Page 113 of Trigger

“See you later, partner,” I muttered, leaning in to kiss hischeek. “Take care.”

He blushed, but he let me have that kiss.

“You too.”

Carter

A few facts.

First, yeah, I went to this club several days ago. I found a guywho seemed decent, open-minded, and STD-free. I offered him money for a kiss,and he accepted. And it was an okay kiss by any means. It didn’t rock my world,but it was fine. Then I thought about my kisses with Vicky and other women inmy life, which were also fine, but none of them could compare to my kiss withTye. An earthquake couldn’t compare to my kiss with Tye. So, there was that.

Then I kissed Tye again, and without a gun to my head. He pissedme off, and I wanted to prove a point, but all I proved was that I had the hotsfor him. I tried to find the reason for it. Rationalize it. Explain it. Why, inmy thirty-ninth year of age, did I suddenly find a dude attractive? More thanthat. I craved him. His hands on me. My hands on him. Looking back at things, Iprobably deluded myself for a while about that, but I couldn’t lie to myselfanymore.

I spent half the day in the park, observing the people passing byme. Men, mostly. Some were handsome, some weren't. Some I found reasonablyattractive, others not. Still, my heart never missed a beat, unlike in theevening when I came out of the shower and saw a missed call from Tye.

I slid into a T-shirt and sat on the bed, chewing on my lip. Ittook me an embarrassing two seconds to call him back.

“Hey!” A low voice answered after the first ring.

“Hey,” I muttered. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just got back from the crime scene. It was a long fuckingday.”

“Same perp?”

“The reports are not in yet, but we’re sure of it. Bazooka and theguys are checking the CCTV, but it will take us a few days to covereverything.”

In other words, he wouldn’t be back for a few days.

“Where are you staying?”

“At my old flat, and I have to tell you I didn’t miss that dump atall. I’m meeting Bazooka later tonight for a drink or a dozen. Getting drunkseems like a viable option.”

A few moments of silence ensued as I imagined him in a barsomewhere, drinking and laughing.

“So,” Tye said, clearing his throat. “Are you alone?”

“Of course I’m alone. Actually, I just listened to the news.Apparently, SPD has no clue what to do with all the serial killings going on.That psycho got a nickname, too. The Butcher of Smitsville.”

“How original.”

“Yup.”

“So you haven’t kissed anyone yet?”

I chuckled. “No. Speaking of, have you fucked anyone yet?”

“Not yet, but my luck might change when I come back home.”

“You never know,” I said, stifling a laugh. “Miracles happen everyday.”

“I don’t need a miracle. I just need five minutes alone with thisguy.”

I cocked my eyebrows. “Are you sure about that?”

“No, but I believe in the power of positive thinking. Also, whowould be stupid enough to refuse this body?”

I burst into laughter because he was just hilarious.

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