Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Just then, a knock sounded.
“Come,” I said.
Brandon bounded in like a giant Golden Retriever, complete with a huge smile and lolling tongue.
“Yo Theo! You check out the latest build?”
I nodded with a grunt. “Sure did.”
He chortled then. “Your new employee is doing a fantastic job, we never thought of that until she came on-board. Any chance the girl can come on full time?” Brandon asked hopefully.
I sighed.
“Doubtful, my friend. She wants to finish her degree. Trust me, I asked.”
“Why?” he asked puzzled. “Good programmers don’t need degrees; their work speaks for itself.”
“True.” I nodded, swiveling my chair around to look down at the company floor. Ah, there she was, hunched over a desk. “But it’s something about her mom and being the first to go to college in her family. You can’t say no to that.”
Brandon’s nose scrunched. “Yeah, I guess,” he said reluctantly. “Family pressure will do it to you, I tell ya. Listen,” he said, plunking down a stack of papers. “Here are some proposed changes for the next build.” He made his way to the door. “Whatever you do, Theo, don’t let her go.”
I grunted, looking downwards. I had no intention of letting Mia escape. Ever. She was perfect.
Suddenly my head jerked upwards. Because what the hell? Ever? As in “forever”? What in the world was happening? I was a short-term guy, the kind of person who used women. Hell, I wouldn’t even say I’ve had a real girlfriend before because the ladies I used were more love ‘em and leave ‘em types. So what the hell was this “forever” thing? Had I lost my mind?
With trembling fingers, I called the one person that came to mind: Gabe. Once upon a time, we’d been two lost boys together in the orphanage, scrabbling for food and getting in fights. Now, thirty years later, things were different. I was a corporate tycoon whereas Gabe was married with a kid, leading a happy, stable life in middle-management. But best friends are best friends, and we never lost touch despite our divergent paths.
My buddy picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, Theo! Caught you on TV the other day. Nice work, dude. Teeth look good.”
I had to snort because Gabe was a dentist and never hesitated to give his professional opinion on someone’s molars.
“Thanks, Dr. Stevens. I’ll make an appointment. I promise,” I replied.
“You got it, big boy. Now, what’s up? You caught me right between patients.”
“I know, I know,” I apologized. “But just hear me out okay? Because…” I took a deep breath. “I think I’ve lost my mind.”
Gabe let out a raucous laugh. “You mean with that orgy stuff? Naw, forget it, buddy. Nothing illegal happened, and besides, it’s dying down. You’re going to be fine.”
I shook my head. “No, not that. Or not just that,” I said in a low voice. “There’s more. A woman.”
You could hear a pin drop.
“A woman?” asked Gabe. “And a special one, I take it?”
My head shook again. “More than that. I think I’m in love.”
At least my friend had the courtesy not to burst into wild laughter. Instead, he whistled, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.
“Love? You, Theo White? Mr. CEO? What happened to never let your walls down, take no prisoners, the stud of Silicon Valley?”
I snorted. “Listen, no one wants to be a sex god forever. That shit gets old.”
But Gabe isn’t my oldest friend for nothing, and he called me out.
“You’re forty-five dude, living a crazy life for twenty years. It’s only getting old now?”
“Shut up,” I snapped, really getting annoyed now. “Seriously, motherfucker. The quips are getting old.”
“Okay, okay,” Gabe backed off. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath.
“Well, I’m in over my head,” I said. “Freaky obsessed. I can’t stop thinking about her, and when I’m not with her, I want to call her.” I shook my head in disbelief about what I was saying. “Can you believe it? Like some seventh grade puppy dog crush. It’s unbelievable.”
Gabe laughed. “What? You’ve never had a conversation with a woman on the phone?” he asked.
“God no!” I said. “That’s what texting is for. You don’t want to get caught in some twenty-minute conversation with no out, it’s fucking painful. Besides, before now, no one I dated had anything particular interesting to say.”
“That’s true,” Gabe said slowly. “Your past girlfriends were, ah, a little on the ditzy side.”
“A little?” I grunted. “More like they had bags of rocks as brains.”
“True, true,” said Gabe reflectively. “But still, why are you calling? It’s natural to fall in love.”
A snort escaped me once more. “Love? Who said anything about love?”
There was silence for a moment before my friend spoke truth to power. “You, my man. That’s all I’ve heard on this phone call. You’re in love,” he said simply.
Oh shit. Gabe was right. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, least of all to myself, but he’d seen straight through to the heart of the matter. I was in love with Mia Smith, head over heels, off the reservation, and I had no idea what to do about it.