Page 17 of Two Sticky Nuts

My mind takes a moment to catch up to him. He’s talking about him and me in a relationship. But what the hell? Does he really expect me to not live my life or not buy this house just on the off chance he and I work out? We just met.

I suddenly tamper down my reaction, remembering what Sofie said about self-sabotaging. I don’t want to come up with reasons to end things prematurely. Hell, we’re still just getting to know each other.

I decide my best move is to give him the benefit of the doubt and dance around the subject.

“If I do buy, it wouldn’t be for a while,” I say. “And if anything changes in my life, I’m not locked into the purchase. So what day will you be here?”

“Friday. I’ll text you my flight info.”

I frown. “Oh, so you want me to pick you up?”

“Yeah, I thought we could go grab a drink or something.” He’s eager to see me. This is good. No, this is great!

“Sure. I mean, if I’m not tied up late at work or anything, I’d like that. Otherwise, we can meet up later.”

“Cool. Hey, I gotta go and take another call. See you soon, Mila. Looking forward to it.”

“Same here.” We end the call, and I exhale, all shaky. I’m super excited to see him again, and the fact he pushed back on me buying a house was a good thing, right? It means he’s really interested. Because settling down isn’t on his list. He wants a partner to live his dream with him.

Hmmm… The only problem is that his dream puts me to sleep.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The next morning, I’m sitting at my desk, typing up a new lease agreement, when Coco stops by with a delicious Frappuccino. Extra caramel. Yum.

“For you, madam,” she says sweetly and sets it on my desk.

“Thanks, but shouldn’t I be buying you one?” She covered for me while I was away.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Frappuccinos aren’t nothing. We only give them to each other as thank-yous or when someone is having a rough day. Birthdays call for cupcakes. Fridays are bagel day. We all take turns buying. It’s very pragmatic.

“Are you going on a three-week cruise, and this is your way of buttering me up for filling in?” I ask.

“Not exactly.”

“Then what?” I say, curious to hear what she’s going to ask for. I’d say yes, of course. She’s a really nice person and never bats an eyelash when I need help.

“Remember how I said I recognized your vacation hottie?”

“Yeah.”

She crinkles her nose. “Just don’t kill the messenger.”

My stomach does a flip, and I suddenly realize that I knew this moment was coming. Carter is too good to be true. “Is he married?”

“Nope.”

“That’s a relief.” My stomach tension lessens.

“He, uh…”

“Just tell me, Coco.”

“Fine. He runs a fetish website. People pay him to put things on his balls.”

My mouth drops open, and I blink wildly, trying to process. “What?”

---