Page 146 of Innocent Intentions

No, no it fucking does not.

“So, he’s holding my boobs, right? Just kind of staring at them.”

I feel nauseous.

Why is she doing this to me?

“Then, still holding my tits, he looks me dead in the eyes and says, ‘I can’t thank you enough. You’ve helped me come to terms with who I am. I’m gay.’”

What?

“He hugs me. Mind you, my tits are still out. Then kisses my cheek. He starts telling me how hard it’s been, and before I know it, he’s downloading Grindr and we’re scrolling through profiles together. He was so appreciative. Needless to say, I didn’t get any that night. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I stopped dating after that.”

The laugh explodes out of me before I can stop it. My whole body shakes so badly that Margot falls off my lap. I’m wheezing, my eyes watering.

“Stop it! It’s not funny,” she protests, smacking my chest.

“Oh, sweetheart.” I’m still gasping. “The man held your glorious tits, and that’s what made him realize he was gay? I’m sorry, sweet girl, but that’s fucking hilarious.”

She huffs but eventually cracks a smile. “Fine, that one’s funny. But trust me, I’ve had way worse dates than what’s on the screen right now.”

Oh, this should be good.

“There was the guy who insisted on ordering the spiciest ramen on the menu, against both the waiter’s and my protests. He made it about three bites before sweating through his shirt, crying actual tears, and I kid you not, pissing himself at the table.”

Jesus Christ. What a fucking disgrace. I could down that ramen without blinking. Pathetic.

She grins wider now, clearly enjoying this.“Then there was the one who wanted to ‘share his passion’ with me… He brought me to his workshop and had me watch him taxidermy a beaver.”

That’s not just disgusting, it’s deranged. Who the fuck thinks dead animal stuffing is first-date material?

“Oh! The second date with another guy? He brought me to his uncle’s funeral. Introduced me to his entire family as his ‘future baby mama’”

My jaw clenches. Future baby mama?No. She’s only having my babies.

She shrugs like it’s nothing.“One guy tried to recruit me into joining his pyramid scheme. Called it a ‘business opportunity for entrepreneurial spirits.’ I said no, obviously.”

My smart girl. But still, he pitches a Ponzi scheme instead of asking how her day was?

“Another one told me we should go to the gym for our next date because I ‘clearly need it.’”

I nearly black out. The audacity. The fucking corpse of a man is lucky he didn’t leave with his jaw broken. Margot is perfect. He should’ve been grateful to breathe the same air as her.

“And then,” she says with a laugh, “there was the guy who brought two other women on our first date. Claimed he didn’t have time to waste and wanted to speed up the search for his wife.”

“What the fuck,” I mutter.

She smirks. “He got three drinks in his face.”

Damn right he did. Any man who even thinks about another woman while in Margot’s presence deserve a beating.

Not that another man will ever have her.

She’s mine.

“Okay,” I say, forcing calmness in my voice. “You’ve had some bad dates. I’ll give you that.”

I’ll replace each one. I’ll fly her across the world, take her to every five-star restaurant, give her everything she’s ever wanted. I’ll treat her like the princess she is.

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