Page 6 of Getting the Grinder
He turns to me, craning his neck to check my left hand. I scoff and say, “Absolutely not. Have a nice night.”
He leaves, and I admire Lainey’s look for a moment. She really is beautiful, and being with Bash has brought a glow and confidence that makes her even prettier. Her hair is naturally a stunning bright-red shade, and it’s up in a cute messy bun tonight. Her dark-green, off-the-shoulder sweater is a perfect color on her, and her light-brown booties add a little sass to her fitted, well-worn jeans.
I’m still wearing my button-down work shirt and black pants with black ballet flats. I do a ridiculous amount of walking at the courthouse, filing paperwork and going to hearings in courtrooms on different floors. It’s rare for me to wear heels these days.
I’m not even thirty, and it’s been forever since I felt remotely sexy. I like my job a lot, but it’s heavy at times. I file and prosecute criminal cases that can affect people’s lives long term. Most of my energy goes to work. On my only day off, Sunday, I do laundry, buy groceries and spend time with my friends.
Not that I don’t get in other times with my friends, too. I always leave work by six twenty on Tuesdays, so I make it to trivia night. My friends are the only people I’m truly myself around.
Our server sets down a plate with Dex’s grilled chicken sandwich, no bun. The side salad he ordered is just iceberg lettuce, no dressing.
“Looks amazing,” Suki says drily.
He sighs softly. “I have to lose the ten pounds I’ve gained.”
I nod as the server slides my plate of potato skins in front of me. “Same. That’s why I ordered vegetables.”
Dex just shakes his head. He’s fussy about his waistline. I don’t have a diet plan, but I usually only eat dinner, which keeps my clothes fitting the same.
Harry got a massive cheeseburger, which is his favorite food. Suki got cheese fries and Lainey got plain fries. We eat in silence for a couple minutes.
“How’s Aden?” I ask Harry.
He brightens at the mention of his boyfriend. “Great. He’s still in Chicago for work during the week, but I’m meeting him there this weekend.”
“That’ll be fun. So you’re going to Chicago and Suki’s going to Fiji.”
“That’s right,” Lainey says. “What about your new puppy, though? Do you need us to watch it?”
“Leo’s doing it,” Suki says. “He was already coming to stay with Darling, and I think he’s bringing one of the dogs home, too.”
Harry groans. “Darling and two puppies? At the same time?”
“I don’t know, I guess we’ll see if he brings one. Carter told me Leo’s forcing the guys to take at least one apiece, so none of them have to go to animal control.”
I scowl. “Leo’s the one who belongs at animal control.”
“I don’t get why you hate him so much,” Lainey says.
“Wait until he walks in on you showering and makes a shitty comment about your snatch and then get back to me,” I say.
Dex pulls his brows down in a skeptical look. “I think the comment was made after you laid into him and called him a desperate pervert.”
“Which he is. That’s like describing him as a man. It’s factual.”
“Okay.” Dex sets down his fork and straightens his back. “But what if it’s also factual that your bush needed some tending?”
My lips part. “How dare you take his side? I’ll do whatever I want with my bush.”
“I’m just saying. I don’t get within five feet of bush, so I’m no expert, but I’m not sucking an unmaintained dick.”
I exchange a quick look with Suki. She silently warns me not to lose my temper, but the train has already left the station.
“I was taking a shower, Dex. It doesn’t matter if my pubes were a foot long—he shouldn’t have walked in on me. And then!” I point at him. “Then. He stood there and looked. I had to scream at him to get out.”
Dex shrugs. “Maybe he was shocked.”
“Oh, bullshit. You’re being a perv apologist.”
