Page 22 of Otter Heart
“It’s not. At all. You would not believe how fucking immature finance bros are. And even though I was in HR, the amount of shitty things I had to sweep under the rug was incredible. The people there were awful, and my coworkers were just as bad.”
“I can see why you left.”
“Got some decent ass though from a few employees.”
Thatpiqued my interest. “Oh? What do you mean?”
“Finance bros are all the same,” he explained, his bracelet rattling as he gesticulated. “They talk a big game, they party like animals, and they all think they’re the biggestalphain the place. But the truth is,” he said, lowering his voice. “Most of them are wearing women’s lingerie and buttplugs to workall the time. They act all tough at the office but the thing they want most desperately is to have anyone tie them up and treat them like shit for a couple of hours until they cum.” Beer sloshed as Adam took a drink. “Honestly, it was so easy that I stopped trying.”
“So… you left a bunch of free ass and a cushy job to move down here to the middle of nowhere?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
Another long pause.
“That’s uh… kinda what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Color me intrigued,” I replied, leaning across the counter. “What did you want to tell me?”
Adam swallowed hard. “It’s kind of difficult to say out loud.”
“Take your time, baby,” I teased. “I’m in no rush. As long as it’s not an MLM, I’m cool.”
“It’s gonna sound really weird. And kinda sad.”
“Perfect.”
“Well…” He took a deep breath. “I was wondering if… if you wanted to go on a date with me?”
I furrowed my brows. “So… you moved down here to the middle of nowhere to ask me on a date? Are you sure you’re not stalking me?”
“No! Of course not! I didn’t know you until the other day when I brought Bessie back! I swear I’m not a stalker!”
“Sounds like something a stalker would say.”
He blew out an exasperated sigh.
“I’m just fucking with you,” I added. “So, if you didn’t move down here to go on a date with me, why did you move down?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I know. Answer mine first.”
Another sigh.
“It… It’s complicated.”
“Then explain it.”
It took several seconds for Adam to compose himself. I couldn’t see what his face was doing, but the fidgeting in his chair, the way his toes tapped against the cupboard, and his fingers squeaking over the glass bottle told me everything I needed to know. He was as nervous as a cat. I just needed him to tell me why.
“Let’s just say that my life has been a mess lately, and I moved down here to get a fresh start. And that includes dating, which I only recently found out that I’m… well, I’m not verygoodat it I guess.” He took another long pause. “I’ve dateda lot, and Irealized that the reason it wasn’t going well was because of me. My friends here are helping me sort it out, but they suggested I find someone topracticewith.”
“So, you want to fake date me to practice?”
I wasn’t really liking the sound of that. Then again, I couldn’t deny that my heart had been pounding since the moment he suggested it. It had been a long time since I’d dated anyone, real or otherwise. Even if this wasn’t going to go anywhere, I was still interested despite my better judgment.
