AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right now?”
He nods.
“I would need another drink for that to happen.”
Beck stands and grabs a clear glass bottle from the freezer. He sets it in front of me, then grabs two glasses out of a cabinet and splashes a generous amount of vodka in each.
“You don’t measure? What kind of club owner are you?” I question.
“One who invested for a friend and is now focusing on practicing penalty kicks.”
I laugh. “Touché.”
“Prost.” Beck raises the glass.
I grab the other one and repeat the toast. He laughs.
“Prost,” Beck corrects.
“That’s what I said!” I insist.
He rolls his eyes and downs the shot. I follow suit, sticking my tongue out when the liquor burns a trail down my throat.
“Gah.”
“You got your drink. Shop.” Beck grabs a stack of papers piled on the corner of the counter and sits back down on the stool beside me.
“What are those?” I ask.
“Work stuff. Endorsement deals for me to look over.”
“Don’t you have people who handle that for you?”
“Yeah, but I’m not going to agree to anything without looking it over myself.”
“What are?—”
“Saylor.” He silences me with a single look. “Shop.”
I huff, but Beck’s refocused on his papers. And I need to do this. I’ve put it off for too long, ever since Sandra called and made the request.
I unlock my phone and start scrolling through clothing sites. The longer I sit on the stool, the more uncomfortable it is. I shift, trying to find a more comfortable position. I end up wiggling my legs across Beck’s lap so I can stretch out some. He doesn’t even look up from the papers he’s reading.
I pull up a different site. It sounds so easy: pick out a pretty dress and send it to Hallie so my father can buy it. Not just easy, fun. I spend most of my time in athletic clothes, so I enjoy dressing up for certain occasions. But I won’t enjoy this occasion. Whatever dress I pick will be what I’ll be wearing when my father gets remarried. I’ve never harbored any fantasy that my parents might reunite one day, but I guess I assumed my dad would stay forever single. I thought he, Hallie, and I would remain in the roles that, while not healthy, have been comfortable. Expected.
A stepmom and an attempt at a whole family is uncomfortable and unexpected.
I planned to only look through a couple of options and choose the one I hated least, but it’s been at least an hour before I show Beck the one I settled on.
“It’s nice,” he says.
I snort and toss my phone on the counter. “Do you have more work to do?”
Immediately, I have his full attention. “No.”
I abandon my stool and crawl onto his. His hands slide under the shirt I’m wearing—his shirt—to play with my tits. I arch my back, my body humming with pleasure and fully on board with this turn of events. But I didn’t hate sitting next to him in silence either. I don’t just want sex from Beck.
And I know that’s why I took so long to decide on the stupid dress.
