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It was Renee's idea to pretend and exactly what I wanted, but the second we agreed on it, that was my new reality. I know it sounds crazy, but my whole life disappeared. We were just two people who met in a bar and had to have each other. Nothing's wrong with that.
Nothing was wrong with driving her home afterward, either, except that I wanted to invite her to my place and keep her in my bed all night. My little tease is stubborn, but she wants me just like I want her and that’s all I need right now.
My alarm wakes me up early the next morning. I'm tired as fuck but excited for the day. I don’t remember the last time I got out of bed with this much excitement. Outside the street lights are just starting to turn on and everything is covered in a thin layer of snow.
I brush my teeth, holding back a smile remembering last night, and throw on a pair of shorts and an old tee shirt I work out in, then head down to the gym I set up in my basement. I practically jog down the stairs thinking about her soft moans and just how fucking good she felt. I can’t stop thinking about her and the fact that we finally went for it. She was worth the wait. Worth every fucking second just for last night. I flick the fluorescent lights on and stretch out my shoulders.
It's not a huge space down here, but I put a decent amount of work into it after I moved in. It was a dusty, old, unfinished basement but laminate floors, a bit of drywall, and paint made a huge difference. I used the leftover paneling from the bar, and I've got a set of weights and a treadmill. I spend ten minutes or so warming up and checking out the snow. The basement is a walkout with a sliding door so it doesn't feel like I'm in a cave.
It's still early, so I start lifting, trying to complete as many reps as possible before I break down and text Renee. I debate on exactly what to say with every rep.
I fucking hope she loved it as much as I did.
Finally, not able to resist any longer, I set down my heaviest dumbbell and grab my phone. It takes several tries to write out the message. I don’t want to screw this up.
Griffin: I really enjoyed last night
I second guess the message as soon as I hit send, but there's no way to stop it. Renee's phone has already lit up with my name on it. Staring at the screen, I wait and wait and then glance at the dumbbells…as if I can distract myself while I wait.
I pace around the basement with my hands on my head, then go back to the weights and concentrate hard on my next set. Thinking about good form doesn't do anything to keep my mind off her, though.
Renee's in my head. I've never felt like this about anyone. Hell, I can’t remember a time I texted a girl I hooked up with and then wondered if she’d text me back. I can't believe the way I feel about her is this strong already. My heart beats faster when I think about anything related to her. Every time I turn my head toward the window and see the snow, I'm right back there in the bar with my lips on hers and her body wrapped around mine.
Anxiousness builds at the memory: I fucked her on the bar. My employee.
And I'd do it again, if she looked at me with those eyes and asked me to pretend I'm not her boss. I wouldn't even have to think about it.
The weights drop to the cushioned mat with a loud thunk as I glance at my phone again. No reply yet. I shake off the tension; she’s probably still sleeping. Hell it’s early and I’d rather still be in bed, too.
If this were anybody else I would have texted Brody about it already. I probably would've talked to him a long time ago. I switch to another set of weights and think back on all the times I've called him in the middle of the night about one thing or another or pulled him aside to ask him what he thought.
I can’t tell Brody though if this is a onetime thing. If she wants this to stay on the down low, I’m more than willing. Brody would tell Mags in a heartbeat. I know he would. So I don’t trust telling him a damn thing just yet.
It doesn't feel like a onetime thing to me. I stand up straighter, stretching my shoulders above my head and take a few deep breaths. Last night felt like more, but was that part of the pretending? Was it just because we had to close the bar and it was snowing in Beaufort and that never happens? Was it because she came into work feeling down and needed a pick-me-up?
Nerves settle in my stomach, and I ignore them. I work through my routine while it gets brighter outside and I wait for my phone to go off. It feels like forever when it finally does.
I force myself to finish the set and catch my breath before I take my phone off the windowsill and check the message. It could be from Brody or Patty or anybody else who works at the bar, calling in sick or asking whether the hours are different today because of the snow. It could be my mom checking up on me. I brace myself for it not to be Renee.
Renee: I liked it too
Fuck yeah. I punch my fist in the air in victory. All that worrying for nothing. I will never understand how she keeps me on edge like she does.
I reread her message and then debate on what else to say. I have to do another few laps around my basement to calm down. My heart is pumping hard, and I know it’s a combo of that woman and the workout.
Part of me wants to text her back right this second, but I make myself wait. It’s almost certain that it’s obvious how much I’m into her. I don't want to be too forward or seem too clingy, and I need a minute to think about how I want this conversation to go, so I do a few more reps.
When I glance at my phone again, there are bubbles on the screen like she's typing something out.
I do another rep while I stare at it. The bubbles go away, then come back again. They stay on the screen for another minute after that, then disappear again.
My brow creases and I wonder what she’s going to say. Then I huff out a laugh, she has me so worked up. I bet she fucking loves that. Groaning out another rep I wait and then wait some more.
I go through another full set before I let myself check for new messages.
She didn't send anything.
I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. She did all that typing and didn't send anything?
