Page 107 of Like You Want It
CHAPTER TWENTY
CARLY
On Sunday, Susie shoots me a text to say dinner is on that night if I want to join her and Fin. Before I can think better of my decision, I flick off a response.
Me: Love to. Should I bring anything?
Susie: Just your beautiful self!
Fin: Probably wine, since Susie is out and you both seem obsessed with it.
I sigh at the sight of his name in the group text, feeling like it’s important to get things clarified.
Me: Hey, it’s not going to be awkward tonight, right?
I shoot off the individual text to Fin hoping things will be okay. A few minutes go by without a response, and I wonder if I’m stirring the pot by even bringing it up. Maybe he’s already had amazing shower sex with a bunch of other women and he’s not even thinking about me anymore.
Then I shake that off. It’s been less than two days. Besides, we haven’t decided we’re actually going to have more sex with each other yet, so I need to cool off.
I’m so distracted by my thoughts that I nearly launch my phone into the air when it vibrates in my hand.
Fin: Only if you try to make your horrible jokes.
I roll my eyes and smirk at my phone. Okay, Mr. Funny-All-Of-A-Sudden. Not appreciated.
I shake out my hands, holding my phone like I’m about to send the most important text of my life.
Me: Oh, sorry. You must be thinking of one of Susie’s other friends. This is CARLY. CARLY PALMER. I live downstairs and provide excellent wine and jokes.
Then I put my phone in my back pocket and head into the back, collecting a new tray of clean coffee cups to put out front.
Fin: Nice to meet you Carly Palmer who lives downstairs. Tell me, you wouldn’t happen to be the one who answers her door in her underwear constantly, would you?
I flush red and put my phone down, choosing to get back to work instead of replying immediately.
Hopefully I have enough time to shower tonight. I smell like ground coffee and a baby threw up on me. So. Not exactly the version of myself that I’d like to put forward this evening.
When I finally manage to come up with a reply. I finish doing some dishes, dry my hands and respond.
Me: Depends. Did you think she was sexy? This pantsless female with no regard for flashing her neighbors or any other innocent passersby?
I read his response ten minutes later, once I’ve finally finished for the day and I’m heading out to my car to go home.
Fin: Seeing as how I can’t stop thinking about how lucky I was to have those sexy as sin legs of hers wrapped around my neck, I’d have to say yes.
I kind of make a weird laughy squeal noise. I’ve never gotten a sexy text before. And this one is quite the first one to get. I punch in a few different things before settling on something short and simple. Something completely outside of my comfort zone.
But exactly how I feel in the moment.
Me: If you’re nice, you just might get lucky again.
For just a second, I question myself. What I’ve sent.
But then I scold myself instead.
I shouldn’t feel guilty for being flirty. Or a little bit dirty. I shouldn’t feel bad for wanting something to happen between us.
I just need to make sure I’m realistic with him about what I want from him if the time comes.
