The Virgin Society Collection

6. The Synonym Slinger

6

THE SYNONYM SLINGER

Milo

A month or so later . . .

Today is the day.

I am wound like a top.

All my bones are cranked tight, my nerves stretched thin.

I’ve been waiting for this chance for months. But before I walk into this hornet’s nest of a meeting, I need to burn off my worries, so I cruise along the High Line on my bike.

My thighs throbbing and my lungs burning, I rehearse the lines I practiced with my brother so I won’t flub them in front of the lawyers. As I fly, the warm June wind whipping past me, I prep in my head till the words are second nature.

I run down my mental checklist again as I exit the High Line and cut across town to my block. I have all the documentation. I have all the information I need to make my point.

I turn onto my street, head down, when, whoa . . .

There she is.

The cake babe. The witty woman. The clever, fork-licking, synonym slinger. I haven’t seen her since that day in the cake shop.

And I’m seeing her now, on my block, the very second I have someplace else to be?

Are you fucking kidding me, universe?

And even though I’m still running far away from dating and the disasters it brings, I’ve been secretly hoping I’d bump into her again. Hell, I’ve been wishing she’d appear.

Ever since the day I met her, I’ve imagined this scenario.

So today, of all days, the universe delivers the fork-licker?

Thanks a fucking lot, Fate.

Now is the worst possible moment. I can’t afford any distraction…

Find out about Milo’s plans and Veronica’s plans and how Murphy’s Law is about to capsize all of them in THE VIRGIN NEXT DOOR …