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“Working,” he said with a sigh.
“Boy, Wes knows how to crack the whip.”
“It’s not him. I already confronted him about it. She’s just fucking determined to do a good job.”
“Well, I’d say that’s a pretty good quality, right?” I asked as we stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of my building. My fingers itched to dig in my pocket for my phone knowing I had an unread text, but it was only a quick walk to the corner and we’d be on the train where I’d have a better chance of keeping it hidden from Kline’s astute eyes.
“Of course, it’s a good thing. There’s a reason I’m always trying to hire her back.”
“I thought it was horniness.”
“Okay, so there are two reasons.”
I laughed and kept walking, leading the way down the stairs and into the dim lighting of the subway station. We didn’t have to wait long as the train pulled up and the doors opened. It was just a quick ride on the R down to the party, so neither of us bothered to go for a seat. Instead, we found a spot in the center around one of the stripper poles.
Okay, it wasn’t actually a stripper pole, and guaranteed, you’d pick up some kind of disease if you rubbed yourself too thoroughly on one, but it sure looked like that’s what it should be. I’d have to talk to the MTA.
My phone buzzed in my pocket again. Pulling it out carefully, I tilted the screen slightly away from Kline so I knew he wouldn’t be able to read it.
Cassie: Has the Eagle landed?
Cassie: I will castrate you if you don’t answer me.
Fuck. I typed out a quick reply.
Me: The Eagle is in flight.
Cassie: What? What the fuck does that mean?
I shook my head and smiled.
Me: It means we’re en route. If the Eagle had landed, you’d be able to see him yourself because he’d be there.
I glanced up to see Kline staring at me in question.
“It’s Cassie,” I explained. “Just harassing me about using the last of the toothpaste.”
He narrowed his eyes. Fuck him for being so smart.
“Oh, look,” I said, jumping to turn toward the door. “Our stop.”
“What’s going on with Cassie?” he asked as we weaved our way through the moderate crowd and off the train car.
“What do you mean? She’s still holding out, and so am I. You know how it is.”
“Come on. Enough with the innocent bullshit. I don’t care how strong-willed you are; there’s no fucking way that chick would still be living with you if you didn’t like it.”
I shrugged but let my lips curve into a smile as we jogged up the concrete steps and out into the busy intersection at 34th Street.
“She always surprises me. I think I know what she’s gonna do, but I never actually do.”
“And that’s it? The thrill?” he asked skeptically.
Not wanting to get into the details, but knowing he was one of my very best friends, I gave him the bare minimum. “It’s not just the thrill.”
A smile transformed his face.
And then, my friend Kline, a man who complained relentlessly about my one-eyed blinks, winked at me.
Georgia’s angry eyes scoured me through the glass wall between us and the patio as Kline took his time ordering a drink at the bar.
He’d actually cheered up after I shared the little glimpse into my soft heart, and I wasn’t about to ruin it just so everyone could yell the word “surprise” five minutes sooner.
Plus, I had been missing my friend.
But as Cassie started to gesture with a knife in her hand, I knew I didn’t have much time to stall anymore.
“Thanks,” Kline thanked the bartender before taking a slow sip of his scotch—no lime. I smiled.
The bar was filled with people seeking post-work solace, and quite a few men and women looked like they were on the hunt for their next one-night victim. I’d been one of those people not too long ago, small-talking my way into the panties of whatever woman caught my eye.
It was actually funny how different they all looked to me in such a short time. Sexy smirks were now desperate fake smiles, and what I once considered banging bodies held none of my interest.
“Do you ever wish you could drink it the way you used to?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. The answer was in all the little things I’d never been able to see before.
“Not even a little,” he replied without hesitation. It wasn’t about the drink, but the life. We were both really happy guys. We were both content in our habits, hobbies, and careers, but some holes go unnoticed until something comes along that fills them.
“Come on,” I gestured overzealously as he put the glass to his lips again. “Let’s go out on the patio.” I saw Georgia and Cassie turn their backs to the window out of the corner of my eye.
“I guess time’s up, huh?” Kline smirked, and I narrowed my eyes.
“What are you talking about?” I asked in an empty attempt to continue our ruse.
“My wife. She’s ready for me. You’ve killed enough time.”
“How’d you know?”
He scoffed, and I smiled. Clever fucking bastard.
“If I hadn’t known two weeks ago, I would have known as soon as I saw my wife’s ass through the windows.”
I laughed because, yeah, Georgia had a pretty memorable ass. I’d imagine the man who spent hours of his time paying it personal attention was highly attuned to it.
Well, whatever. If he hadn’t known, I probably never would have convinced him to come. He played the part of being dragged along well, but Kline Brooks didn’t do fuck-all he didn’t want to. “Just don’t tell her you knew.”
“Unlike you, I don’t have a death wish or a need to be right out of principle.”
“Hey, I happen to think those are both admirable qualities.”
“Having a death wish is admirable?” he asked skeptically as we walked through a crowd of women toward the patio doors. Several sets of eyes followed us as we did. I did my best not to make direct contact.
“Okay, maybe not. But there’s a certain amount of bravery—”
“No,” he denied, cutting me off. “You can’t save this one.”
Fair enough.
I chuckled and tipped my head in defeat.
“Surprise!” the crowd shouted as we walked out the doors, and I didn’t waste the opportunity.
“Oh, my God,” I squealed with a hand to my chest. “You guys shouldn’t have!”
Plus, I knew Kline didn’t really like the attention anyway.
“Thatcher Kelly!” Cassie chastised, waving her arm in a reprimand. Her tits bounced with her gesture. I waggled my eyebrows and made my advance while Kline rushed his wife and scooped her into his arms. He didn’t make any other effort to address the crowd, and I wasn’t surprised. It just wasn’t his thing—especially not when Georgia was in the room; he only had eyes for her.
“Hey there, honey,” I sweet-talked as I pulled Cass into my arms and tightened my hold. Her chest pushed deliciously against the bottom of mine, and her hands shot up to grab me by my belt. The tips of her fingers snuck under my shirt and grazed skin. I held back a shiver.
“Why do I spend most of my time plotting ways to kill you when we’re apart, and then hug you when I see you?”
Hopefully because you’re falling in love with me.
“My good looks and charm?” I joked.
She didn’t answer, though, her eyes holding mine contemplatively until someone knocked into her from behind. We both swayed from the force, but I at least kept her from hitting the ground. She stepped away from me and our bubble after she gathered herself. I kept a hand at her elbow until I knew she was safely balanced back on her sickeningly hot heels.
Goddamn, her legs go on forever.
“Whoops, sorry,” the clumsy woman apologized, putting a flirty hand to my arm and smiling.
I excused her politely but kept my face neutral. Cassie’s eyes, however, became significantly smaller.
“I’m Jennifer,” the intruder offered.
I stuck out my hand in an effort not to be rude. “Thatch.”
“Oh, wow. That’s a fantastic name.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing when Cassie’s face took on the lethal edge of an assassin.
“It really is a great name, honey,” Cassie emphasized before reaching around and brazenly giving my cock a squeeze. “He’s got a monster—”
“Cass!” I shouted, startled.
“What?” she asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
Tucking her back snug to my chest, I put my hand over her mouth.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jennifer. My girlfriend and I both think so.”
“Where’s Phil?” Cassie asked with a smirk as Jennifer mouthed a horrified “O-kay” and walked away.
“At home with the sitter.”
“You left him with someone I’ve never met? Who is this person?”
I walked toward one of the beer coolers Georgia had arranged for the bar staff to set up. Longnecks stood out of a bath of sloppy, semimelted ice, so I plucked one out with two fingers and gave it a gentle shake to shed some of the water. The cap gave way to my twist easily, landing right in the center of the garbage can as I tipped the bottle to my lips and took a swig before answering.
“Yep. I’m paying someone to watch my pig, thanks to you. And it’s a sweet lady in the building next door.”
