Page 6 of Blue Collar Babes

I shrugged. The bodysuit has a built-in bra with underwire and light padding, and it pushes up the girls more than the T-shirt style bras I normally wear. Not to mention, I don’t wear plunging scoop necks to school.

“Did you seriously drag me in here to talk about my boobs?” I asked, raising my brows at my best friend.

“No.” She laughs. “But, once I saw them, I couldn’t not say something. They look good.Boobalicious, even.”

“You’re an idiot.” I shake my head. “So…?”

“Oh!” An ear-to-ear grin spreads out across her face. “Someone was asking about you.”

My pulse begins to race, but I stop to clarify before I get my hopes up too high.

“Someone?” I ask. “Care to elaborate?”

“Don’t play dumb.” She rolls her eyes. “You know it’s Sam.”

Madeline is my best friend, but I don’t want to look like I’m desperate for his attention. I’m not. I just certainly wouldn’t mind having it.

“Oh, is that who that was?” I ask, knowing damn well who was sitting in the booth with Theo. “What exactly was he asking?”

“If you’re married or have a boyfriend,” Madeline answers as she fluffs her hair in the mirror before walking toward the bathroom door. “We should probably get back there before they start to think we’re in here talking about them.”

“But, wearetalking about them.” I laugh, following her lead back to the booth.

As soon as Sam’s face is in my line of vision, my stomach tightens. I can’t remember the last time a boy—ahem—a man, gave me butterflies. By the time we reach the booth, my heart is racing.

Madeline, of course, slides in the booth with her husband. Leaving me to share a bench with Sam. With as much grace as my shaky little legs will muster, I plop down next to Sam. Even with the smells of Italian food swirling around us, there’s no mistaking how good he smells.

Fresh pine and all man.

Oh, jeeze.

I’m starting to sound like those romance novels I used to sneak out of my grandma’s house when I was far too young to be reading about a woman’s heaving bosom and a man’s desire.

Though, I wouldn’t mind being the object of Sam’s desire.

Reel it in, Lucy. Reel. It. In.

“I appreciate you trying to hype it up, man.” Sam sighs. “But, let’s be real. It’s a hard fall from having government clearance to pushing a mop and bucket around.”

Knowing a little bit of his backstory, I can understand why he might feel a little defeated, but I can’t sit here and let him belittle himself or his current job.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a janitor,” I say, shifting my body slightly to face him. “My grandpa was a custodian for years. He worked right up until he retired at almost seventy. He is the hardest working man I’ve ever met.”

“I don’t doubt that, but,” he starts, and I cut him off before he can finish.

“No buts,” I say. “So, it might not be exactly what you pictured yourself doing with your life. It’s still hard, honest work.”

I don’t realize my leg began to bounce until Sam gently places his hand on my thigh. It’s the smallest gesture, but I find myself being comforted by his touch. When I glance down, he quickly pulls back and apologizes.

“No, it’s fine,” I assure him. “I don’t even realize I’m doing it sometimes.”

With his eyes fixated on me, I don’t process that the server has come over and taken our order.

“Hey!” Madeline waves to catch our attention. “Earth to Sam and Lucy!”

Theo looks back and forth between the two of us. He smirks when they have our attention again. “While you two were staring into each other’s souls, we took it upon ourselves to order pizza.”

There isn’t much I won’t eat when it comes to pizza, but I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to order my favorite.

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