Chapter 10
10
P atrick has been such a good sport, hanging out with my friends, laughing at their jokes, even fitting in like he’s known them for more than a few hours. As much fun as this is, I want to get to know him without other people around.
“How about I give you a tour of Main Street after this beer?”
He smiles. “I’d love that.”
We hold a flirty gaze, and I ask him, “Tell me more about some gray hacking you’ve done.”
He bites his lip before sipping his beer. “I once redirected a politician’s website to a gay porn site.”
The girls and I all laugh.
“It feels like you have more stories like this,” Emily encourages.
“I have a lot of stories like this …” He trails off, and I see the assuredness. He’s not showing off—he’s just him, and I’m being drawn in by every word.
“Tell us!” I demand.
“In college, my friends and I would do something every weekend.”
“Stop being coy.” I playfully swat his arm. “He told me he hacked the company he works for and that’s how he got his job,” I share with the girls.
“So, Patrick is cute and clever.” Sarah smiles. “What else should we know about you?”
“I’m getting into powerlifting,” he says and my friends exchange glances that don’t go unnoticed by me. Yeah, I know—guys that lift, another box he’s checking.
“What can you deadlift?” I ask, curious and also challenging.
“At least two of you.”
My cheeks flush and my mind drifts, imagining him easily picking me up, and I take another sip of my beer to cool myself down. Although he can pick me up and throw me around any time he wants . Chill.
“Have you ever heard of the F.I.R.E. concept?” he asks.
My friends and I all shake our heads.
“It stands for ‘Financially Independent, Retire Early.’ I’m hoping to retire by forty, and I’m pretty nerdy about investing.”
Sarah and Emily both look impressed, and I feel my interest rise another notch. He’s twenty-seven and already planning his future like this?
“I own about five shares of Disney stock that I got from my grandparents when I was a kid. That’s all I know about the market,” I admit.
“I can bore you about it anytime you want.”
I laugh, but my mind is spinning. How is he twenty-seven and this mature? He’s checking every box, and I’m not sure what to do with that.
We finish our beers, and I glance at his empty glass, feeling the moment hovering between us. “Ready for a tour?” I ask, and he nods.
As I slide into my jacket, I catch him checking me out, and a smug smile creeps across my face. I lean in closer, teasing, “Stop checking me out.”
“Why?”
My heart skips a beat. Fuck. I might actually sleep with him—not right now, but later … if this keeps progressing the way it’s been. I want to, but I shouldn’t. I barely know him. But damn, I want to.
I shake off the thought as I turn to hug Emily. “See you later,” I say, and then I move to hug Sarah, who pulls me in close.
“We do not want to see you later,” she whispers in my ear, making me giggle.
“It’s not going to be that long of a tour,” I share as Patrick and I step outside. “Main Street isn’t that big.”