Page 26 of Breaking the Rules
I swallow. “It was okay. Her name was Veronica. My teammate’s wife introduced us.”
She gives me an uneven look. “And was shewifematerial?”
I bark out a laugh. “Uh. Next question.”
Essie doesn’t pepper me with questions though. If there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s how to share a comfortable silence.
Essie closes her eyes and lets out a long slow breath. She’s relaxed around me and completely comfortable. Something about that is…actually kind of annoying. I poke her in the ribs. Her eyes open.
“You’ve got to give me a real shot before you decide this won’t work.”
Her eyes stay on mine.
“One date. I get to wine and dine you.”And sixty-nine you, I mentally add because I have the maturity of a sixteen-year-old. Thankfully I don’t say that part out loud.
One of her eyebrows lifts. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
6
PRESTON
Part of me still can’t believe that Essie agreed to this date. I’ve asked her out no less than a dozen times over the past nine months that she’s lived here. I’d gotten used to getting shot down. Which means the fact that she finally said yes has thrown me off my game.
I spend a ridiculous amount of time planning our date, researching where to go, reading restaurant reviews and mapping out our way around the city just so there were no surprises. The last thing I wanted to do was get stuck in a construction zone or waste our time in needless traffic. Then I spend almost just as long showering, manscaping and getting ready. I want tonight to be perfect—to show Essie that we can be so much more than just fuckbuddies.
Just when I’m about ready, there’s a sudden knock on my bedroom door.
“I need to talk to you,” Essie’s voice floats through the door. I open it and she steps inside carrying a decently sized flesh colored sex toy. I might have been a little jealous if not for my own more than adequately sized dick.
“Um Ess?” I clear my throat. “I thought we’d go to dinner first. I made us reservations at—”
She holds up one hand. “Stop talking.”
A sudden wave of panic flashes through me. Is the toy for her, or am I its intended target?What is happening?I must say this part out loud because Essie sits down on the side of my bed. She’s still holding the toy. It’s wrapped tightly in one fist. “This was supposed to be the only penis in my life.” She waves the toy at me.
“Um okay…” My brain short-circuits, but I’m trying really hard to roll with the punches here.
“And then you came along, so sweet and kind and patient. God you’ve been so patient.” She meets my eyes and there’s a pained expression on her face.
My stomach sinks. She’s about to cancel. I can see it written all over her. Her shoulders are tense and her eyes have a firm look about them.
“I’ll I’ve done is push you away. I know I’m a mess okay?”
“You’re not a mess. You’re focused. I get that. Hell, I respect it a ton.”
“Well, thank you, I think. But it’s time we had a talk.”
She pats the spot on the bed next to her and I take a seat.
“All right.”
I’m guessing this is where she lets me down easy. Where she sits me down and tells me once and for all that things are over between us. Not that they had ever really begun, a couple of hot hookups aside. It was all over before it even started. The look of defeat on her face says it all.
“What do you want to talk about?” My voice sounds wooden and hollow, but I’m not exactly feeling thrilled right now.
“This.” She motions between us. “I just can’t, Preston. I’m sorry. You’re an incredibly sweet guy, but my life…” She swallows.
