Page 113 of Make Me Laugh

“You sure you don’t wanna come along?” Enzo invites me for the fourth time, slipping into his jacket.

I dip my chin in a single nod, keeping my eyes off West while I regain control of my breathing. “I’m going to use the peace and quiet to get some work done.” I wink at Enzo, knowing he’s going to be jealous.

“I’ll be living vicariously through you.” He opens the front door leading to the private top floor elevator and steps out, giving West space to enter my line of vision.

I can’t fight it. I fix my gaze on him.

The look in his eyes warns me he knows something, but I’m not prepared for what comes out of his mouth. “Enjoy your peace and quiet with the wrong pucking player, Joey baby.”

It feels like all the blood rushes to my feet, draining my face of any color. The door closes behind him, and I take my first real breath since he walked into the room.

West saw the title of the book I’m reading: The Right Pucking Player.

I can hear his laugh even after the door clicks shut, and about the time they should be getting on the elevator, my phone vibrates with a text.

I know better than to open it, but my finger slides over the screen anyway.

West

So you don’t come across the one where I’m still missing two teeth!

Attached is a picture of him, dressed in his college uniform, holding up a trophy with the year before his career ended engraved on it. His hair is stuck to his sweaty forehead, and he’s got the most gigantic goofy West smile I’ve ever seen. There are a few teammates surrounding him, looking just as happy.

Me

You have two fake teeth?

I know he expects me to say something about the picture, but instead I focus on the new bit of information he’s given me.

West

3 in total

Got a little 2-for-1 special when I called Ohio State’s goalie’s mom a ho (it was spicier than this, but I feel bad about it now, so I’ll paraphrase) and got hit with the butt end of another player’s stick during the next play.

Me

You broke two cardinal rules? Don’t talk about a boy’s mama AND it was directed at the goalie?

West

You’re paying attention

Anyway, I have some R-rated hockey pics if the scene gets really spicy… Or if you need to add to your spank bank.

I leave him on Read, unable to go back to reading about another hockey player when all I can picture is West.

After eating a light lunch, I pull my laptop out and set myself up at the desk by the window. I tackle important emails for West first, using it as a reminder that while we might be crossing into unknown territory, I still have a job to do.

It’s just sex, anyway. We’re just friends who have really great sex.

Maybe if I keep reminding myself I’ll start to believe it! I roll my eyes… at myself.

I switch to content scheduling when I catch up on the most pressing emails, scattering a few plans for Hex and West into what I already have set in place. We’ll post one this week, see how it goes, and then decide what the plan is for the rest of the tour.

After this weekend, we’ll have five more weekends of shows, closing the tour out near West’s hometown in Traverse City, Michigan the night before Thanksgiving.

Frankie brought up Thanksgiving at her parent’s last week, reminding me to book a flight before they get too expensive.