Page 25 of Mr. Scandalous

“Yep. I figure that’s exactly what you’ve been doing. Handling it.”

Randy returned the ball with such force Alec almost missed the volley. “Abstinence heightens the sexual response and deepens intimacy.”

“Sounds like Jill has been reading from her psychology textbooks again.”

“It wouldn’t kill you to learn a little more about what women want.”

“What?” Alec had spent the better part of his life learning about women. The most popular podcast and blog posts fromSex andSingle Guywere the ones that instructed men on what women wanted and here Randy was insinuating Alec didn’t know what he was talking. He was so stunned that he missed the shot.

“I win.” Randy threw his hands in the air. He trotted over to his gym bag sitting beside the door, pulled out a towel and mopped his face.

“You distracted me.”

“Hey, all’s fair in love and racquetball.”

“Three out of five? Give me a chance to come back?”

“Can’t. Jill’s making dinner tonight.”

“Meow.” Alec made a sound like a whip cracking.

Randy cut him a dirty look. “Your immature jabs no longer work on me.”

“Yeah, just because you’re getting married you’re suddenly Mr. Maturity.”

“What can I say? Falling in love changes a guy.”

“Which is precisely why you can count me out of that merry-go-round.”

“You’re mixing your metaphors.”

“Now you’re correcting my grammar? Watch out, Sterling, next you’ll be recommending a good laxative.”

“What are you so afraid of, Ramsey?”

“Me? I’m not the one who’s too chicken for a racquetball rematch.”

The next team waiting for the court tapped on the glass and raised quizzical eyebrows.

“Anyway,” Randy said, “time’s up.”

They picked up their belongings and left the court. Feeling vaguely unsettled, Alec stopped by the drink vending machine in the hallway and bought a bottle of Gatorade. Maybe his potassium was low. Maybe that’s why he was feeling out of sorts.

“So what should I do about Eden?” Alec polished off the Gatorade as they headed for the locker room.

“She made it clear she wasn’t interested. Let it go.”

“I can’t let it go.”

“Yeah, because you have a hard time taking no for an answer.”

“The least I can do is apologize. I don’t want her believing I’m a jerk. Should I send flowers?”

“Too generic.”

“You’re right. I should send something more personal, but nothing sexually suggestive. Any ideas?”

“What’s she like?”

---