Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Just a meme someone sent me,” I say as I take a sip of the new beer the waitress apparently set down without me even noticing.
“It must have been a funny one.”
“Yeah, it was a cat.”
Any mention of my love for cats has her rolling her eyes. She and Han have a love/hate relationship. She gets up and straightens her skirt. “I’m going to head to the ladies’ room to freshen up. You’ll be okay till I get back?”
I nod. “Sure.”
She heads off, and I look back down at my phone as it pings.
Where did you go? Is your date there? Are you riding a bull? Don’t ride the bull because I want to be there when you do.
He-Man, I’ve been thinking…I need to know who you are, I send.
Why? Don’t you like being anonymous? Don’t you think we’re opening up to each other more?
Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.
I get nothing but silence in return. My hands clench my phone, waiting to see those telltale little dots, but he isn’t responding.
Why doesn’t he want to tell me? Is it someone I hate? Is it Alex with a burner phone? Is it Maverick?
I take a deep breath and text, Are you a football player?
Yes.
My heart flips over. Is He-Man really Maverick? God, I want it to be.
I don’t do football players anymore, I text.
You’d do me. It’s going to happen.
I squirm in my seat as a bolt of electricity zips through me and my entire body heats up. My skin gets goose bumps, and I know it’s because I’m picturing Maverick on the other end of this conversation.
You’re cocky, I send, my fingers sweaty.
I know when a woman wants me, and I want you too, Princess Leia. I have for a long time.
I want to ask more, but I’m scared of…dammit, I don’t even know. Being hurt? Being lied to?
I spend the next minute staring intently at my phone, trying to think of a response, and I’m still staring when Skye gets back from the restroom. I finally put my phone away when Tyler arrives, along with my blind date.
An hour later, I’ve met Bobby Gene and we’ve finished a round of beers and a plate of cheese fries. Handsome with a lopsided grin and cropped brown hair, he’s rather engaging. He’s made me giggle with his talk of growing up on a pig farm in Iowa, but He-Man is all I can think about.
Each minute I’m here with Bobby Gene feels like an hour, and I’m anxious to get home and text him so we can figure things out.
But is there really anything to figure out?
How can I ever trust a football player again?
My phone rings, surprising me, and I battle down a sneeze when I see He-Man’s name on the screen.
“Who’s He-Man?” Bobby Gene asks, leaning over and peering down at my phone where I left it sitting on the table.
“Just a friend,” I say.
“Well, you gonna get it?” he asks with a grin. He’s obviously easygoing and doesn’t seem perturbed that I have someone calling me while I’m on a date.
I pick up the phone, excitement curling. “Hello?”
“Hey, I thought you might need a rescue phone call.” I can’t make out the voice because he’s whispering, but it heats every inch of my skin.
I’m talking to He-Man! I want to shout it out to everyone, but that would be weird, so I don’t. Instead, I clear my throat, injecting concern into my tone. “Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“Oh, no. What happened?” I infuse my voice with drama.
“Truth: I was studying and kept thinking about you on your date. Does it suck? Is he ugly? An asshole?”
I glance over at Bobby Gene, who grins.
“No,” I say, and I get silence from the other end.
“You mean you like him?” There’s an incredulous tone to his voice.
I do like Bobby Gene—as a friend—but I can’t answer something so specific with the detail it needs. Too many people are listening to me.
Skye is shooting me a quizzical look, and Tyler is eyeing me suspiciously.
“Uh, yeah? It’s great,” I answer.
There are several ticks of silence, and I imagine I can feel his unhappiness with my response.
“Are you still there?” I ask, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Yes. I shouldn’t have called you. Obviously I’ve interrupted a good time. Have fun on your date.”
Click. He ends the call without even saying goodbye, and I’m surprised.
“I’m so sorry. That’s just terrible!” I say to the silence, clutching the phone tighter as I lean over the table. “Yes, of course, I’ll go home and call her right away and let you know.”
I get off the phone and send a regretful look at Bobby Gene. “Sorry, my aunt is sick—”
“But aren’t you from Charlotte?” Tyler asks, a slight curl to his lips. Skye is giving me a pointed look, and I know she knows I’m trying to get out of the date.