Page 8 of Fumbled Beginning

“I have Oakley.”

“He’s a dog.”

I leveled her with a look. “So are most men. They hump anything that moves. The main difference is, dogs are loyal, men are not.”

She giggled and held up her ring finger, displaying the jewels my brother put there. “Not all men are like that.”

“Maverick and my dad are exceptions.”

She could try her damnedest to convince me otherwise, but I wasn’t budging. I deleted the app, and I was done wasting my time on random guys who weren’t worth a second of it.

“You’ll meet someone, Rylee. I promise.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore.” It was hard to meet someone who didn’t expect me to sacrifice my goals or use me to get to my brother.

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure this isn’t about Dominick?”

I sat back in my chair and groaned whenever I thought about my ex. “Dominick and I are strictly coworkers. Whatever we had is over.”

I still had to deal with him on occasion, especially if there was a contract issue. We were cordial at best, and I was pretty sure he wanted me back, but I was done. Sometimes, it felt like he made up compliance issues as an excuse to meet with me. Thankfully, his legal duties and travel schedule kept him out of the office most of the time because I needed the space.

“I don’t know how you could be so friendly with that snake after what he did to you.”

“His drinking problem isn’t my problem anymore.”

My ex liked to hit the bottle a little too hard at night. When I asked him to stop, he refused, so I ended it. To say the breakup had been messy would be an understatement.

“I wasn’t just talking about the alcohol. I was referring to him cheating on you.”

“We were technically broken up, but it doesn’t matter,” I said, bringing my glass to my lips, but frowned when I realized it was empty. “We were over long before I left him. I’d rather be single than waste my time on another relationship that ends up going nowhere.”

“I wouldn’t give up on finding love just yet. They say it happens when you least expect it.”

Her eyes darted across the room, and, of course, mine followed. I needed to remind myself why I was so intent on staying single. I shouldn’t even have been thinking about my brother’s friend, but it was getting harder and harder by the minute.

CHAPTER3

JP

There wassomething seriously wrong with me. A beautiful woman was sitting on my lap; she was blond, gorgeous, and had a body that most men would kill for. Yet, all I could think about was how everything about her felt wrong. The color of her hair, the way she laughed, even her height was an issue for me.

It was official; I preferred short brunettes with brown eyes who gave me sass and challenged me. This chick was too easy, and I was pretty sure she’d do anything I asked.

I shifted her onto my lap and brushed the curtain of long hair off her shoulder. Her blue eyes sparkled as she trailed her long, painted fingernails along my arm. My gaze dropped to her chest, which didn’t leave much to the imagination, and I waited and waited to feel something. I felt nothing. It must have been something in the air tonight.

“I like your place.” She was doing her best to get my attention, but I don’t think a dozen Viagra pills would have tempted me. She’d been clingy all night and refused to leave my side when all I wanted to do was unwind.

“Thanks. Would you like another drink?” I was looking for an excuse to get up and move around. Even her perfume was starting to annoy me.

“As long as it’s astiffone,” she cooed as her hands moved toward my zipper.

Could this chick be any more cliché? I wasn’t kidding when I told Rylee I got bored easily, and situations like this were getting old.

The drinking, parties, and random women all left me feeling unsatisfied. These interactions didn’t hold the same appeal as they used to; they felt more like a chore than a good time.

I scanned the crowd, feeling bored, and noticed all the people gathered in my living room. Normally, I’d be all in, but spying all the Solo cups, carpet crumbs, and empty beer bottles scattered around, all I could focus on was all the cleaning we would be doing later. I was getting too old for this scene.

I looked over at Rhett, who was acting as the host of the party while making drinks atmykitchen counter. A harem of chicks giggled at his side, eating up whatever bullshit he was spitting out. I wasn’t one to judge because I had my own reputation to worry about, but the guy rotated through more women than a NASCAR pit crew did with tires.

---