Page 42 of Hesi-Dating
She did her little back and forth with her lips. Adorable. "You want to ask, but that story of my past requires at least one drink and some privacy to tell. Or show-and-tell?"
"Are you saying you're ready to greenlight us moving to the next level?"
"This is me trying to loosen you up and give you something to focus on other than your shitty ex."
"You were kidding on the pole dancing?"
"That was the old me. I was really good on a pole." She grinned and waved me to go.
I tried to clear my head of her semi-dressed and pole dancing, but that image with her in the heels she currently wore got stuck in my brain. I moved away to speak to the groom.
"Who’s that?" Dylan asked. He stared at Joley with the same kind of awe I was sure I had when I first saw her in that dress. The fabric clung to her curves in a way designed to make any straight man's mouth water.
And… my brain was back on her pole dancing.
Dylan cleared his throat.
"That's Joley. We’ve been dating for a bit."So much for not giving people details.
"You're datingher?" Dylan shook his head. "You hired her to be your escort, didn't you?"
"Nope. Legit date. You think I don’t have game?"
"You may think you've got game, but I'm pretty sure you don't play in the major leagues. That girl is in the big time, and she looks…" He gave me a side-eye. "Um, young." He squinted at her. "Wait a sec. Joley is her name? Is she the girl from the gas station? The episode where a Red Crips kid tried to shoot you during a date, or so Walt said?"
"Yes." We should be talking business but both of us watched in a state of shock as Joley strutted up to Isiah Waters, the infamous six-foot-five baseball player who got the Padres to the playoffs this year. Most people were intimidated by him. Ballsy of her to approach him. I knew him from college, just like I knew Dylan.
Isiah opened his arms and hugged her tight. She cheek-kissed his wife and hugged her as well. We both overheard her ask, "Where’s Junior? I love that kid."
"Left him with Grandma today," Isiah said. "That way we can get our dance on and not worry if we drink too much."
"You know my offer still stands to babysit anytime you two need a date. Last time Junior and I built a killer Lego house."
Isiah laughed. "He’s still got it in his room. I've tried to take it apart at least twice. It's sacred."
Dylan whispered to me, "She knows Isiah? And plays Legos with his kid?"
"I’m right here. I heard it too." That came out snarkier than intended.
"Who the hell is this woman you found? I've never been asked to babysit for Junior."
She's a fucking miracle."You'd be a shit babysitter. You'd drink beer and watch the game on TV and forget the kid."
"True." Dylan shrugged.
Time to shift the conversation. "I have the rings. You good? Need anything?"
"Kara’s going to flip over her being here with you."
The mere mention of my ex made my stomach roll. "Kara will behave. This is your wedding. Do you need me to make sure she doesn't cause a scene?"
Dylan clapped me on the shoulder. "I hope she doesn't behave. That'd make my year. I get the feeling that woman you came with won't bat an eyelash at her antics. Can't wait to see it."
"Joley is a wild card."
Dylan chuckled. "The sheriff with a wildcard? Who the hell have you become, man? I knew you needed a good rebound thing to get in the game. Boy did you aim high to start."
"Joley isn't a rebound."
