Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Flipping everyone off, I laugh. “I really hate you guys.” I don’t and they know it, but I hate this shiny happy shit. Kind of. Sort of. Only when I’m at the center of it.
My mom comes around the table, and says, “Bring Virginia over for dinner sometime. We’d love to meet her.”
My dad claps me on the back, and says, “Or better yet, kiss her and seal that deal on New Year’s. You know what they say about that holiday. Whatever you’re doing at midnight on New Year’s Eve, is what you’ll be doing all year long.”
If that’s the case, I can think of a million other things other than kissing I’d like to be doing with her at midnight. Or to her. Or in her. Or her to me. Or together. I think that’s what he means. Be together. #MFEO and all that junk.
I follow my parents as they head for the door. I’m thinking they’ve had enough of our antics to hold them over for quite some time. “Thanks for coming to see me. I actually feel better, more determined to make this thing with Virginia less complicated and more simple.”
“When it’s right, it’s easy.” She hugs me at the door. “I’ve never seen you with that look of love in your eyes before. It looks good on you.”
I’m not one for blushing, but the embarrassment I feel makes my face feel hot. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. Now go get the girl.” Her hands go up in a silent cheer just like she did when I was ten and won the regional spelling bee. I might be shaking my head, but my mom is the best.
My dad adds, “And try kissing first. That tends to win a lady’s heart. Save the illegal stuff for the bedroom.” He gives me that buddy-buddy wink. “But if you do get yourself in a spot of trouble, call me and I’ll bail you out.”
“You know I didn’t really mean I would do something to her that would get me arrested, right?” Unless she wants me to, and then who am I to deny her needs and wants. But to be on the safe side, I should probably look into where “fucking one’s mouth” falls legally in the state of New York. If it is illegal, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve committed the crime with her, but it’s hard to say no when—What the fuck tangent have I gone off on?
After saying goodbye to them, I turn and see the guys still standing around watching me turn into a full on unstoppable train wreck. “Get back to work and never, I mean never, mention any of this again.”
Clive is too busy laughing. Leo is suddenly super busy scrubbing a spot on the bar top, but I see that damn mocking grin. Eddie salutes me, and says, “You got it, boss.” He sets his box on a table, and adds, “But just so you know, the guys and I have discussed the matter and we approve.”
“Approve of what?”
“Virginia. She meets all the magical unicorn criteria: sexy as all get out, intelligent, and she’s really nice.”
I want to hide from the teasing I’ve endured, but he’s right. She is sexy and smart, but it’s that last part that matters most. “She is nice.”
“Really,” starts Clive, “she’s too good for you, so if she’s giving you a shot, you should take it.”
“Fuck you very much, Clive.”
“No problem. We’re here to keep your ego in check.”
“You’re doing a solid job.”
“That’s why we’re paid the big bucks,” Eddie jokes.
“You’re paid the big bucks for your pretty boy faces that bring in the pretty bills.”
We laugh. It’s good to joke with the guys. We’re more than co-workers. We’re friends. I can count on any of them if I was ever in a bind, and they know they can count on me. Walking in from the back, Romeo tugs his beanie off and asks, “What’d I miss?” “Our fearless leader is in love,” Leo asserts.
Romeo nods, another annoying grin is on his face as if he stole the other fella’s. “It was only a matter of time before he realized it. Now that you have, Hardy, time to lock that girl down. And if you don’t, I’m sure one of us will be more than happy to.”
“She’d never go for one of you jackoffs. Like Eddie said, she’s smart.” I head for the office. “The show’s over. My life is back off limits. Get to work and let’s kick tonight’s ass.”
Chapter Twenty
My dick has become hard like a dead log in winter. I just hope it won’t break. By the pain in my pants, I’m not so sure it won’t. I haven’t gone this long without having actual sex since I was in high school. Fine, college. I like to aggrandize my memories from back then. Like Virginia, I went through an awkward stage. Okay, not as awkward as her, but now I look at her photo from high school and I see the beautiful woman she’s turned into. I don’t even have to stretch the imagination. That much. She’s there under those braces, glasses, and stringy hair. If I had known her then, I would have hit on her.