Page 44 of Feels Like Home

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"Dude! What the fuck?"

"It's just a question. Because if you are, my advice would be to go home and get that situation sorted."

"It's not that easy."

"Actually, it is."

"What? I just go home and say Ramzi caught me jerking off over you. Wanna help me finish?"

The fucker grins like a maniac. "Almost sounds Shakespearean, doesn't it?"

I bin the paper towels and head out. "Even if I wanted to, I can't," I say over my shoulder. "We’ve still got four hours left on our shift."

"How was work today?" Court asks over dinner that night.

I clear my throat. "Fine."

"You sure about that?"

I drop my knife and fork. "Don't tell me Ramzi texted you."

Court looks confused. "Why would Ramzi have texted me?"

Shit.

"Nothing. It's just, why are you asking if I'm sure?"

"You seem a little…frazzled. That's all. Thought something might have gone down."

Something went up, not down.

I guess I have been a little on edge since coming home. Four hours is not enough time to put what I got caught doing in the past.

Ramzi's preposterously stupid idea floats through my head.

No.

I could never go through with it. It's too audacious, and also, this is real life and not a porno. Court checking me out and us almost kissing is one thing, me telling him I was cranking one out over him is something else entirely.

Court sighs. "Talk to me, Buzz. Was there a particularly bad call during your shift? Did someone get hurt? I can tell something's on your mind."

"Ramzi busted me jerking off."

"At work?"

"Yeah."

"Like…in the engine bay?"

"Noooo. Oh my god. No!" I can feel my cheeks burning up. "I was in a toilet stall. He walked in and heard me."

Court offers a crooked smile as he shrugs casually. "That's a bit embarrassing, but who cares? We all do it. Bound to get busted once in a while. He didn't give you any grief about it, did he?"

"Nah. He was totally cool with it."

"So what's the problem?"

I lift my gaze to meet his. "I was jerking off over you."

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