Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 86596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I bend forward and grab the potato chips, stuffing my hand into the bag. “This was a heavy conversation. I either need alcohol or a horror movie.”
Molly’s knee brushes mine under the blanket, but she doesn’t pull it away again. “Both of those sound like terrible ideas.”
“Merely suggestions,” I amend, although Nightmare on Elm Street sounds like the perfect way to break the tension in the room.
Or it takes having Molly’s roommate enter the room unannounced.
“What are you kids up to?”
This is the first time I’ve gotten a good look at Posey. I met her briefly when I was here at the house for their Thursday night soiree but hadn’t had an actual conversation with her. All I know about Posey I learned from Kate, and that wasn’t much.
I stand and extend my hand. “I’m Eli. I was at your party a few weeks ago.”
“I remember you.” Her eyes go back and forth between Molly and me, probably trying to figure out what the fuck is going on. “Kate’s brother.”
“Good memory.”
“I knew you two had spoken, but I didn’t realize you were hanging out…”
Her gaze is latched on Molly’s, but she cannot quite figure out if there’s anything going on between the two of us. Had she just caught us in a compromising position? Were we about to make out? Have sex on the couch?
Sex on the couch?
Why would my mind have gone there?
“I’m doing Eli a favor. He needs a wingwoman, and I went with him to the finals tonight to keep the ladies at bay. Which reminds me, one of them spilled wine on your dress.”
“What!”
“Yeah, if you can believe it. One of the jealous hags purposely dumped wine down the front of my dress. I think she was hoping I’d run for the hills, leaving Eli there defenseless and ripe for the plucking.”
“Please do not use my name and ‘ripe for the plucking’ ever in the same sentence, ever, ever again.” I laugh. “And I’m not defenseless.”
“Then why do you need a wingwoman?” Posey scrunches up her face. “Wait. Aren’t wingmen supposed to find you ladies, not keep them away?”
“It’s a hybrid position,” Molly explains. “Also, he’s trying to win a bet, so he isn’t interested in dating. He has a lot riding on it.”
“Oh yeah? What kind of bet?”
I suddenly feel ridiculous. The stakes of the bet and the reason for it are so arbitrary and juvenile I don’t even want to say the words out loud.
Both Molly and Posey watch me intently, waiting.
“Er. Um. I have this buddy—”
“Jack Jennings,” Molly supplies.
“I have this buddy Jack. I was teasing his girlfriend about white picket fences and settling down and said it wasn’t for me, and it would never happen. Then she bet it would, and I bet it wouldn’t, and…well. If I lose, I have to shell out a hundred grand on a box suite at the football stadium.”
“And here we are!” Molly laughs. “Men and their pride, I swear.”
When she says it like that, the entire thing feels petty and stupid. I’m actually embarrassed, a feeling I rarely feel and certainly not in front of people I barely know. However, in the short time I’ve known Molly, I’ve really grown to respect her, and her opinion of me matters.
Call me crazy, but I feel like we’re friends?
She’s genuine and funny and full of life. She’s honest, sometimes brutally so—which leaves little room for guessing. Which I like. I’m a man who prefers black or white with no gray area between, and that’s how Molly operates, too.
So this little truth session and confessional to her roommate has my cheeks heating to a degree I haven’t felt since I was probably in middle school, being embarrassed in front of the girl I have a crush on.
Crush on?
A girl I have a crush on…
I glance over at Molly who is curled up on the couch next to me, her leg still touching mine, then quickly look away before Posey catches me staring.
This whole evening has been entirely too comfortable; Molly and I have slid into a routine already and we’re not even dating. Getting dressed up and socializing with clients feels natural with her by my side even though tonight wasn’t pleasant with those three women conspiring to get rid of her so they could make a pass at me.
It was strange to see; I’ve heard stories about behavior like that from some of the people there tonight but I’ve never experienced it myself. What on earth could they possibly have wanted me for when there was a room full of valuable players? Granted, I make a good living, but I’m not famous, famous. Not like my clients, obviously, even though I make a salary that could rival many of theirs.
“Where were you tonight?” Molly asks her roommate, changing the subject, which I appreciate. The attention on me is enough to make me itch, especially since the entire bet is foolish.