Chapter 9
nine
I’m standing in front of work, ten minutes late to get back to the grind, but wearing the biggest smile.
Talking to her makes the rest of the noise fade into the background.
There’s something about this woman that I can’t get enough of: her humor, her feistiness, and her vulnerability.
And now that I’ve seen her legs, I’m adding them to the list too.
She’s more than a breath of fresh air; she’s the entire goddamn atmosphere.
There’s a realness that’s quickly becoming an addiction.
I didn’t think people like her still existed.
This friendship is decidedly more beneficial for me; she’s giving me authenticity I thought had vanished from the world.
I know what I have to offer; it’s been drilled in me over and over again, but that’s not what she needs.
Life’s throwing her lemons. Good thing I make damn good lemonade.
I scroll back through our messages and stop when I reach the photo she sent. It’s black and white, and the lighting is perfect. Sunshine slices down the center, highlighting her legs. Pale skin on a tangle of white sheets surrounded by the moodiness of a dim room and dark furnishings.
It was too spontaneous to be staged, but damn, it’s sexy.
I almost save it to my photos, but that feels like a violation. I tell myself I won’t come back to our messages to look at it later.
But I already know that’s a lie.
I probably won’t make it through the night.
Or the next hour.
Four steps inside the door, it’s my new lock screen wallpaper.