Page 5 of Do Me
“Then just call her up and invite her out.”
“I didn’t get her number.”
Jared whipped his head around. “What?You didn’t ask her for her number?” He doubled over in laughter. “I can’t believe it. You’ve been interacting with computers so long, you don’t even know how to behave in the real world. Maybe you need to start spending a little less time building computer networks and actuallynetwork.”
“I don’t spend all my time with computers.” Okay, so maybe over the past few months, he’d put in more hours on the job than normal, but outside of meeting up with Cole and Axel weekly and the monthly family dinners, he didn’t have much else to do. After several disappointing dates, he’d pretty much stopped thinking about having a long-term relationship.
As if reading his mind, Jared asked, “If that’s the case, when was the last time you were in a relationship? And I don’t mean those one-and-done dates.”
Braxton didn’t respond.
“Like I said, you need to get out and see people. Did Londyn say who invited her to the wedding?”
“She mentioned someone in the bride’s family being a coworker.”
He nailed in another board. “You can always call Aunt Barbara and ask.”
“I’m not that hard up for a date.” Besides, he’d sensed her being tired of men trying to hit on her and hadn’t wanted to fall in the same category.
Jared laughed. “If it’s been that long, you just might be.”
He shot his brother-in-law a dark look. “Shut up, Jared.” He didn’t need any reminders of how long it had been since his last sexual encounter. Fifteen years ago, he would’ve gone crazy without having sex at least weekly. Braxton was in the middle of a six-month drought and it hadn’t bothered him as much as he’d thought. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t miss the physical connection with a woman and he’d awakened more days than not hard as a rock. These days he just wanted more.
They worked for another three hours before calling it a day. Braxton showered in one of the guest bathrooms, then sat to play a video game with his nephew, who looked exactly like his father and happened to be his namesake. The family called him JJ to avoid confusion.
“I’ve been practicing, Uncle B, and you’re not beating me today.”
“In your dreams. I was playing video games before you were born.”
“Anybody can play those prehistoric games,” JJ said with a grin.
Braxton eyed him. “Are you dissing my childhood games?”
He shrugged, not taking his eyes off the screen, his fingers moving nimbly over the control. “I’m just sayin’.”
“Just for that, I’m going to beat you before you get to level two.” He leaned forward, concentrating on blowing up every villain that had the misfortune to cross his path.
JJ scooted to the edge of the sofa and moved his body as if he were part of the game. “Ha! You missed. I’m about to pass you.”
“I don’t think so, buddy.”
“JJ turn off that game and wash up. Dinner’s ready,” Debra called from the kitchen.
“Aw, Mom!It’s not over yet and I’m about to beat Uncle B.”
“You’ll have to beat him later.”
Braxton ruffled his nephew’s curly hair. “We’ll pick it up next time.” He placed his controller in a basket full of remote controls and other game controllers.
Sulking, the young boy tossed his controller in the basket and stood. “Dinner is always ready at the wrong time.”
He chuckled. “I happen to think dinner being ready is always at the right time. Come on, let’s get cleaned up.” Minutes later, they joined his sister, brother-in-law and niece at the table. “Something smells good, sis. I hope it’s those biscuits I worked hard to get.”
Debra rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you, otherwise, you’d be having fast food.”
Braxton kissed her cheek. “I love you, too. You’re the best big sister ever.”
“I already cooked the dinner, so you can stop sucking up.” Growing up, whenever Braxton wanted something, he would lavish her with compliments.
