Page 30 of Joy
“You really going on a date with this guy?” Ted asked as I was tucking my phone away. He was pointing curiously at Silas.
“Uhm, yes, I am,” I slowly answered.
“I’ll be damned.” Ted shook his head and then asked, “George make my panini?”
I had four other crewmen ask me the same “going on a date” question before I left. Was fuckingeveryonegoing to keep tabs on our progress?
Silas had opened his food carton and was eyeing the contents with a small smile, so I figured I did good today.
“I’m heading back,” I said.
He glanced up, closed the lid, and set the food aside to give me his attention. “Drive safe.”
I nodded and stepped away before turning back. “By the way….” I leaned close to whisper, “Is everyone going to be wanting status updates about us?”
“Ignore them,” Silas whispered back.
“I can’t. One of them is your brother!”
“I’ll talk to George.”
“Oh, and you owe me twenty-five bucks from the bet.”
Silas reached into his back pocket, pulled out two bills, and handed them over. “Fair’s fair.”
“Much appreciated.”
“May I kiss you?”
“Your boys going to do more betting?” I asked.
Silas made a face and looked over his shoulder briefly. “Probably.”
I grabbed Silas by the front of his shirt, tugged him down, and kissed him firmly, pressing my tongue against his lips. I heard him gasp, and then he opened his mouth. I touched his tongue with my own and had to suppress a moan. I kissed him once more, chastely, before stepping back and licking my lips. Silas looked stunned.
“See you tonight.”
He nodded.
I looked over his shoulder and called, “That was with tongue!”
A few of the guys cussed and money was exchanged.
“Remember, fifty-fifty,” I told Silas before walking back to the car.
He flashed a huge smile, and my stomach flip-flopped in that way it does when you’re love-struck.
“THIS PLACEis fancy,” I whispered across the table.
Silas had gone home and changed out of his work clothes before picking me up at Eatery, and he cut a handsome figure in dark jeans and a button-down shirt.
Silas leaned over, the flickering candle on the table casting fluttering shadows across his face. “You like it?”
I nodded. “Hey, so, you got your car fixed fast,” I said off topic, motioning vaguely to the parking lot.
“Ah, yes.”
“How much did it cost?”
