Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Seven. I’ll supply the wine.”
He is either fluent in lipreading or knows me better than I know myself because my invitation has barely left my mouth when he dips his chin before mouthing, “See you then.”
CHAPTER 16
OCTAVIA
Jess’s eyes gleam with excitement when we enter a local deli around the corner from headquarters. Despite it being late for the lunch crowd, the space is bustling with an equal number of tourists and workers.
After snagging two menus from a podium at the front, the hostess guides us into the hub of the artsy restaurant.
“I love this place. It’s so hip,” Jess mutters as we weave through tables filled with diners. “How did you find out about this place?”
“Jack suggested it. He said it has the best club sandwich in town.” I shout so my words project over the hum of constant chatter. “He also said their chocolate mousse cake is to die for.” When we reach our table, I sling my jacket over my seat, then plonk into it. The server has only just handed me a menu when I spot Jess’s leering grin. “What?”
I check my reflection in the mirrored napkin dispenser to make sure I don’t have anything in my teeth. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, but that won’t stop a massive chunk of lettuce from lodging itself between my chompers. Jess loves vegetable smoothies, and I get suckered into her diet fads a minimum of once a week.
When I fail to find anything wrong with my face, I shift my eyes back to Jess. She ignores my arched brow and questioning eyes for almost thirty seconds before she eventually gives in. “You said it was a one-time-only, multiple times thing.” Since I’m still lost, she extends on her reply, “You and Jack. You mentioned a craving for mousse cake last night.” She waves her hand around our location. “Now we’re eating at a deli that specializes in that exact dessert. This is not a coincidence.”
She laughs when I shove my menu in her face. “It took twelve minutes to walk here, which means we have precisely six minutes to order and eat, so stop pussyfooting around and work out what you want to eat.”
After taking a moment to settle the excited patter of my heart that Jack most likely suggested this location purely so he can answer my every whim, I glance down at the menu. My stomach gurgles more in contempt than excitement when my eyes land on the prices. A turkey club sandwich may be delicious, but it is not worth thirty-eight dollars.
“Woah.” Mercifully, Jess is as cheap as me. We make the same salary, but she lives alone, so there’s no rent share for her. “Are there gold flecks in the cucumber? Because there better be for these prices.”
Even with me wholeheartedly agreeing with her, I laugh. “How about we go halves? I’m not hungry. Your smoothie filled me up.” She looks proud. She shouldn’t. I’m more too queasy to eat than cheap, and the churns of my stomach are solely to blame on her vegetable concoction.
“Halves? You’re on a management wage now, so why are you making me pay half?” She mockingly shakes her head. “Ms. Stingy Ass.”
Although she is being playful, I can’t help but respond. “There’s been no mention of a pay increase.”
Jess peers at me over her menu. “Then you better start asking some questions because I sure as hell wouldn’t be putting in the work you have the past couple of days for peanuts. He might have a fantastic cock, but no cock is worth slave labor.”
“Jess.” I glare at her before slowly drifting my eyes around the patrons seated next to us. Her voice was loud enough for three blocks over to hear.
Once I’m confident we only have zealous gazes locked on us, I return my focus to Jess. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.” When confusion crosses her face, I lean in close and whisper. “I don’t want them to think Jack has to pay me peanuts to ride his cock when I’d do it for free.”
She hollers while waving her napkin in the air. “Thatta girl!”
Her party for one ends when the waiter arrives at our table. He looks petrified that we will stiff him a tip when we order one club sandwich with an extra side of sweet potato fries. We don’t want the carbs, but it will make sharing easier if we have an extra plate.
“Is that all?”
After straying my eyes away from the chocolate mousse cake that costs as much as our sandwich, I jerk up my chin. “Yes, thank you.” He stuffs our menus under his arm, dips his chin in farewell, then leaves after only the quickest glance Jess’s way. “He likes you.”
“What?” Jess scoffs like I’m being ridiculous, but I see her true response in her eyes. If only Caleb felt the same way.