Page 34 of One Hotlanta Night
“What was that smile for?” Adam asks as he sees me grin again.
“Nunya.” I scoff.
“It’s her, isn’t it?”
“She’s perfect, man.”
“No woman is totally perfect. Don’t tell Janice. She’ll deck me,” he hush-whispers.
“Mine is. She’s perfect for me, and that’s all that matters.”
He rolls his eyes but keeps on smiling. “Whatever. But I really am happy for you. You needed this, after all that drama with Abi.”
I make a face. “Ugh. Don’t remind me. She’s the fungus that just keeps coming back. Just glad she doesn’t work in this office.”
“Yeah, but I hear she might be tagging along to some of the company ‘forced fun’ activities.” I groan. That was a mistake and a half.
Out of determination to hook me up with someone, Janice had set me up with her co-worker Abigail from the Decatur satellite office. Abi was cute enough, but her screeching twang, her obsession with checking her reflection every two minutes, and utter lack of being able to hold down a conversation was off-putting. Especially when all she talked about was shopping or how sexy she thought my muscles were. Yeah, that kind of flattery wasn’t getting her anywhere.
I’d taken her out twice out of obligation to Janice as well as my own loneliness. But after the second date, watchingDie Hardalone for the fifteenth time over in my cold townhome was a decidedly preferable option over listening to her incessant prattle.
According to her, we’d hit it off and she’d been talking to Janice about what our kids would look like. Talk about a hop, skip, and jump to crazytown. Some girls were just like that, but I thought I’d left that mess behind in Charlotte. I’d blocked her number, but she still hadn’t taken the hint, bugging Janice and trying to stalk me. I don’t like pushy women or their drama so I’d avoided gatherings where she would be. Skipping parties didn’t bother me. The booze fests were getting old anyway, and the restlessness I’d been feeling ever since I got to Atlanta had reached an all-time high. Until last weekend.
Until Vivian.
In a single night, being around her both invigorated my soul and brought me a calm I hadn’t felt since… ever. When I held her in my arms, it was like all the pieces in my head fell into place into one complete picture. A picture of her and me and maybe some children, a future together.
“You’re doing it again,” Adam teases as we round the corner to the vending machines.
“Come again?” I ask as I picked out two Reese’s cups—sue me, but they’re the greatest snack ever—and a Coke from the machine. Atlanta is Coke country after all and someone’s liable to slap you if you ask for a Pepsi product.
“That shit-eating grin you’ve been sporting since you got off the phone with her. You know, I didn’t think it was possible to get pussy whipped so fast.” He emphasizes with another punch to the shoulder, but this time I’m ready for him. My grandfather’s boxing training kicking in, I quickly block it and nail a light uppercut to his stomach where I know he’s ticklish. “Hey man!” He laughs even as he doubles over and wheezes.
“Listen, I don’t care if I’m whipped or besotted or whatever label you wanna put on it. But you will treat Vivian with respect when you meet her and not pull any of this shit around her. She’s my woman, and I want her to be comfortable hanging around you guys, or you can find another defenseman for your street hockey league.”
“Aww man, I was just messing with you.” He huffs, finally straightening up. He’s got a good few inches on me, but he’s a sucky fighter, as I’ve proven time and again on the asphalt. And he knows it.
“Dude, I’m serious about this one. Don’t fuck it up for me, all right? She’s gonna be coming with me to all the company gigs and parties, and I want her to meet the girls.”
“Does she know that?”
“She will.” I grin.
“You’re awfully sure of yourself.” His eyes evaluate me carefully. “Are you sure you’re not rushing into things? You almost sound like how Abi talks about you.” I grimace. Yeah, if Abigail is talking about me like that, I might feel bad for her. If she hadn’t been so eager to spread gossip, that is. But her little crush is nowhere near how I feel about Vivian.
Having my woman on my arm when we go out should kill that infatuation. I’ll have Vivian plastered so close to me there’ll be no question that she’s mine. My hands tingle as I remember how good she felt in my arms, her curvy body melding perfectly to mine. Just the thought sends heat racing through my veins. The last thing I need is a hard-on at the office.
“Maybe you should take it down a notch, get to know her better before you start talking crazy like that.” Adam eyes me as we make our way back to our desks.
I shake my head and look straight at him. “We’ve got our whole lives to get to know each other. She’s it for me, and I’m not gonna slow down just to play by some stupid societal rules. You know I’m not one to waste time, and I’ve been waiting my whole life for this woman.”
“Really? You really think that about someone you just met?”
I shrug. If he hasn’t figured it out yet with Janice after two years, then I don’t know what to tell him.
“When you know, you know.”
Vivian
