Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
In five hours…I mean, it was a whole new place.
I beamed, hearing soft Christmas music from the speakers.
The glass railing of the terrace that stretched along the beach-side of the house had been covered in greenery and lights.
The living room was my new favorite room in the house. I wanted us to fuck on that soft rug in front of the tree, then on the one in front of the fire, and then on that couch, that couch, and up against the patio doors—
“Does this satisfy my little reindeer?” Wyatt came up behind me and hugged me tightly.
“My heart is so happy,” I whispered.
“Good. So is mine.” He kissed my neck. “Note that there are empty bowls, baskets, and trays scattered about.”
I lit up and spun around in his arms. “You want me to fill them with Christmas cookies and sweets, don’t you? Say you do, please.”
He grinned faintly and dipped down and kissed me. “I absolutely do.”
DECEMBER 11
Could this be considered another milestone in our very new relationship?
It’d come as no surprise at all when I’d found out Wyatt had to work a couple hours on Saturday, and I’d said, “No problem. I gotta rehearse with my dance squad anyway.” Then came the surprise. He’d asked if he could watch. If it was an open rehearsal—because he could bring his work phone and laptop and get some things done in the background.
So here we were. I climbed out of the car, resisting the urge to remind him once again that Kim would be here. Also, my sister sometimes turned up because she lived nearby, and our temporary practice spot offered way more entertainment than our usual warehouse.
It was a trampoline park south of Glendale.
Every Saturday at noon for the past six weeks, we’d had the place to ourselves for three hours. Kim and I had come on our own at least once a week too, ’cause this shit wasn’t easy, even with our experience.
The company was opening a second location, an outdoor trampoline park, on January 2, so…that was what we were rehearsing for. The grand opening, which took place on New Year’s Eve.
“I told you Kim will be here, right?” I asked nervously.
“Twice.” Wyatt donned his shades and smirked softly. “If you remind me again, I’ll start worrying you want us to be discreet.”
I blinked and moved toward his side of the car. “Dude, I’m not the one facing a firing squad for sleeping with my boss when they find out. You know we have a nonfraternization policy, right?”
He let out a laugh and pulled me in close. “My sweet boy, do you never read the fine print?”
I scrunched my nose. Uh, no? Nobody did that.
“Our policy is pretty clear,” he said. “You’re not allowed to have a relationship with someone you work directly under or over. For instance, you wouldn’t be allowed to date John.”
Ew, Mr. Williams?
“I’m technically at corporate.” He dipped down and kissed me. “Technically, I only give you orders when you’re off the clock too.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip and peered up at him. “I like that policy.”
He hummed and rested his forehead to mine. “Me too.”
“So, um…” I fidgeted with the collar of his shirt. “We’re official? We’re together? None of that, let’s see what happens, non-exclusive, casually dating crap?”
His distaste for my last sentence was clear. “Absolutely none of that. You’re mine and only mine, thank you very much.”
I beamed.
Holy fuck, this was definitely a milestone.
“All yours.” I reached up and smooched him.
“That said…” He cleared his throat and smiled carefully. “It would spare me some grief at corporate if we let HR know we’re involved.”
I exhaled a laugh and smirked. “It doesn’t get more official than that. Sign me up!”
So…we walked hand in hand into the trampoline park, and I showed my ID to the bored teenager behind the front desk. All paying customers were leaving, and she’d be here till we were done.
Then we walked through the changing rooms that probably never saw much action aside from people changing their shoes. If they were like me, they arrived in the clothes they jumped in. In my case, a pair of sweats and a body-hugging tee.
“The short end of the park has a cafeteria,” I said. “It’s down this hall.” I pointed toward the very end. “Once you go through there, you’ll look down at the trampolines. Like, it’s open or however I should explain it.”
“I think I understand.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Enjoy your rehearsal. I’ll see if I get anything done.”
I kinda hoped he didn’t! I wanted to be captivating and stuff.
On the other hand, I didn’t want him to work when we got back to his place.
We parted ways for now. I entered the park through a set of heavy doors, and I dropped my bag just inside. I sort of had to, because down here, there were no chairs or off-to-the-side benches. Just the soft mattress framework and approximately twenty trampolines in various sizes. On the opposite side from where I was now, the trampolines extended halfway up the wall too, and there were a few platforms as well. A giant bouncy castle of trampolines.