Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“Okay, so he’s fine, he’s rich—”
“I never said he was rich.”
“You said he owns a few buildings,” she replies dryly. “Some dude who’s broke as a joke ain’t going to have condos on the beach.”
I laugh softly. “I couldn’t care less about whether he’s rich or not.”
“I know, and it’s adorable. I love that about you,” she says. “So, as I was saying, he’s hot, rich, you two have history, he enjoys seeing you naked—not that I can blame him, you’re hot as hell, baby—and it sounds like he was flirting with you.”
“I wouldn’t say he was flirting with me.”
“Trust me because I’m a pro here. From what you just told me, he was definitely flirting with you,” she states.
“Well, I’m not sure about that.”
“I think the bigger question here is, did you flirt with him?”
“What? No?” I reply with a giggle.
A wide grin stretches across Moni’s face. “Oh, you totally did.”
I cover my face with a hand, unable to meet her eyes because I know I did. I didn’t mean to. It just kind of happened naturally. Something about the man brought it out in me.
“So, you like him?” Moni asks.
“I barely even know him.”
“Not as well as he knows you,” she says with a pointed look at my body, setting off another round of giggling from me.
“I so hate you,” I reply. “But even if I did like him, it would be wrong. I mean, I knew the guy when I was playing with Barbie dolls.”
“Yeah, but you’re not playing with Barbie dolls anymore. You’re a grown woman. You’re old enough to vote, join the military. You’re even old enough to order your own drink at a bar. Barely, but you’re old enough to do that.”
“And?”
“And that means you’re old enough to make decisions about who you see and, more importantly, who you’re going to have amazing sex with.”
The laugh that erupts from my mouth is more like a shriek, drawing more eyes to us. Putting my hand over my mouth, I try to stop cackling like an idiot and making a spectacle of myself any more than I already have.
“Listen,” I say in a quieter tone. “I just … I mean, he knew me when I was a little girl. Like a legit little girl. Isn’t that kind of weird? Or maybe creepy?”
“It’s only weird and creepy if you make it weird and creepy,” she replies. “You’re both grown adults now, capable of making your own decisions. If you want to see him now, as a grown woman, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
I nibble on my scone, letting her words sink in. I can’t decide if there really is a certain wisdom in them or if it’s simply what I want to hear. I suppose it could be a bit of both. On the one hand, knowing our history, it just feels kind of wrong. On the other, Moni is right. I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman and capable of making my own decisions. And, of course, so is he. Which means I may be putting the cart before the horse here since this is all based on my own silly, girlhood crush.
“You know, this all might be in my head,” I say. “I don’t know if he was actually flirting or if he likes me. I could just be seeing things I want to see.”
Moni purses her lips. “You’re right.”
I nod. “I know.”
“So, we’re going to have to find out if it’s in your head or not.”
“And how are we going to do that?”
“You said he invited you to the bar he’s guest bartending at, right?”
“Oh no. We’re not going there.”
“Oh, we so are.”
“He’s going to be working,” I object.
“And yet, he invited you to come down, anyway.”
“No. Uh uh,” I say. “Moni, I’ve got a paper to write and—”
“Pick out something cute to wear, or I’ll pick it out for you.”
“Moni—”
“We’re going. And that’s all there is to it,” she says. “It is my sacred mission to fulfill your childhood fantasy and get you laid.”
I laugh, and when I open my mouth to argue further, Moni cuts me off with a wicked grin. Saying no to her is a skill I have not been able to master. Though, I have a feeling some small part of me isn’t trying to say no all that hard, anyway.
“Okay. We’ll go,” I say.
“Good girl,” she says. “We’re going to have some fun tonight.”
“If you say so.”
“Oh, I do. Trust me, fun is going to be had.”
Laughing, we get up and walk across the quad, heading for our next class. My mind and heart are fluttering with the possibilities that tonight may bring. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m more terrified or excited.
5
SLATER
“All right, two Sunsets coming right up,” I say.
With the buzz of conversation loud enough to drown out the music playing through the speakers mounted overhead, I set about making one of my signature drinks for the two women at the bar. They’re both doing their best to flirt and catch my attention, but I’m not here for that. I’m just here to work. I enjoy my guest bartending shifts because it’s a break from the monotony of unclogging sinks and toilets in my buildings. It gives me a chance to socialize a bit and just do something different from time to time. It’s a nice change of pace.