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“Only a slow spiral into the abyss.” I clear my throat again and laugh. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to stop by and tell you that your confidence today really helped the rest of us not spiral into the abyss,” he says, laughing too. “I’ve worked here for six months, and this was the first meeting where I expected someone to start crying.”
I shrug. “Well, we usually, like true professionals, wait until we get home to cry.” Or do it at our desks when our not-boyfriends do something incredibly wonderful that they shouldn’t have done.
My heart swells as I imagine Finn’s handsome face. Sure, this flies in the face of what I told him I wanted, but I should’ve expected something like this when I shared my idea. Because this is what Finn does. It’s who he is. And somehow this feels different from when he’s just doting on me, because this foundation? At the end of the day, it isn’t for me. It’s for other people. I could never be upset with him for that.
“You’re funny.” Joshua chuckles. “You know, since the first time I met you, I thought it was so odd that you were in commercial insurance.”
“Really? Why?”
“You’re just so outgoing. I mean, you’re brilliant, too, of course. But it’s hard to imagine you sitting behind a desk every day crunching numbers.” He cocks his head to the side. “You know how people say that people on the radio didn’t have the face for TV? Well, you’re like a person doing radio that should definitely be on the television.”
I laugh. “Joshua, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were flirting with me.”
“It’s a good thing you know better then,” he says, chuckling. “What are you up to this weekend? Anything fun?”
Fun exited stage right days ago. “No. What about you?”
“Not really. I’m planning a party to celebrate my husband passing the bar. I’m going to scope out this place called O’Dells that’s not too far from here. Do you know it?”
I nod. “Yeah. I love that place. A bunch of us used to walk over there on Thursdays after work and have a drink.”
“Would it be a good place to meet up with friends for a little celebration?”
“Absolutely.” I hesitate, but then remember that I’ll probably be home alone all weekend. “When are you going to check it out? I could meet you there. I’m fairly good friends with Henry, the owner’s son, who is there more often than not. I might be able to get him to rent you the back room that they rarely rent out anymore. It’s the perfect gathering spot.”
His eyes light up. “Poppy, that would be amazing. How’s Saturday around two?”
“I’ll be there.”
He thanks me and then leaves quickly with a bounce in his step, shutting the door behind him. As soon as the clasp locks, I release a sigh.
This is Finn’s idea of being friends? This man …
I unlock my phone and touch Finn’s name. It rings twice before he answers.
“Hey, Poppy Quinn.”
My smile is instantaneous, and the rush of energy that swoops through me is exhilarating. I get to my feet, unable to sit still.
“Hey, Finn Miller. What are you up to?”
“I was trying to decide whether I want to go to the grocery store or just order it all and have it delivered. I don’t have my personal shopper to go with me, so that kinda takes the fun out of it.”
Charmer. “Well, I could go get everything for you, since you probably don’t know what you usually buy anyway since I pick it out. While I drop it off, I could, I don’t know, ride your cock.”
His reaction is a chuckle mixed with a groan.
“You start training camp in, what, a week? Two?” I ask, toying with him. “This is really the last few days where we can just fuck whenever. Once you report to the team, I only get you here and there.” I grin mischievously. “And I miss you, Finn. And that dick.”
“Poppy …” He hisses a breath. “If you need something—besides the obvious—please get to it because I need to go jack off.”
“I could help with that, too, you know.”
He groans again, and I laugh.
I mosey around my office, wishing I was with him. I imagine him at his house in nothing but a pair of shorts, stretched out on his sofa with a house remodeling show on the television. His hair is probably messy, and his skin wears the effects of the workout he did an hour ago because he was bored.
