Chapter 10 #2
“As a matter of fact, Braeden stopped by earlier this week. We got in a fight outside the store, I yelled at him for being a pig, and then when he insulted monsters in general and my boss in particular, I shouted that Spenser could probably make a woman come way better than Braeden ever could. And Spenser witnessed the whole thing, thanks to big windows and his moth super hearing. So, you know, that wasn’t great.
” I finish my drink and nod to Vienne for another one.
Maggie’s eyes go big and round. “Whoa.”
“You’re probably right, though,” Gillian chimes in. “The quiet, sensitive types are always wild in the sack. Plus, he’s hot.” She goes back to her book.
I palm my forehead. “I’m trying not to imagine that. I did see him in a towel, once, though. Lemme just say, that was impressive.”
“Ooh, just how much did you see?” Vienne asks, sliding a fresh drink my way.
“Nothing naughty, you perv,” I tease. “But the man is built.”
The succubus purses her lips. “I wonder if he’s built where it counts, if you get my drift.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say without thinking.
They all stare at me. “I thought you said you didn’t see it,” Maggie says.
“I didn’t. I’m just, you know, assuming.”
Gillian narrows her teal-and-gold eyes at me. “Uh-uh. Try again. There’s something you aren’t telling us.”
I smirk, and Maggie flicks me with her forefinger. “What aren’t you saying?”
I take a big drink for courage, draining the glass, then grin. “Okay, fine. I might have felt it pressing against me this one time. When we were kissing. Basically making out.”
“Juliet Regan Crawford! I can’t believe I’m just now hearing this.” Maggie looks both delighted and outraged. “You should’ve texted me as soon as it happened.”
“Margaret Mildred Crawford!” I singsong back, signaling for another drink. “What are we, fifteen?”
Maggie gasps. “I can’t believe you just revealed my middle name in public! You know how much I hate it.” She giggles.
“You should be honored to be named after your grandma,” I tell her.
“I am, but that doesn’t mean I love the name. It’s the sentiment I appreciate.”
I shrug and take another sip of whatever delightful pink concoction is in my glass. Fresh ones just keep magically appearing. Vienne is a really good bartender. “At least your parents named you for family. I was named after tragic characters.”
She makes a sympathetic moue. “Your dad really was going through a Shakespeare phase when you were born.” She drinks her margarita, then narrows her eyes. “Hey, stop distracting me and tell me more about Spenser. What’s going on with you two?”
I lean closer, trying to whisper, but not sure I manage it. “I don’t knooooow, Mags. He said he likes me, he took me flying, and he kissed me breathless. But then I said I wanted to take it slow, and he’s a good guy so he agreed, and now nothing is happening.”
Vienne leans close, elbows on the bar. “Time for you to make a move, hon.”
“I can’t. I’ll get all awkward.”
“He won’t care,” Vienne says. “He’ll just be thrilled you want to take off his pants.”
“She has a point,” Gillian adds, setting down the elf-sex novel.
“You’re into him, right?” Maggie asks.
I nod. “He’s different.”
“Different?”
“Mmhmm. Unusual.”
“Yes,” Maggie says, “I understand the meaning of the words. I’m asking how. Like, in what way?
“Like he has this reputation for being quiet, but it’s not just that.
He’s an observer. He knows what all his best customers like to read, he knows what his employees bring for lunch, he knows what books are going to hit the bestseller list before it happens.
Instead of talking all the time, he’s paying attention. ”
“Hot,” Vienne remarks.
“Very,” I say. “And he subverts the nerdy book guy trope by being jacked as all hell. We’re talking muscles on muscles.
He asks thoughtful questions to make sure I know why I want to do certain things, like when I started the book club.
” I gesture absently at Gillian’s abandoned book.
“And when I had a panic about cookies, he invited me over to bake and even provided these special, fancy ingredients, even though he likes plain food. He bought me one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received.
He completely ignored the fact that I said he can make women come, because he knew I was embarrassed.
He’s nice, but also kind, and he really loves his cat.
” It all comes tumbling out of me in a tipsy flood.
“Wow, you’ve got it bad, babe,” Maggie says.
I drop my head to the bar. “I know,” I mumble. I reach over and steal one of her cheese sticks.
“What are you doing here with us, then?” Maggie says. “I’m gonna eat these things and then go home and crash. You need to go get your man.”
“Agreed,” the other two say in unison.
Maybe they’re right. I told him I wanted to take it slow, but slow is killing me. Why did I ever think I wanted to do that?
If I hadn’t opted for slow, I could be fucking him right now.
To hell with the elves. It’s time for me to have sex.
I nod to the gals and text him to let him know that I’m done with drinks, but he doesn’t answer. After a few minutes, I actually call him, but it goes to voicemail. I hang out until Maggie finishes her giant snack, and when I still haven’t heard from Spenser, I walk home, feeling a little dejected.
Scratch that. Not dejected.
Rejected.