. A week earlier, he probably would have met Andy for that drink. He would’ve also ended up sleeping with him, getting dumped by him again and spending the next few weeks and months trying to piece himself back together. Now, however, the image of Darwin’s hotter-than-life form filled his brain, leaving no room for Andrew.
    “Why not?” Andy wheedled. “It’s just a drink. C’mon, Tom. What will one