Page 76 of Books and Hookups

The pet name, her hand on my heart, the pulses that still massaged my dick, all of it broke me. “I love you, Lucie.”

The words hung in the air between us for a second as I simultaneously wished I could call them back—she’s not ready, dumbass—and desperately searched her face for a reaction.

At last, she patted my chest. “Sure you do, honey. Now get up. I’ve got to pee.”

26

A Roundhouse Kick in the Heart

If these walls could talk, my dear. My legacy is in the first dates that became true love. In the after-work celebrations and World Series cheers. Even in the breakups, the times people came to drown their sorrows, the losses. Because I made a safe place for all that. A shoulder to cry on, a beefy guy to break up a fight, an extra shot in their glass to help numb the pain, and a ride home after. Those special moments? I was here for all of them.

Barbara McMahon, bar owner

LUCIE

The warmth at my back was gone, but the sheets were still toasty, and they held the scent of his skin. I buried my nose in the pillow. If I hadn’t seen the sun coming up, I could’ve pretended it wasn’t morning yet.

There was a clatter followed by a muttered, “Oh shit.” I raised my head to look.

Danny stood in the doorway, trying to hold a tray one-handed and blot something on it with the other. He wore pajama pants and a faded Giants T-shirt, and he smelled like…

“Coffee?” I said hopefully.

“Decaf, and I spilled some.”

“It’s okay. Bring it here.”

He set the tray on the bed. There was toast, two bananas, two mugs of coffee, and a newspaper.

I picked up a mug and sipped, then I nodded at the paper. “Where’d you get one of those?”

“I get it delivered, same as you.” He blotted at the coffee stain on the newspaper.

“If I didn’t work there, I wouldn’t get a physical paper. I’d get a digital subscription. Most people my age—and certainlyyourage—wouldn’t even do that.”

“The delivery person is already delivering to your place, so it’s easy to deliver to mine.” He picked up the folded paper and blotted under it.

“But…do you actually read it?”

“Of course I do. Especially when you have a piece in it.” His cheeks went pink. “Besides, I like to stay informed so I can talk with our customers about what’s going on in the world.”

“Every other millennial I know gets their news from social media.”

He shrugged. “I don’t. Eat some toast.”

“I’m not going to eat toast in your bed. I don’t want crumbs poking me in the ass when you’re dicking me down.”

His face went crimson. “Christ, Lucie. The things you say.”

“I only say what’s true.” I picked up a banana.

“I’ll wash the sheets.”

“What if I want one more for the road? Now?” I peeled back the skin of the banana and licked the tip suggestively.

“We don’t have time for that. You’ve got to eat and go to work.”

I bit off the tip of the banana. “Spoilsport,” I said, my mouth full.

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