Page 44 of Pretty Please Me
Is this for Maggie???
Yes. Please don’t pry…
Jack
Are you kidding me! What are you planning on doing to our sweet Magnolia with a romantic gesture like this!?
Benjamin
Count me in. Oh, and Elliot wants to help, too.
Perfect. Thanks, man.
Jack
Gwen here. Jack would be happy to help his best friends spend a magical night together. Why hasn’t anyone told me this is a thing!?
It’s not a thing. Please don’t tell her. We’re just friends, and she asked me for a little… help. Don’t get your hopes up.
Jack
She asked you for help, huh? Well, you know that I’m obligated to tell you that I’m well-read on murder documentaries, and I know exactly how I’d do it…
Sorry, Gwen is just kidding about the murdering thing. You know, those pregnancy hormones really keep you on your toes sometimes.
I completely understand. I promise I’m not in the business of breaking hearts. I’d welcome Gwen’s rage if I knew I ever hurt Mags.
Benjamin
Elliot wants to know if you bought some of those little twinkling lights?
I’ve got an industrial-size box. Tell her she can knock herself out. Can you meet me in front of my building in an hour?
Benjamin
Ten-four
Jack
I’ll do it, but I want you to know that I’m going to be grumbling under my breath the entire time.
I’d expect nothing less. Thanks, guys.
After handing off the date setup to the crew, I return to the apartment to freshen up, sneaking in while Maggie is in her room. Normally, I would just set everything up myself, but having Elliot’s help really puts my mind at ease. I know those two buffoons are capable of putting in real effort for their ladies, but leaving them alone to handle something like this would really test my control issues.
I’m a simple man who knows what I want. It’s not that I’m a perfectionist, but… Well I suppose that’s exactly what I am. Life taught me a long time ago that if I want something done right, I’m better off doing it myself.
It’s not like I’m setting up a proposal or anything. I just want tonight to feel special. I feel like Maggie’s already come so far in learning to love herself, and I want to celebrate the small victories along the way. Besides, I’m a sucker for making her happy and have been since the moment I met her.
I think sometimes like recognizes like. Though we’ve experienced different types of pain, and mine was mostly self-inflicted, our souls recognize it in each other. I know she’s really into astronomy, and though I have no clue what any of it means, a picnic under the stars feels like the perfect way to connect before we move forward physically. It’s not entirely unlike me to make an effort to connect with my submissives, but I want to know Maggie on a cellular level. It’s like I can’t get enough of her. I want to know everything about her.
I’m opening a glass of wine in the kitchen when Maggie comes around the corner. She’s wearing fitted fleece yoga pants and a green long-sleeve henley that hangs down just long enough to cover her ass. It’s slightly oversized, and the wide neck hangs off her shoulder, showing a thin black bra strap. Her long hair’s pinned up in a clip with little strands that have fallen loose, framing her face.
She’s a walking wet dream of the girl next door, the perfect blend of sexy and sweet. I suppress a growl as I hand her a glass of wine. “You look stunning, good enough to eat.”
She takes the glass and rolls her eyes. “Now, you’re just lying. I look painfully ordinary at best. I had no idea if comfy really meant comfy, so I overthought it for two hours before finally settling on this.”
She playfully shoves me, but I catch her hand and hold it to me, keeping my gaze trained on her. “I don’t lie, Magnolia. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it, and I don’t like when you speak about yourself that way.”
