Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 137310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
“Excuse me, but he has other attributes,” Mel said saucily.
“Yeah, he knows what to do with his dick,” Bernie murmured.
And we knew all about that.
“And he can make a woman come just by talking to her with that accent,” Charlie added.
There was that too.
“There’s that,” Mel spoke my thoughts. “And he cooks and does the grocery shopping, and I don’t like to do either.”
“He’s a good guy, really,” Charlie assuaged. “But he could say, ‘I don’t wanna vacuum, let’s figure out the allotment of chores,’ rather than just doing a shitty job vacuuming so he can get out of doing it.”
“I read he doesn’t like doing it, so now I do, and he didn’t have to say that because I have a mind to my man, and just to say, he has a mind to me and that’s why he cooks,” Mel returned.
“Let’s get back to Di,” Bernie urged.
“He grew up with his mom, just those two,” I shared. “And I think he had to pitch in, so it’s just a part of who he is. Like, he makes the bed in the morning just like I do.”
“Holy shit,” Mel whispered reverently.
“I know,” I said. “He listens. And he’s smart. And he gives good advice. He says he’s not affectionate, but he’s really demonstrative with me. It feels mega nice. He likes my pouch and big ass and doesn’t even glance askance at me when I eat a third cookie. Or a fourth.”
“Wow,” Bernie said.
“And he’s been at my side through all of this, and honestly, I don’t know if I would have gotten through it if he wasn’t.”
“Aw, Di,”—Charlie patted my hand—“you so would.”
“And you had your girls,” Mel reminded me.
“I know, but he was there, and he stuck, and because he did, he made it easier.”
“So he isn’t hard on the eyes, and he’s got no issue being supportive,” Bernie brought it to a fine point.
“Yes, and more,” I said.
“Please say that big man with that big body does big things for you in bed,” Charlie begged.
I smiled. “He’s very…take charge.”
Charlie rolled her eyes back and moaned.
Bernie and Mel smiled at each other.
Charlie recovered, tipped her head to the side and asked, “So…Denver?”
I shook my head. “We haven’t gotten that far. We’re going to have the big chat on Sunday. But until he knows I’m safe, he’s not going anywhere.”
“Sweet,” Charlie whispered.
“And when’s that gonna happen?” Bernie asked. “You knowing you’re safe?”
“It’s doubtful I’m not, they just want to make sure.”
“So…Denver?” Mel brought us back around.
“I don’t know. I don’t want him to leave. I’m not fired up about a long-distance thing. I don’t want to think about moving, because I love my life here, and before you say anything, I know it’s way too soon for a decision like that. So it’s going to sound wild when I say, I just know whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.”
“You really know that,” Charlie said, watching me closely.
“Know what?” I asked her.
“Know you’ll figure it out,” she explained.
I smiled. “Yeah, that’s one thing in all this mess I definitely know.” I took them all in. “He’s my guy. I can’t explain it, because there’d never been an explanation for it. I just know it.” I patted my hand over my heart. “Deep in here.”
Charlie put both arms around me and gave me a fierce squeeze. “I love that for you.”
Bernie and Mel were giving me soft, happy faces.
Shoo!
They got it.
Then again, if I thought about it, I knew they would.
“Do you all want another cocktail?” The server was at our table.
Bernie looked at her watch. “Damn, our time is almost up.”
You got allotted timings at 36 Below. You had to drink up and go.
“I don’t want another,” Charlie said.
“Me either,” Mel said.
I shook my head.
“I’ll get your bill,” the waitress mumbled and walked the single step to the server station.
I grabbed my glass to suck down more drink.
“I think we need to go someplace where Hugger can sit with us,” Bernie decreed.
“I’m in,” Charlie chirped.
“Totally,” Mel said.
“He’s not going to drink. When he drives, he doesn’t,” I warned them. “But he’ll probably have a Coke.”
“I love him already,” Bernie decided.
And I loved her.
I loved all of them.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys any of this stuff,” I said.
“Yes you did,” Mel returned. “Just now.”
“All good,” Bernie put in.
Totally loved all of them.
The waitress came back with our bill.
“Let’s sort this and go get Hugger,” Charlie said, reaching for the bill.
This wasn’t about them sizing him up.
This was about them getting to know him.
So I uttered not a peep as I opened my clutch to get my credit card.
“What the fuck is an ‘ambient jam’?” Hugger asked.
I busted out laughing.
It was after drinks at the Linger Longer Lounge, which included late-night scarfing of fried bologna sandwiches. We were a little overdressed (well, Hugger wasn’t), but it was the Linger Longer and it was Phoenix, so anything went.