Page 1 of Falling for Them

Chapter 1

The Lube’s Fault

Libby

Never in a million years did I imagine my train would be delayed by a freak accident involving a truck transporting barrels of lube, but there I was.

When the conductor had first announced the reason we’d been stopped for the past thirty minutes, I hadn’t believed it. A quick news search confirmed that there was in fact a truck on its side with literal barrels of Ravishing Whispers personal lubricant scattered across the tracks and roadway. Someone had let their job slip through their fingers with that blunder.

Quite literally.

I stifled a giggle, then immediately felt guilty. Someone had probably lost their job over this. How does one even explain their unemployment to potential employers?

I bit my lip, trying to contain my inappropriate amusement. It was a habit I’d developed during my teaching days, when my students would say something unintentionally hilarious, and I had to maintain a straight face.

I immediately fell down a rabbit hole, searching the internet to see how big of a quantity of lube was available for purchase. Apparently, it was possible to buy a barrel for the low price of one thousand dollars.

My eyes widened at the price.Who needs that much lube? And who has that kind of disposable income?I momentarily forgot thatIhad that kind of disposable income and was about to move into my rich brother’s condo.

I opened my texts with my best friend, Ethan, already snort-laughing, imagining his response. I needed a good laugh.

My thumbs hovered over the phone screen as I debated how to phrase my message.Keep it classy, Libby.Then, I promptly ignored my own advice.

Me: How big of a dick needs fifty-five gallons of lube?

Ethan: What the hell are you reading?

Me: I’m currently bookless.

Ethan: The horror! So, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re watching porn on the train.

Me: There was an accident on the tracks… the train is delayed for who knows how long. Depends on if the lube that spilled is water-based.

I cringed at my own joke, but I couldn’t help but wonder if water-based lube would indeed be easier to clean up. Before I could stop myself, I opened a new browser tab to research lube cleanup methods.This is what happens when I don’t have a book to keep me company.

My phone rang not even a minute later, and I accepted the call from Ethan, glad the train was fairly empty, and no one would have to hear the absurdly random—sometimes inappropriate—shit we talked about. “Does lube have an expiration date?”

Ethan snorted. “Let me look at mine and see...” He must have been near it because a few seconds later, he answered, “Nope. There’s no expiration. Mine never lasts long enough to know if it goes bad if I’m being perfectly honest.”

Heat crept onto my cheeks, and I cleared my throat. “Maybe a porn production company buys these.”

“Or Ryker,” Ethan deadpanned. “I’ll ask him tomorrow. His reaction should be priceless.”

I turned and put my legs up on the two empty seats next to me as I made a gagging noise. “Gross! There are some things that should remain unspoken about my brother and that’s one of them!”

My older brother was in a polyamorous relationship with a woman and two of his best friends. The four of them lived together, and I didn’t even want to think about what they did. Ryker had stolen some of my why choose books before they’d even gotten together—and it hadn’t gone unnoticed that he never returned them—so it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know he was well versed in multiple penis usage.

“How long do you think you’ll be delayed for?”

“Not sure, but maybe I should go stay at the condo instead of coming to your place. I don’t want to cause any more problems for you.”

My brother’s condo in midtown Manhattan was waiting for me to move into anyway, and the guest bedroom still had a bed.

The thought of going to the empty condo made me feel a little lonely, but I pushed the feeling aside.I can handle one nightalone in a luxury condo in the city. I’ll just have to pretend it's my townhouse.

Ethan sighed. “I’m still trying to find someone to sublease from me. There has to be someone desperate enough that they’re willing to put up with the roommate from hell.”

“Ryker said you can stay in the condo for free until you aren’t paying on that place anymore,” I reminded him.

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