Page 36 of Finding Romance
And just like that, I start grinding again. My eyelids fall closed and I grip his shoulders, riding out a wave that takes its time building and then crashes me onto a shore that I never knew existed. My head slumps into his shoulder and he holds me there.
I’m about to tell him I owe him a hand job or something but my phone starts ringing. I jump off his lap and run to my purse that I dropped by his door. I pull my phone out and see it’s Aunt Cornelia.
“Everything OK?” I ask frantically as I answer.
“I sort of got my walker stuck in the bathroom and Margie can’t get it loose. Will you be home soon?” she asks.
I sigh. “I’m just coming in now. I’ll be there in two seconds,” I say as I hang up and turn to Kasen. “I’m sorry. I need to go.”
“Go. It’s OK. You’ve had quite enough lessons for one night,” he says as he stands, and I can make out the outline in his pants. Holy shit! He’s huge.
“OK, goodnight. And uh, thank you,” I squeak as I grab my purse and head out of his apartment and into my aunt’s, wondering how I’m ever going to top that date, both the good and the bad parts.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kasen
“Wait. What happened next?” Hutch asks as we run on the treadmills.
“The kid in front of us threw up,” I repeat, glancing over at him. He’s stopped running, his feet on the outside of the treadmill as he leans over and laughs.
“It was disgusting,” I add.
“Oh, I’m not doubting that. I just can’t believe that happened. Seriously, how does that happen?” he manages in between laughter.
“Can I finish the story or not?” I growl.
He holds up a hand. “Just…give me a second,” he breathes. “OK, OK, please continue.” He starts running again and I finish the story of the second date.
“Wow, so you were, like, on your way to third base and then you got cockblocked by an old lady. Man, that’s rough,” Hutch says when I finish. “Also, that really doesn’t seem like a practice date. That seems like a real date.”
I groan and stop running, putting my speed down to a cooldown walk. “She said she needed practice. I was helping her practice.”
Hutch shuts down his treadmill and turns to me. “Be careful, dude. She’s young and impressionable and she may see this as more than practice if you keep doing shit like that. You’re walking a fine line. Unless you do like her.”
“What are you, the love doctor? And no, I’m not in the market for a girlfriend,” I quip.
“After reading nearly fifty romance books, I feel like one,” he says with a shrug as he gets off his treadmill and walks toward the locker room. I stop mine and run after him.
“Fifty?” I confirm, my eyebrows rising.
“What? They are good. I read one almost every night,” he explains as we enter the men’s room.
“No judgment. If anything, I’m impressed anyone would read that much,” I state as I pull off my shirt.
Hutch stands next to me, and I look at him. “For real, man, be careful. Piper is sweet. Don’t break her heart.”
And with that he heads to the shower and I’m left standing there, wondering if I’m making a huge mistake.
Three hours later, I’m still contemplating what I should do about the Piper situation. I push back from my desk, deciding it’s time for a mid-morning food break when my phone buzzes. I look down and see it’s my grandmother.
“Hello, everything alright?” I ask as I walk toward my kitchen.
“Fine, fine, love. Just thought I’d ring you and see how you were,” she answers. Just the sound of her voice is soothing, and I release a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding.
“I’m fine,” I lie because how could I even explain everything going on in my head?
“Stop lying, Kasen. It’s unbecoming,” she counters.
