Page 41 of Before It Was Love

“How about the one where she explained how having a curfew was unhealthy?” Dad adds.

“My question is not about the presentation.” I summon my courage – there must be worse things in life than moving back in with your parents – and go for it. “Can I stay with you while the bathroom in my apartment is being renovated?”

I feel sick to my stomach. I’m such a failure. I lost my job and now I have to live with my parents.

“Of course. We’d love to have you,” Mom says.

“I hear a but at the end of your sentence.”

“It’s just since your father sold the store and retired, we decided to do a month-long tantric sex course. I’m afraid—”

“Say no more. I understand. Chat later,” I say and hang up.

I guess I’m stuck living with Flynn. It’ll be fine. I can ignore him. I’ll make sure I’m only in the house when I’m sleeping. The rest of the time I’ll be somewhere else. Anywhere else.

It’s time to initiate Plan Ignore Flynn. This might not be the first time I’ve initiated a similar plan but this time it’s going to work.

Call me a mistake will he…

Chapter 14

She’s not a witch, but she has me bewitched.

Flynn

Iwatch as Sophia storms into the brewery. The woman is normally gorgeous but she’s a complete knock-out when she’s mad. Absolutely glorious with her cheeks blazing, storm clouds in her hazel eyes, and her strut when she storms away? It makes me want to smack her ass before kissing to make it feel all better.

Excitement heats my blood as my cock lengthens and hardens. Well, shit. It’s going to be another long day of fighting a hard-on.

These thoughts have got to stop. Sophia will never be mine. She can’t be. I need to get over her and stop this obsession.

My phone rings and I rush to answer it. Anything to get my mind off things I cannot have.

“What’s up, Gary?”

“Can you swing by the hardware store on your way to the site?”

“Why? Never mind. Send me a list.”

“On its way.”

Main Street is quiet when I park in front ofMilton Hardware. The name will probably change since Sophia’s dad sold the store, but I will always remember the place asMilton Hardware.

I grab a cart and start filling it with the things on the list my foreman sent me. I’m nearly finished when I notice Sophia’s dad strolling down the aisle toward me.

“Hey, Jack,” I greet him with a one-armed hug. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be taking it easy since you sold this place.”

He grins as he rocks back on his heels. “I am. I had some quality time with Lily before I came to work this morning.”

I shake my head. Sophia’s parents never tried to hide their love life from anyone, including me when I went to live with them after my dad took off. Sophia and Weston think it’s embarrassing. While it’s a bit uncomfortable to hear about the sexual exploits of a man I consider my role model, I actually envy him.

How wonderful it must be to have a woman you love and cherish after several decades. My dad didn’t cherish Mom. He practically ignored her when she was alive. He was always hanging out at the bars and hitting on tourists while Mom stayed home and raised me.

Asshole.

He wasn’t any better after Mom got sick. He left me to care for her while he drowned his sorrows in booze and women.

Fucking asshole.

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