Page 14 of So Wrong, It's Wright
I've had guys do the fuck and dash on me before, but I've never had them do a getmeoff and dash before. I don't know whether I should be angry or if I’m in love. But since I’m well known for my poor choices when it comes to men, I definitely need the advice of our resident mother before I have any further contact.
“I’ll bet he was.” Darren chuckles as he picks up his coffee mug and sips, pinky in the air. "Were we right about those feet?"
"I didn't get to see, but from the feel of things, yes."
"It's always the quiet ones who have the biggest dicks," he muses, pursing his lips thoughtfully before he suddenly puts his mug down and baulks. "Wait. What do you mean youdidn'tsee it? Are you telling me you went into that hunk of a man's room andnothing happened?"
"Oh, something happened.” I waggle my brows. “But I'm the only one who took any clothes off."
Darren’s eyes light up. "Oh, my god. Tell me more. Actually, tell me everything. I want to know every juicy detail."
I press my lips together as I pick up my mug and try to hide the massive smile that takes over behind it. “He…took care of me," I say. "Like,reallytook care of me. And only me."
“Nothing for him?”
I shake my head slowly.
“Squee!” He actually says ‘squee’ as his feet dance on the tiled floor. "How, girl? I said I want details, not vagaries."
“I’m not sharing this one, mama,” I say, using my pet name for him. “It was special. I want to keep it all for myself.”
He leans on his hand and flashes me a bright smile. "I love that for you, boo. But I hate it for me. You’re the only single girlfriend I have left these days. Everyone else is coupled up to the hilt and you've been my only source of information for what it's like out there on the single side of the fence. I need to live vicariously through you, and if you don't give me details this isn't a fair trade."
"A fair trade?" I can't help but laugh. "What information are you handing over that makes learning every detail about my previously apocalyptic sex life a fair trade?"
He sits back and crosses his legs, flicking his hand over his shoulder like his lifting imaginary hair. "Why, my dear Tahlia, I'm giving you the pleasure of my Coco company. Not everyone gets me for the cost of a cup of coffee.”
“You paid for this,” I point out with a smirk.
“Oh shush. I just like hearing your messed up straight person stories. They’re so angsty. Watching you and Ruby date over the years has been like living one of those Nicolas Sparks movies front row center.”
“Peoplediein those movies, Darren. People keep calling it romance, but if there’s no happily ever after, it’s not romance. It’s a cardinal rule.”
“But they’re all lovey-dovey and romanticbeforethe dying happens.”
“That’s because they’relovestories. You can have a love story without it being romance. Romance, as a genre, has to have a happy ending.”
“So, like a massage at one of those seedy parlors?” he says, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
“Not that kind of happy ending.” I giggle. “You’re my favorite queen, Darren. But sometimes, you are such a boy.”
“Yes, yes. Well, I do have the equipment for it. Oh, and speaking of horse-sized penises…” He grins and I laugh at his segue. “Talk to me more about your Mr. Wright. He’s obviously good with his hands…” He waits and watches me as my cheeks heat. “And maybe his tongue…” My face burns and he sits back, satisfied with his ‘answers’. “OK. Now we’re getting somewhere. And how did you leave things? Are you planning on continuing this tryst when my godson gets christened?”
“You just had to slide in the fact that Ruby and Tanner chose you and Theo to be Bradley’s godparents, didn’t you?”
“Of course. All accomplishments should be celebrated.”
“Well, I’ll get the next one, I guess. But to answer your question, I don’t know. We didn’t discuss what, if anything, happens next. He had an early flight, so he left pretty quick and…I guess we’ll just see.”
“Oh.” The square in his shoulders slumps.
“What?”
“Well, I can’t help but draw a parallel between this and whatever-that-guys-name-was-who-used-you-for-information-about-your-friends. He came and went andtookas he pleased, right?”
“Oh, no. They oranges and apples, I promise you. Nick was selfish and arrogant from the get go. He wasonlyever interested in me when it suited him, and he wanted something. There wasn’t even really a courting period. It was just a decision that we were dating, really. And I think it’s always been like that for me. I meet these men and they kind of sit me at their side, and that's just where I belong until they’re done with me. But with Ash, it was this wonderful day of feeling connected while dancingaroundthat connection before fate stepped in and brought us together and...” I let out a sigh and relax against my chair. “He’s just different, OK?”
“My god, woman. You have got it bad for this guy. And don't get me wrong when I say this, because I really liked him at the wedding—he seems like a great big teddy bear with a ferocious growl buried deep inside him—but if he does anything to hurt my favorite girl, or if he treats you like any of those assholes you've already dated, then I will make him rue the day he was born. And having said all of that, I’m wondering if maybe we should stalk his social media.”
