Jules
The situation hasn’t improved.
Cora
Jules. JULES. JULIETTE JUNIPER HADLEY (If I could make the letters even bigger, I would) … DID YOU SLEEP WITH HAROLD SKINTER?!
Jules
No, thank freaking God. One of my college friends did last year when we were in town visiting. She said it was … and I quote … the single most disappointing night of her life. I think she expected him to take charge and be all alpha with all his muscles, and he literally came after like 45 seconds into sex without any additional foreplay. He didn’t even finish her off. It’s not just a clever nickname.
Audra
Christ. Well … get back to your day. Send sympathies to me because I will have to let him down via text. Send sympathies to Harold, too. I wonder if he knows how people talk about him.
Jules
He has to know he sucks.
Cora
Bye, guys!
Maeve and I were laughing so hard we were crying. We made such a ruckus that Donovan opened his office door and glared at us. That should have stopped us, but it had the opposite effect. The scowl he shot our way transformed us into two middle schoolers who had just been reprimanded. We both put our heads down and tried to stop, but it just made our shoulders shake. We couldn’t get it under control.
When I finally looked up and took him in, my insides churned. This man was the definition of suit porn. Who wore a suit like that to this small-town two-person office? Donovan Wright. And he looked so damn good. The pinstripe jacket fit perfectly over his broad shoulders, and his crisp baby blue shirt accentuated his tan skin, looking so good against that dirty blond hair.
“What in God’s name is going on out here?” He tried to keep his face as stern as the one he walked out with, but he couldn’t do it. “I don’t even know what I’m laughing about right now, but the two of you laughing like this is contagious and quite loud, I might add.”
“Wait, I have a bone to pick with you, Wright,” Maeve said, as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Meeting one of my besties at a bar last night?”
“I didn’t know she was there. I left here at midnight and needed a nightcap. But I hear there is a feast to be had today.”
My heart took a tiny hit. Maybe there was a tiny part of me that hoped he sought me out. Realistically, there was no way for him to know I was at The Yard last night, though. Fool. I’d better get those kinds of thoughts under control, stat.
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a tablecloth, plates, flowers, and candles.
“You didn’t,” he smirked, one side of his lip ticking up.
“Oh, but I did,” I gushed back at him. “Prepare to be dazzled. These are beautiful, by the way. Thank you,” I gestured to the flowers. I half forgot that Maeve was in the room with us, and I caught her narrow her eyes to look between him and me again.
“What is going on here? What am I missing? What are you doing?”
Oh, I wish I knew, Maeve.
“And why are you thanking him for flowers?” She questioned with narrowed eyes.
“Oh, I ran into Donovan when I was running errands the other day, and we laughed about my newest hobby. Last night at The Yard, he asked for a photo and I didn’t have one, so I thought I’d bring stuff to show him a watered-down version of an award-winning tablescape.” I giggled and glanced at him just in time to see a full-on smile spread across his face. I felt myself blush and looked away, busying myself with setting up. Seriously, what was going on with me?.
“So far, so good, Audra.” His words made me preen. “I have to make one more quick call before we eat. I just had to see what all that noise was about. This won’t take long,” he said, leaving us and closing the door behind him.
As soon as it clicked shut, Maeve turned to me, “Yes or no. Did you hook up with him last night after the Harry debacle?” She was never one to mince words or beat around the bush.
“God, no, what do you take me for? I told you I was about four minutes away from going home with someone else.”
But would I have gone with Donovan if the opportunity presented itself? Probably.
“I take you for someone who wanted to get laid. But what’s up with you two, then?”
