Page 42 of Lessons in Love
“Positive.” Pretty sure.Maybe.Not at all. “Fuck.” I walk out from behind the bar and head for the office. “Cover me, Eddie.”
“Will do.”
I don’t turn on the light in the office when I enter. I like the dark. The little lights from technology are enough to find my way to my desk. Sitting down, I drop my head into my hands. When did it happen? When did I succumb to something I never gave any credence to? When did I fall?
It’s not about when I fell, but how I catch myself. I dig my phone from my pocket and send a text to a friend.
The reservation is set at one of the best restaurants in New York City. It’s good to have friends in the business. After confirming, I text Virginia:Kat & Theo at 8?
It’s not what I wanted to type. I wanted to drop a whole confessional of sinful thoughts I’d had about her, thoughts that included that dreaded four-letter word. Not fuck though it’s my favorite, but the one that starts withLand ends with anE. Ididn’t though because I may be falling apart at the seams, but I still have my dignity.
Lessons in love. That’s all this is. Teach her so she can seduce the asshole from work. I bang my head against my wood desk. Then my phone dings with a message and I’m quick to look to see if it’s her. It is! Success. I read:I’ve always wanted to go there. See you then.
See you then.I return the message a little too eagerly for my liking but what the hell. I had already blown my image of Mr. Cool the minute I agreed to her crazy plan.Setting my phone in front of me, I rub my hands over the scruff of my beard, then reach over and turn on the lamp. A knock comes too soon, and I say, “Come in.”
Eddie peeks in. “The bussers showed up, so I’m back behind the bar. I brought in an extra bar back as well. He just got here.”
“That’s good. Hey Eddie, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It’s probably not a great time since we’re busy, but I want you to think about moving into a manager position. Let me know your thoughts and we can discuss the details on Sunday when we both work.”
Blinding white teeth are revealed when his smile grows. “Thanks, boss.”
“Save the flirting for the ladies and get back out there.”
“Will do.”
The door shuts and as much as I want to spend more time moaning about my love life and the problems a cute little brunette has caused, I can’t. It feels good to reward people who deserve it.And really?If life was that bad, I wouldn’t have Virginia in my life at all, so I think I have it pretty damn good right now. Even if she is driving me mad.
I turn the lamp off, pocket my phone, straighten my vest and collar, and get back to work. It’s not called Hardy’s Hideaway for nothing.
***
What is this feeling?
I ran an extra two miles when I woke up today on what felt like pure adrenaline, but I do a few jumping jacks to shake this onslaught coursing my veins. When I stop, my breathing is harsher, but nope, still there.
In the bathroom, I take a closer look at my face. I’ve got color, so I stick out my tongue. Pink, like always. “Ahhhhh.” Opening my mouth wide, I try to look at the back of my throat. Looks normal.
What’s wrong with me? I haven’t felt like this in years. Then, like a V-8, it hits me smack dab on the forehead.Nerves.More precisely, I’m nervous or anxious. I never did understand the difference, much to the contempt of my private school teachers. They swore to me I’d need to know this one day and here I am, using them interchangeably. They were right. Maybe I should track them down and let them know . . . What the fuck? Why am I rambling like this? Oh, the nerves. That’s right.
Why am I nervous?
It’s Virginia. Just lesson three. We’ve been here before. The first night we met I was touching her soft skin and causing those sweet heart-shaped lips to form that O from ecstasy. I can’t wait to feel her heat and taste her desire again. I have absolutely no reason to be nervous. The last two lessons are my specialty. This is where I shine.
My skills in the bedroom are as good as my word. I always keep my promise and like The Hideaways motto—they always come, and always want to come back for more. That motto didn’t invent itself. It came from years of experience and attention to detail. One taste and women were coming back in droves and bringing their friends. Look, I know what you’re thinking. We aren’t male prostitutes and we’re not hooking up with everyone. The Hideaway is a place where women and men gather andmeet. There’s no pretension or judgment you find at a lot of the bars in Manhattan. So the clientele is hooking up with each other and we’ve had six marriages in the last two years.
For me personally, it’s been a matter of that connection I spoke to Virginia about. A little human touch is good for the soul. I’m not screwing all of Brooklyn, but if I was, I still sleep like a baby at night. I’m okay with who I am. Well, I was . . . until Virginia and now I’m a mess.
I do twenty jumping jacks and fifty pushups before getting in the shower to help relieve some of the pressure aka nerves. Thinking about that sexy little kneecap does the trick. I never saw it the first time we were together, so this photo teases in the best of ways of all the body parts I’ve never seen that she’s blessed with.
Extra time is spent getting ready as if this is a date. Virginia made it clear it was “almost like a date.” Highly disappointing.
On top of the “almost like a date” comment, I’m sitting here in my apartment completely dressed with nothing to do but worry about how this night and maybe the rest of the nights of my life are going to play out. Looking at the clock, it’s only five thirty. Damn, what is wrong with me?
I can’t sit here any longer. There are stops I need to make, so I grab my coat and gloves and head to the city.
Chapter Fourteen
The second I enter the shop he turns around and grabs a big box of Godiva chocolates and sets it on the counter next to the register. The health store hipster doesn’t even look up. He just knows. Like he knew I’d be back. “I knew you’d be back.”
