Page 44 of Bronco

“I haven’t traveled much, either,” she sighs. “Someday.”

“Where would you like to go?” I prompt. “If you could pick anywhere? And don’t say fuckin’ Delaware or some shit. I mean, like if you had one wish and all of that.”

“Paris,” she says without hesitation. “It’s always been a dream of mine to see the Eiffel Tower and live like a Parisian for a week or two.”

“That would be pretty amazin’.” I imagine what it would be like. Cobblestone streets. Local markets. French people wearing berets. Okay, they probably don’t even wear those, but it would be an amazing destination, there’s no denying it.

“It isn’t just the food and the wine, it’s the culture. The French seem to enjoy every single morsel of their lives. I watchedthis show where this couple moved from England and renovated a French castle…”

I turn to look down at her. “Don’t tell me.”

“Dick and Angel,” we say together.

I put a hand over my mouth. “Okay, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I really like that show,” I lower my voice. “Just don’t tell anyone I said that.”

She’s laughing uncontrollably. “It’s a little absurd how much we have in common when you think about it.”

“I know, right? Renovatin’ shows. Dark chocolate. Smutty books…”

“You do not read smutty books!” she whisper-shouts.

“I do so.” I put a hand over my heart. “I’m shocked, by the way, at the amount of sex in some of those books, especially the cartoon couple ones. Romance authors are hardcore.”

“Ha! And you said vanilla guys are the best kind.”

“You didn’t text me the name of the book you’re currently reading so we could buddy read,” I remind her.

“Bronc, you don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I mean, only if you want me to? I don’t want it to be weird. Maybe one of the girls would be a better fit?”

She lays a hand on my arm and gives it a squeeze. “I know you’re just being nice because you think I have no friends.”

I frown. “You do have friends, but I know book nerds can be a little… uh, private about what they like to read.”

“Now I’m a book nerd?”

“I’ve seen your collection, it’s big. I also know what you girls are reading behind those pretty covers.” I wink.

She flushes a little on the pretty covers comment. “And yet you sent me more books.”

I hold up a finger. “I was proving a point.”

“You’re actually right,” she sighs. “Tristan, the guy in the current book I’m reading, doesn’t use cheap theatrics.”

“Told ya.”

“He uses a cucumber.”

I almost choke on my mouthful of beer and manage to spit some out; it dribbles down my chin and I sputter. “Jesus, AJ!” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, then lower my voice. “A cucumber?”

She nods, biting her lip, her eyes dancing with amusement. “So I get your point. You don’t have to be chained to a bed, pinned to a St. Andrews Cross, or bent over a sex chaise to get your thrills.”

My heart rate kicks up a notch.What in the ever-living fuck?“Okay, now I’m really gonna dive deep into that bookshelf of yours. A sex chaise?”

“It’s a thing.”

“I’ll google it later. Now, back to the cucumber. Does he really fuck her with it?”

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