Page 17 of Rules in Love
A grin wider than the Hudson lit Teddy’s face, and he leaned closer toward me. “Secret’s over. Do you remember last New Year’s? How I fell in love with the mysterious, hot asshole who touched my hand, then stole my cab?”
“How could I forget? But what’s that got to do with Asher?” Teddy’s adorable eyebrows hit his hairline, he shrugged, and the penny dropped, “Oh my God. No way. Asher is the—”
“Yes way! Asher is the hot asshole. I’ve been seeinghim on the sly for weeks, and for various reasons, I couldn’t say anything. Please don’t look at me like that. It’s been tough. Honestly, it nearly killed me not sharing with you, but we’re official now and…he…he’s really something, Scar. I am in deep.”
Secrets between Teddy and I were a rarity, and I would usually scratch his eyes out for this level of deception, but I could see by the smile, not only on his lips but the one shining brightly in his eyes, that he was, as he said, in deep. Pettiness and jealousy had no place here. So, I did what any best friend should. I squeezed the shit out of his hand and squealed with glee. “I am so fucking happy for you!”
We left our coats at the table, hug-walked our way to the bar, and ordered two extra-large, extra-boozy, extra-drinky drinks with an extra wedge of lime for me. “Alright, lover boy, tell me everything and don’t leave any horny bits out. I’m a lonely woman, and it’s been a loooong time between drinks.”
“Scar, he is fucking amazing. Every smile that leaves his lips and comes my way is a gift from God. We love all the same things, he loves kids, and…” Teddy’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and I was waiting for the dick-size comments to flow, but instead, I got, “he’s sweet, determined, so freaking funny, and has just the right amount of arrogance. Maybe even a secret or two.” He sighed and dreamily stared off into the distance. “Shit, he tolerates my 80’s English Pop too. Last night we listened to Rick Astley, Mel and Kim, and Kylie records. It was a Stock, Aitken, and Waterman marathon, and he didn’t complain once.”
“Wow, that sounds great, but I was hoping for latex-related gossip rather than vinyl. Come on, give me the dirt. How is he, you know, between the sheets?” My BFF turning the color of the raspberry margarita on the bar beside us was an unusual sight. Teddy didn’t have one shy bone in his body. Inappropriate was his middle name. He looked around us as if inspecting for the all-clear and then whispered, “There has been no between-the-sheets action. I mean, we’ve fooled around and kissed and stuff, and Lord, can that boy work with his tongue, but… I like him, Scar, and we’ve decided to wait.”
“My baby is growing up!” I grabbed him by the ears and held his cute face to my chest, kissing his head repeatedly. “This is a first. You’d normally have banged his brains out and been done by now. I’m so happy and proud of you.” And I was, but honestly, a tiny part of me was jealous. No, not jealous. Envious. And not of Teddy seeing and clearly being besotted with someone, but because he was keen on Asher and dared to do something about it. Unlike me.
“Even though you have me pressed into your heaving bosom, I can tell what that look on your face means. Finny must have asked me a hundred times when you were coming back to work,” he said, freeing himself and straightening his boob-tousled hair. He kept one eye on me and one on Asher’s ass as he slipped past, carrying a tray of drinks. The DJ kicked in at that moment, the bass dropped, the lights dimmed, and the crowd cheered. “I can read you like a book, Grant,” Teddy yelled. “You can do it too. Ask Finn out, I mean. I know things are more complicated for you, but you can’t use Ben and work as an excuse forever. You must put that lovely round ass out there.” He nodded toward said ass before carrying our drinks toward our table. “I mean it, Scar. He’s been here for, what, six months?” It had been three weeks. “You’ve waited long enough. Your vagina is shriveling up into itself more and more by the day. You need to talk to him, and here’s your chance.”
Before I could ask him not to reference my vagina in public, the two chilled, salt-rimmed margarita glasses were shoved into my hands. I was most inelegantly spun around on my toes—almost falling sideways—until I stood face to face with none other than Finn Austen. Thank fuck I didn’t say vagina.
“Perfect timing, Finn,” Teddy said, pushing me closer to the stunning blond standing like a god before me. “We were just about to sit down and have a drink, but I’ve been called back to work. Why don’t you take mine and sit with Scar?”
Called back to work at nine on a Monday night? Yeah, sure.
Teddy’s rough handling of me continued. He pushed me back into my chair by the shoulders, grabbed one of the glasses from my hand, and set it on the table in front of the empty chair opposite me.
I watched in mortified silence as Finn blushed but nodded and took a seat. His eyes flicked briefly to mine, and he smiled but mostly still looked at Teddy as they talked. I had no idea what they were saying. He was simply so beautiful that I couldn’t concentrate. Coordinating listening, looking, and breathing at the same time seemed impossible.
The different environment brought a new appreciation for his size. He was massive—had to be six foot four or six foot five—with a thick, broad body. He was the owner of the deepest, shimmering, break-your-heart blue eyes I had ever seen. I thought back to my presentation. Of how I felt when he had touched me. I’d stupidly held his gaze and feared I’d end up like the Wicked Witch of the West, just an aroused, bubbling pool of wetness screaming, “I’m melting!”
Even on the video calls we’d shared, I’d actively counted how long I let myself gaze upon his face. Remembering that feeling, I tried hard to focus on his ear, or nose, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to take all of him in. He had that cheekiness I loved in men. His crooked, dimpled smile could light up the whole city.
I wonder if he has a hairy chest. He doesn’t seem hairy. Even if he is, he’s very fair…
“Scar…Scarlett Grant!” yelled Teddy, poking me in the side with his index finger. He was determined to embarrass me, the bastard.
“Yes, yes, what? Why are you poking me?” I whined like a child, slapping his hand away and trying not to notice Finn laughing.
“I said, maybe you and Finn could split a cab home. He lives off Bleecker, only a few blocks away, fancy that.” Before I could point out that Bleecker was indeed just a few blocks away but in the wrong direction, Finn and his incredible lips replied.
“I’m showing my new New Yorker-ness here, but I have my car. I needed to drop off my—uhh…needed to drop something off this morning, so I’d be happy to give you a ride, Scarlett.”
I’d be happy for you to give me a ride too.That’s why I need to say no.
“That would be lovely, Finn. Thank you.”
Christ on a bike.
“Brilliant.” Teddy slapped my shoulder again to emphasize his joy. He bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek, leaned across the table, shook Finn’s hand, then winked at me and bolted for the door. Before I’d had the chance to move, blink, or dramatically collapse, my bag buzzed and vibrated across the table.Dear God, I hope that’s my phone.
I slapped my hand over the top, it continued to buzz in my palm, but yes, it was my phone. “Excuse me.”
Teddy: Did you notice the bulge? OMFG
Teddy: I know you are shitting yourself, but you can do this. You deserve to be happy…and fucked senseless.
Teddy: Just sit and talk and make him love you. Or fuck you. Either is good.
Scarlett: I will chop you up into tiny pieces and feed you to Cat Lady’s cat.
