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I sat on the soft carpet in the living room as Charlie made small talk, rummaging through more junk than anything and joined in every so often when it fit. It was nice to see Charlie mingle with people that weren’t his sons. He was charming, just like both of them. I sent Kylie a quick text to let her know the package had arrived and tuned back in just in time to hear Jake ask about Sterling. “Guy’s a workaholic, huh? Never see him without his suit anymore.”
“He has his reasons,” Charlie said cryptically. “But I’m starting to think I’ll die before he finds himself a wife.”
“My dad used to say the same thing,” Jake replied with a sad smile, and I didn’t know what to say but it made me wonder how often Charlie thought about it.
“Can’t say I’m complaining about him always being busy, though. Zeppelin is much better company.”
I smiled proudly. “He’s not wrong, I’m pretty damn awesome.”
“Yeah? Maybe I should stop by more often, then. Gets a little lonely next door.”
Charlie glanced between us with an expression I couldn’t decipher, and I chuckled lightly. “Unless you plan on helping out with laundry, I wouldn’t if I were you. I’ll put you to work.”
“Ah, well. We might have to take a raincheck on that,” he teased. “I suddenly remembered I have to head home, I need to take my cat for a walk.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I stood to walk him out. “Thanks for stopping by. Next time I’ll bake us some brownies or something.”
“Sounds way better than laundry. Nice Crocs, by the way. Mine are boring black, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one on this street with good taste.” He winked, then turned to jog down the porch steps to the sidewalk. Carl whined and tried to take off after him, but I grabbed his collar and led him back inside with a grin on my face I couldn’t hide.
“That was unexpected,” Charlie said conversationally as I came back to the living room with Carl bounding behind me like a giant, derpy idiot.
“Yeah, I must have mixed up the numbers when I had Kylie send me my mail. It’s mostly junk, but my registration is due soon so I’m glad I had her send it.”
He hummed, patting the couch for Carl. “You haven’t changed your address yet? How come?”
I didn’t expect him to ask that, but when I thought about it, I knew right away. Sterling. “Well I— I wasn’t sure if— I didn’t want to do that and then be let go.”
“I understand. He won’t fire you, Zeppelin. But if it’ll m-make you feel better, then talk to him about it,” he said.
I nodded, there really wasn’t any reason not to. “Yeah, okay I will. I wouldn’t let him fire me at this point anyway.”
I offered Charlie a confident smile and started opening the few pieces of mail left, then sent Sterling another text telling him I’d have dinner ready when he got home. When all he texted back was a gif of someone putting an apron on, I rolled my eyes and sent one back of a man snoring. Sometimes he was so playful and others, I couldn’t read him, but I was starting to get more and more of his playful side.
I just wasn’t sure if that should make me happy or nervous.
Sterling: You wound me, Miss Bryce. I look much sexier than that when I “snore.”
I typed out prove it and then backspaced it. I knew I shouldn’t even be joking like that with my employer but I couldn’t help it. I fucking wanted the asshole, and I wanted him bad.
Me: You probably do. I don’t.
There. Still joking, but also not putting me in a corner.
Sterling: I highly, highly doubt that. Bet you drool, though.
I bit my bottom lip as I squirmed. God I want him to see me almost as badly as I want to see him. How do I say I like to be choked without saying I like to be choked?
Me: Only when I struggle to breathe.
Oh god, that came out much more morbid than I meant it to.
Sterling: What time did you say dinner was again?
Me: Hour and a half.
I had to keep that simple, otherwise I’d be offering myself on a fucking plate and that could not happen. God, I need to get laid. Why the hell didn’t I fuck Caffrey when I had the chance?
