Page 7 of Unbreakable

“Congratulations. I'm so happy for you.” I tell her as I push my now empty plate over to her. “I’m all done and will take the check now.”

“Ryker took care of the check for you, Arizona.” she says and my jaw drops. It takes me a moment to collect myself before I respond back to her.

“That is sweet and all, but take what he paid as your tip and reprint the bill for me please. I’m perfectly capable of paying my own tab.”

She looks at me in shock for a moment, before getting a shit eating grin on her face. “I like you Arizona, I think we have the makings of becoming good friends. I will be right back with that for you.” She turns and heads back to the register to write a new receipt for me all the while giving Ryker a cat ate the canary grin that he doesn’t even notice as his back is to her.

She finishes up and brings the check back, placing it in front of me. Looking at the total, I pull out a fifty and lay it down on the counter, she deserves the extra tip, then pick up my purse and head out the door, giving her a wave as I leave.

I take a deep breath in as I exit, taking in the moment before I walk to my car to head home for the best food coma nap ever.

I don’t know what time it is when I’m woken up from a persistent knocking on the door. I slowly sit up, the blanket falling from my chest into my lap as I try to regain my senses. The knocking continues before I finally call out, "I’m coming, fuck, give a bitch a minute.”

I toss the blanket off before standing and stumble over to the door in my still half asleep state. I grab the door by the handle and yank it open. yelling, “WHAT?”

I suddenly halt in whatever else I was going to say after that when I see my drop dead handsome neighbor standing in front of me with a box of pizza and a six pack of Budlight.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, thought you might like some pizza? I can go.” he says, a slight hint of rejection pouring through his words.

“No, no. Come in, I'm sorry. I was just asleep and haven’t fully woken up yet. I must admit I’m a bit of a grump if I'm woken up suddenly. Pizza sounds amazing, please tell me it's got bacon on it. Bacon is life, you know.” I tell him, as my stomach betrays me with how hungry it is yet again and growls. I have always loved to eat and damn anyone if they don’t like the extra curves that come from it. I love and own them.

“Well, you are in luck my lady. It is in fact a meat lover’s pizza. Well minus the pepperoni because yuck!!!” he tells me as he makes a faux throw up face. God I could fall for him so hard.

“What, the big bad man can’t handle a little pepperoni? Does a tube of pepperoni give him penis envy?” I ask, trying so hard to keep a straight face as I say it.

“Oh trust me girl, there is no penis envy where I’m concerned. I’m more than happy with what the good lord blessed me with.” he tells me, moving closer to where I’m standing and leaning in, placing his lips by my ear. He exhales a deep breath of air that hits my ear lobe, sending tingles of electricity straight to my pussy. “There have been no complaints about my cock size and how well it delivers pleasure.” Then he moves away. “So how many slices of pizza would you like and where are your plates?” No, this fucker didn’t just get all up in my space with that bullshit talk then turn a three sixty and talk about pizza.

“Three.” I finally say remembering he asked me a question and also not wanting to give him the pleasure of knowing that he turned me on just a bit, fuck it, he turned me on alot.

“Wow, really? Most girls only want one.” he asks, shocked by my answer.

“Well, I’m not most girls and if we’re going to be friends, which I think we are, it will serve you well to know I like to eat. I love food. I will not be ashamed of loving to eat nor having curves. I’m a woman, not a fucking twig.”

“Girl, you don’t have to worry about me. I want to know I got a woman in my arms. Where are we eating, table or couch?” he asks with a wink and a slight hint of a smile.

“Couch is good, I'll grab a couple of beers and meet you there. And I got the corner spot, I kind of already claimed it with this being my apartment and all.” I tell him as I walk over to where he placed the six pack on the kitchen counter, pulling out two of the bottles and taking the tops off, tossing them in the trash.

As I make my way over to the couch, I see he has taken up the spot in the middle right beside me. Before sitting down, I make sure to grab my blanket from where I dropped it on the other end of the couch earlier and cover my lap.

I pick my plate up from the coffee table, grabbing up a slice and taking a huge bite out of it. I can’t help the groan that comes from me at how amazing the pizza is. It tastes just like a slice of New York pizza. I suddenly become aware of the groan that comes from next to me. Guess he liked what I did. I internally laugh. I love torturing men.

“So what have you done all day?” I hear him ask as he takes another bite of his own pizza.

“Well, I had a job interview, actually got it and I start tonight. Then, I had some lunch at a local restaurant which put me in the food coma you woke me up from.”

“Oh really, sounds productive. Where are you working?”

“Centerfolds.”

The words have barely left my mouth before he spits out the beer he just swallowed. “Ummm, isn’t that a strip club?” he asks as he’s having a coughing attack.

“Are you going to be okay? And yes it is. Why? Do you have something against strippers?” I ask, starting to get pissed at his response.

“No, no that came out wrong. I didn’t mean it like that, Arizona. It’s just that I didn't expect you to say you were working there or a stripper. You are a stripper, right? Or did I just assume, and you’re actually a bartender or something like that?” he asks nervously.

“No, I am a stripper. It will be my first time though. I was a go go dancer back home for two years before packing up to move here.” I tell him bluntly, starting to become a little defensive, which he must sense.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Hell, I applaud you. There is nothing wrong with earning a living, whatever you choose to do. I just, well I go there occasionally and now if I go, I risk seeing my gorgeous neighbor in a way she may not want me to see her.” he confesses.

“Thanks for clearing that up, I would hate to already be ending my first friendship here. As far as income, it was the best one that would pay for my college courses as well as pay my bills. Plus, I’m not ashamed of my body or showing it off. So don’t worry about coming in and seeing me. I’m okay with it if you are.” I say giving him a sly wink.

“Well then, I guess we should get to eating so you can get ready for your first night. So you said college, will you be going to the University of Memphis? That's where I go. Maybe we can carpool. What are you studying?”

“Yes I am and Psychology. I want to be a childhood trauma therapist. I’m also taking a dance class because I want to teach dance as well and it’s a great stress coping method.”

“That’s absolutely amazing. Totally knocks me wanting to be a high school math teacher out of the awesome job category. I’m taking some pre-med classes as well, my ultimate dream is to be a doctor, but I need to have something to fall back on in case that bombed.” he says with a laugh.

“I don’t know, I think that is pretty amazing. Especially since I suck at math. Plus, you will have all the girls' attention, being hot and all. But really Knox, don’t doubt yourself, I have a feeling if you want to really be a doctor you can be.” I tell him, and heat creeps up my neck. I know I’m blushing a little.

We both take a break from our conversation to finish eating, and I end up eating two additional slices to his three. We manage to make a little more conversation before he says goodbye and I take a shower to get ready for my first night at work.

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