Page 13 of Three Reasons

It turns out that Google isn’t good for everything. “Can’t find much on his kids. Lots on his career and highlights on his wife and her drinking problem. More deleted articles than not. No social media for him or the wife.” I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or relieved. I want to learn more about Gray, but I’d like most of that information to come directly from the woman herself. I don’t want secondhand rumours.

“Maybe that’s a good thing?” I nod at Eli as he takes a seat across from me. We sit in silence for a minute before he speaks again. “You think we should talk to her about this tonight or see if she brings it up?”

I want to clear the air, but I don’t want to ruin our first date, either.

“Play it by ear.”

The last thing I want to do is make our woman feel uncomfortable by what we’ve discovered, especially if we’re wrong in our assumption that Wyatt is her father.

By the time we close up shop for the day, I don’t feel any less anxious about the shit that’s happening, and I consider if letting Gray bring it up is the right move.

As soon as we get home, I tell Eli I’m hitting the shower.

Closing my eyes as the warm spray pelts my aching muscles, I’m careful to wash the tattoo on my chest precisely as Gray instructed before moving my soapy hands down my body, imagining they’re her gentle touch.

Her fingers move along my shaft as she drops to her knees. She watches herself stroking my dick in her smaller hands, squeezing the head when she reaches the tip before slowly moving back down the shaft.

Fuck.I can feel the release building as I move my hand up and down, wanting and needing it to be Gray’s hands sooner ratherthan later. That woman has me in a chokehold, and she doesn’t even know it.

Working my hand faster, I tilt my head back, allowing the water tosluice down my body, praying one day I’ll be lucky enough to have her puffy lips wrapped around my cock and swallowing every bit of seed I release into her mouth.

Groaning as it bubbles up my shaft, I let loose with my desire for this woman and growl through the orgasm as I watch it get washed down the drain.

“Callan, hurry the fuck up, and let’s go!” Eli shouts as I shake the remnants of my cum off the tip of my dick and shut the water off.

I dry off, style my hair, and dress quickly in a pair of light-washed jeans, a black henley long-sleeved shirt, bomber jacket, and black boots.

Staring at myself in the mirror over the sink, I can’t help but criticize everything I have on. I’m not ordinarily vain, but a date has never meant so much to us before. I want to impress Gray. I was a gruff asshole yesterday and probably left a horrible impression. Tonight, I want her to know that she’s worth every effort I’m making to look good for her.

This immediate attraction is unexplainable, and because it feels so damn good, I don’t want to analyze it to death. Eli being in the same predicament helps with my concerns that I’m not good enough for her.

I fucking love that she was left speechless when we took off last night. The bee-stung lips, passion-filled eyes, and the way she vibrated with the same desire for us as we have for her is a damn miracle as far as I’m concerned.

“About damn time.” Eli checks his watch, teasing me about taking longer than him.

Agitated, I snap, “Shut up, this shit is fucking ridiculous.” I’ve never been worried about how I look for a date in my life. This is new territory for me.

Eli pauses as he’s about to open the front door. “What is it?” I shake my head. It’s stupid to explain. “Man, look, if you don’t want her… I’m invested, Cal. She feels like the one for me, for us, and I have to say, she might be the deal breaker, and that would fucking suck to shit.” I get what he’s saying.

Having Eli express himself makes it easier for me to open up. “I want her, Eli. More than anything else in my life, but this shit is fucking hard. I’m second-guessing myself because I was such a dick to her last night. I’m not like you; I don’t have the lightness, charm, and flirting in me.”

“I get it, man, but that’s what I’m here for. It’s why this works so well for us. We balance each other out. I’m the yin to your yang or some shit.” His grin puts me at ease a little more. The way he’s explained it helps to calm my nerves further.

Glancing at the door, I meet his stare, eyes lit with anticipation as he waits on me. “Let’s go get our girl, then.”

Slapping me on the back, he offers a devilish grin filled with heated need for Gray. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

As we drive to her shop, a variety of nerves eat away at my gut. Both excitement and anticipation war with each other as insecurity tries to wiggle its way back in. I feel like I’m fifteen and going on my first date again. The potential that this woman might, and very likely is, the one for us has me restless.

Music plays faintly from the speakers, and as I watch Eli drive, I think he’s nervous in his own way. Typically, he’s chatty, but tonight, he’s quieter, and I realize that while he was talking me off a ledge, I didn’t get the chance to do the same.

“She could be it,” I say softly, watching him. His eyes crinkle on the sides, and his lips twitch as he thinks about her. The stress clears from his face, and as our eyes meet, I know we’re firmly in this together.

“Yeah, man, no doubt. Gray Ryhan is our forever girl.” A new type of eagerness fills the cab of the truck, and I can’t fucking wait to see Gray again.

Eli

In my thirties, and I feel like I’m fourteen and about to kiss a girl for the first time. I know that Callan has been feeling nervous, so I’ve tried to keep my shit together. As he’s showering in his room, I’m quick to run through my own and get dressed and ready before his water even turns off.

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