12. Nash
12
Nash
Answered Prayers on the Patio
S he agreed to go to dinner with me, so I assume we’re good. I mean, she said yes when I asked, and she said she was fine every time I checked in with her last night while I was putting her body through paces that even I didn’t expect to approach, so maybe I’m worrying for nothing.
But still, every time I look at her today, I’m torn between feeling like I should apologize and wanting to carry her back into the bedroom to pick up where we left off.
Not that we’ve seen each other much today. We both worked a lot, which sucks since it’s our last day here together. I tried to cut the playtesting short, but it didn’t work. And she was busy, anyway.
I feel more anxious around her right now than when she followed me into this house Friday night.
Before we fucked for the first time, she said she could handle a little degradation. I blew way past a little last night. I didn’t mean for things to go that far, but fuck, I unleashed. Verbally and physically. And she gushed like a river for me. Multiple times.
The goal definitely advanced, but I don’t know what number we’re on anymore because I lost count. Lost a whole lot of sleep, too. I’ve never been so happy to be exhausted, but I’m sore in places I didn’t know I had muscles.
And she’s floating around like she’s walking on air. I wait for Georgina to set our queso on the table and walk away before I ask, “Are you not sore at all?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve always thought people who took ice baths were lunatics, but I would hurl myself into a tub of ice so fast right now.”
“It sure doesn’t show. You’re walking all graceful and unbothered.”
“I’m taking baby steps and trying not to bend my knees. Good to know I look graceful because I feel like I’m giving arthritic flamingo.”
“No, beautiful. You look like the most youthful, healthy flamingo in the flock.”
“You give the most original compliments sometimes.”
“I do try to be original.”
“You created several new origin stories for me last night.”
I grab my margarita to wash down the shard of chip that just lodged in my throat. I did not expect her to openly talk about last night on the patio at Lee-Lee’s. Not that anyone is listening to us, but there is a breeze and voices carry. Shit. Who am I?
“Yeah, well, I hope you don’t think any less of me,” I tease.
“As if I could think any less of you.” She smirks, all sass and sexiness.
She’s stunning. Her hair is down and it’s blowing over her freckled shoulders, and her eyes are the tiniest bit glassy from lack of sleep and good tequila.
If we’re going to talk about anything serious, we need to do it soon. No time like the present, I guess.
“So, tonight’s our last night to share the house, and we’re both too sore to enjoy it. I definitely should’ve planned that better.”
The cheese-coated chip in her hand falls to the table. “What do you mean it’s our last night? We have another whole week. I said you could stay in the house for both weeks.”
“That was if I agreed to go to a hotel. And I finagled my way out of that.”
“Then I guess I’m the one who has to leave since you let me use your week.”
“I wanted you to stay, Cat. Next week is still yours.”
“Do you have to leave or are you saying you’re going to because you think you’re supposed to?”
“I don’t have to leave,” I say. “But I don’t have any work to do next week, so I’d be in your way.”
“What if you got an urgent new contract?”
“Urgent?”
“What if a sex-goddess-level organizational influencer was desperate to hire you?”
“I’m listening. What exactly would she urgently need my services for?”
“She might be in need of some one-on-one video editing lessons.”
“I see. Might she need a videographer as well?” I waggle my eyebrows at her.
Leaning forward, letting the neckline of her sundress gape open, she says, “If you don’t stick around, you’ll never know what she might’ve needed.”
“It doesn’t seem very gentlemanly to leave a sex goddess of an organizational influencer in her time of need.”
“It would be a terrible thing to do to her.”
“You know, I’ve created a couple of apps, too.”
“I am not consenting to make videos for any app you’ve created.”
“Not that kind of app.” I shift my tone from teasing to serious. “What I’m trying to say is that I could create an app for your digital journal that would actually work.”
“You’re awfully confident about that.”
“Extremely. So, it seems you might need my expertise in more than one area.”
“This sounds like a long-term contract.”
“I think it could turn into one.”
“We’ll never know if you leave.”
“Guess I’m here for another week.”
She nods as if she’s just accomplished a task. “I’ll let the landlord know there’s no need to send housekeeping out tomorrow.”
“How are you going to explain that?”
“Creatively. After I have a second margarita.”
“Does this count as an office romance?”
“Wow. I’m your boss now.” She smiles.
“Only until bedtime, beautiful.”
She lifts her glass. “To freelancing with benefits.”
I join the toast. “To new partnerships.”
We both say, “Amen.”
And there isn’t an ounce of pettiness intended.