Page 20 of Play of Love
“I can’t see him, okay.”
“No, it isn’t okay. You’re living on drink and women.” He lowered his brows and grimaced.
I looked over at him and smiled. “What’s wrong with that?”
“A drink here and there and a good woman is no problem.”
“What the hell do you mean by a good woman? They’re all good.” That philosophy was one I always had. I knew what Corey meant, but I loved women too much to be with just one. I didn’t understand why anyone would do that and preferred the freedom to be with anyone I chose, one or two at a time.
“Josh, things have to change.” Corey glossed over the question because he knew the debate that would follow.
“Things are fine the way they are.”
“Do you want to play football again, Josh?”
That was the question of the hour, of the day, of my life right now. Hadn’t I always wanted to play football? I dropped the stress ball and watched it roll across the wooden floor.
“Josh.” Corey said my name more insistently.
I looked up at him at the same time that I heard the door open.
Again, that could only be one person. Only one person had the keys to my house. My blonde-haired and green-eyed PA walked in carrying a big bag. She came into the room, cut a quick glance at Corey, then stood in front of me eyeing me with some serious daggers.
“Here is your order, sir.” She reached into the bag and, to my surprise, pulled out all the condoms that were attached together and dropped them into my lap. There were at least a hundred. One hundredextra-smallcondoms. I didn’t even know they made them that small.
Then she took out a bottle of hot sauce and said, “Lubricant,” and followed it up with a multipack of Rainbow Bright root beer.
I opened his mouth to say something, but she stormed out of the room and made her way to the office. Corey burst out laughing, and laughed even harder when he saw everything properly. The extra-small condoms, the hot sauce, and the damn kids drink.
“Fuck!” I cursed.
“Oh Lord. Who was that?” Corey asked, his Texan accent became more pronounced when he got excited.
“This isn’t funny, Corey. Why are you even laughing? This is what Zelda sent me.”
“That’s your new PA?”
I rolled his eyes. “Looks that way.” So she was back.
“She’s hot.”
“I noticed. It’s a trick of that damn Zelda. She thinks if I have a beautiful PA it’ll make me do what she wants.”
“Is it working?”
I gave Corey an askance look. “Working? Please.”
“You should give her a chance.” The seriousness returned to Corey’s face. I pushed the condoms off me and sat up properly.
“A chance for what? I can manage to do what I need myself.”
Corey shook his head. “No, none of us can do everything ourselves. That’s why we each have PAs, and you need yours more than the rest of us. You should be grateful that you got the beautiful one.”
I sighed with frustration. “I don’t need anybody. I just…” I looked away and gazed at the display of seashells over in the corner on the shelf. Clarissa gave him those when she was about five. I’d taken care of them over the years and planned to have one of them polished and made into a necklace for her. I’d never get the chance to now.
“Josh.” Corey’s voice returned his focus to him. “This is me. I’m you’re oldest friend. We grew up together, bro, and we’ve been through life together. Talk to me.”
I didn’t know if I could talk to anyone. I didn’t know if it was wise to start.
