Page 61 of Friend Zoned

“Now, Alphonse, Aiden, out. I don’t like men in my kitchen while I cook. Jeannie will bring you snacks.” She shoos us away. Al grabs the same type of rum Jeannie served me the first night I went to her apartment and gestures for me to follow him, but Jeannie grabs my elbow and pulls me out of the kitchen and into a secluded corner.

“My dad will offer you a drink. You should accept. He’s also going to ask if you want ice or Coke in your rum. Don’t accept that. It’s a test,” she whispers.

“I’ve got this. Don’t worry. I want to ask you something,” I whisper. “Why does your mom limp? Does she need a doctor? I can—” She puts a finger to my lips.

“Shh,” she whispers. “She had polio as a girl and has limped since. That’s what my dad told me. She’s very sensitive about it and refuses to discuss it.” I nod in understanding and decide to change the subject.

I look around, and when I don’t see either of her parents, I say, “Is your old bedroom upstairs.” She nods. “Have you ever been up there with anyone?” I stare into her eyes when I ask that question. The idea of her and that idiot together causes bile to rise in the back of throat.

“No one,” she reassures me.

“I want to fuck you in your childhood bedroom.” Her eyes widen in shock. I lower my head and whisper close to her ear. “I want to fuck you in your bed while I cover my hand with your mouth to drown out your moans.”

“Aiden Walsh,” she says, but I can see the lust in her eyes and hear the want in her voice.

“Then I’m going to take your moist panties and put them in my pocket. Can we make that happen? Maybe not today but soon.” I rest my forehead on hers. When I see her bite that full bottom lip, I tilt her chin up and give her a soft kiss. “God, I want you.” I take her hand and put it on my dick. She starts to moan, but I drown out her sounds with my mouth on hers.

“Hey, big guy, come on. I have the game on,” her dad yells from down the hall.

“Jeannie,” Myra yells from the kitchen. “I need help.”

“We’ll make it happen. Go,” she says but not before she gives my dick a good squeeze over my pants.

I find her father moments later on the couch watching a Superbowl that the entire world has already seen. I take a seat, and Jeannie comes back with two glasses.

“You want ice and Coke?” her dad asks.

“Nope. I take it neat.” He pours us each a very generous portion. We clink our glasses and he downs his in one gulp.

“The bonehead always puts Coke in his. He’s a big dummy,” he says, while he pours himself another. I copy him and drink mine in one swallow too. He nods in approval and pours me another.

Jeannie leans in close to my ear and says, “Don’t try and drink with my dad. No one can drink more than him, and he never gets drunk.”

“Oh, baby, I’m Irish,” I remind her.

“Okay. You’ve been warned.”

I lean back in my seat next to her father. The rum has put me at ease, and I’m ready to talk football. “So, Al, let’s start with a first down. Do you know what that is?”

He chuckles and shakes his head in disbelief. “My,” he yells to his wife. “This big guy knows nothing about the football.” He turns to me and says, “It’s a touchdown, not a first down.” He puts both hands to his head and shakes it.

I take a deep breath when I realize that I have my work cut out for me. “Jeannie,” I yell. “I’m going to need those snacks now.” She pokes her head into the living room and sticks her tongue out at me. “Al, a first down is different than a touchdown. It’s a gain of ten yards—"

Chapter 35

Jeannie

“You have a delivery,” Layla says, sticking her head in my office. She moves to the side, and an older gentleman wheels a cart into the small space.

“Oh my God,” I say when I see several bouquets of roses. I count six, all different colors. The man leaves the cart, tips his hat, and disappears out of my office. I stand and grab the card from the red bouquet.

Jeannie,

You know what red roses mean. I’m going to show you tonight. Happy Valentine’s Day. Aid.

I fan my face to keep my tears at bay and snatch the card from the yellow bouquet.

Jeannie,

---