Page 76 of The Seven Month Itch
“I’m sorry, Mr. Reyes. Do you have a question?”
Every set of eyes in the conference room lands on me. Shit, did I say that out loud? “Nothing. Happy to see this move forward.” I cough and wave a hand at the presentation. The hoarse tone in my voice gets me a look from Kenny. He’s my attorney, and a damn good one. The guy knows bullshit when he sees it.
I sink back in my chair with my eyes locked on my phone and the Eiffel Tower of erections. My wife stares back at me in a slinky black number that stops above her ass, which is arching off one of those fancy chairs you see in a department store sitting room. Her legs spread in an invitation to a private buffet, and damn it if I don’t want to ditch this meeting to rub one out in the bathroom.
Me:You’re killing me, princess.
Her response is instant and includes lots of laughing emojis.
Justice:Wanted surprise you. I have another when I see you.
I. Am. Game.
If she forces me to wear a leash and silk boxers and walk around the block, I’ll bark. I don’t care. I miss her. Two weeks is too long to go without her in my arms.
Justice isn’t the type to wear sexy outfits. She dresses up in lingerie on occasion but usually opts for a knee-length silk nightgown to wear to bed. Her beauty shines from the inside out. Put her in a paper bag and see how fast I create dick holes to touch her.
A pat on my shoulder signals the end of the meeting. Suits cluster in conversation. I say a silent prayer that no one will see the bulge pressed against my pants when I make my exit. A miracle appears in the form of a stack of folders left on the conference room table. I hope they’re not important.
After four rounds of handshakes, we’re free. I need to nut and grab dinner before I commit murder.
“That went well. It’s a good sign Harvey and his team took the initiative with this meeting. He’ll come on board.” Kenny hasn’t lost his optimism since college. The trait is commendable, and it’s one of the reasons I’m proud to call him a friend.
“From your mouth to God’s ears, man.” I pat him on the shoulder.
Chris, my business associate, nods. “If they can meet our number, we should have a deal.” Glad to see my frat brother agrees.
I wrap my arms around them and bite my lip to suppress the grin that wants to break free. These two helped me get my dream off the ground. They say it takes a village, but I have gladiators ready to throw down in the arena.
Chris graduated top of his business class at Bodie University before he went for his MBA. How he maintained a 4.0 average and partied the way he did is a miracle in itself. He’s a trust-fund kid but is down-to-earth, and he forged his own path that detoured from his father’s Silicon Valley footsteps. Chris will be the “numbers guy” who will oversee the financial side of the business and manage stakeholder expectations. He’ll stay in LA to keep an ear to the ground but will pop into Austin to stay in the four-million-dollar penthouse he just bought downtown.
Kenny is another brainiac who got his Juris Doctor degree from Bodie. We spent lots of time together on the field and in the library to cram for tests during our undergrad days. Every law firm in a fifty-mile radius did backflips to hire him after we graduated. What did he do? Blew them all off to stay in school for an international business and economic law degree. He packed his bags and took the corporate route that led him to the Big Apple but quit after five years to start his own company. I can’t afford Kenny on my best day, but he handles all of my legal needs at a discounted rate, one he makes up for with his high-profile clientele.
Miles is the only one who isn’t here. He planned to meet us but had to back out last minute because of work. I’ll hit my silent partner up later. A smile builds big enough to expand my chest. I’m so fucking happy. I look between Chris and Kenny. “Have I told you two today that I love you?”
“Come on, man.” Kenny extracts himself from my embrace and stifles a laugh. “Not needed.”
Chris shakes his head and smirks. “We’re here for you, bro.”
“Glad to see someone still cares for me,” I say with a hip bump to Kenny. He makes it so easy to get under his skin.
His eyes tighten at the corners. “If you try to kiss me, I’ll deck you right here.”
“You know you love me.”
“Rub up on me again and see what happens in this hallway.”
Chris and I are both in tears. Kenny acts like gangrene will develop if someone shows him affection that’s not tied to fucking. Want to see a six foot five, two-hundred-sixty-pound man in a tailored suit act like a baby? Hug him in public.
Laughter echoes through the empty hall. I put my hands up to collect my composure. “Does my Kenny need dinner and drinks before—” I dodge a fist and jog to put some distance between us, laughing my ass off along the way. “Okay, okay. Let’s eat.”
“Might I make a suggestion?”
Our heads swivel to see Harvey Miller, a seasoned investor with decades in the game. We clear our throats and stand straighter on his approach. The guy is hard to read. If he sees us in our frat-boy glory, our deal will be dead on arrival.
“Mr. Miller. A pleasure to see you again.” We shake hands. Harvey is a heavy hitter across multiple industries. At sixty-four, the man still works hard and plays harder.
He gives the three of us a look. “You guys remind me of me and my friends in our younger years. You can’t buy this kind of loyalty. Well, most of the time.” We laugh. “You impressed mewith your vision for the new training facility. If your schedules are clear, I want to invite you out to one of my restaurants in West Hollywood.”
