Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“That sounds like a pretty big deal,” I say, and I’m happy I don’t have to force enthusiasm into my voice. I get off on the fact that my girl is a doctor and I’m proud as shit of her. I want her to have every success she can. I also refuse to be bothered by the fact it’s Aiden she’s going to be working with. Aiden has easily insinuated himself back into her life, and now he’s actually commanding her attention away from me, but past the whole teddy bear gift thing, he’s acted like nothing but a friend to Josie.
“It is a big deal,” she says, and continues to chatter on about the project. I listen to her talk with an excitement I’ve not heard from her before about anything, which makes me realize that there are layers upon layers that go into the makeup of Josie Ives, M.D. I knew she got off on the thrill of emergency medicine and was immensely fulfilled from her work, but I didn’t understand that there was more. That she is still striving to learn and pioneer her field, and that fucking makes me even more proud of her yet.
When she winds it down, I ask a few follow-up questions. “So you think it will take three months?”
“Maybe four,” she says, and turns slightly in her seat to face me. “But I told Aiden that I wasn’t giving up all my free days to it. He said we’d put ten to fifteen hours in a week, as it’s really just compiling existing data, and I can do that in just one day off. Except for this week when we start it.”
This satisfies me, because really, I would never stand in the way of her doing this. Doesn’t matter that it’s with her ex-almost-fiancé who has come back into her life, or that as my summer off winds down, my time with her will be more limited. Nothing about this even makes me think about looking elsewhere for my jollies, because Josie is the only one I want them with.
That makes me snicker, and Josie asks, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing But you tell Aiden if he tries any funny business, I’m going to kick his ass.”
Josie is the one who snickers. “I’ll totally tell him that.”
“Seriously,” I say a bit hesitantly, because Aiden hasn’t been a subject between us at all. “He might be doing this to get close to you.”
I know those were the wrong words by the way she turns even more in her seat to face me. I glance at her and her expression borders on livid. “You don’t think he could ask me to do an important research project because of my brains and medical talent?”
“Jesus, Josie,” I chastise her. “You know that’s not what I was saying. I know you’re brilliant and talented, and so does Aiden. I’m just saying there could be an ulterior motive.”
As quickly as she was pissed at me, I can actually feel her surrender as she leans back into her seat. “Sorry. Not sure why that made me so testy.”
I reach over and take her hand in mine. “I think you’re amazing, and Aiden is lucky to have you on this project.”
She blows out a hearty gust of air and squeezes my hand. “Actually, I hate to say it, but that was the first thing I thought when he asked me, but you know, he’s been nothing but professional at work. He was even there when I got your flowers, and he didn’t seem bothered by it at all. So I think he’s really moved on too.”
“You’re probably right,” I tell her as I cruise down Wade Avenue, noting traffic starting to slow for the turn lane into the museum parking lot. “But you see, I’ve got you now, Josie. So I know what he’s missing, and he’d be fucking crazy not to want it back again.”
“Well, he can’t have it,” she says with a firm nod of her head and another squeeze to my hand. “Because I’ve had me some of Reed Olson and I don’t want anything else.”
I laugh and Josie joins in. I release her hand so I can make my left turn into the museum, following the cars to the lot nearest the outdoor area they use to project the movies. I’ve not been here before, but I figure everyone in front of me knows where they’re going.
I’m here with Josie. She’s here with me. We’re going to enjoy a nice evening watching a movie, then we’re going to go back to her place where I can fuck her brains out. Or she’ll fuck mine out. Whatever. I’ll wake up early with her and take her into work, and everything is going to be awesome.
Besides, I’ve got another surprise for Josie tomorrow and she’s going to flip out when she sees it.