Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
That was then. This is now. We’ve both changed. I’m no longer a wide-eyed rookie when it comes to romance. I’ve been around the block and have the battle scars on my heart.
And Rachel? Well, she’s recovering from a horrible marriage. She’s barely divorced from a man who fathered three children in secret while married to her. Rachel’s been honest with me from the start. She wants sex with someone she trusts, and she also wants to experience the idea of a good boyfriend.
Not the reality.
She deserves sex and kindness. Hell, she should be showered in foot rubs and enjoy a willing ear from someone who pours her a glass of wine at the end of the day and leaves all the bullshit of relationships at the door.
No, in the next freaking state.
I can give her what she wants for three more dates. I can lavish her in orgasms and gifts like a fucking champ. I will make sure she feels nothing but bliss from this guy.
And, here’s the reality. I’d be a selfish prick if I pushed my sexy, sweet, funny, wounded friend for romance just because my heart is a little achy for her. I’d leave a shitty review online for me if I did that.
I damn well know this isn’t just ultra-sexing and un-dating for me. The way I looked at her this morning in my bed, the way I felt when she puttered around my home, the way I was desperate to tell her how I felt about the game last night—that tells me all I need to know.
But I also know this—you win some and you lose some.
These newish feelings might hurt me a little over the next three dates. But I can handle the pain, just like I can handle a hard tackle.
The thing I won’t stand for is to let my feelings ruin our friendship. No way will I be that guy. I will swallow them down like the last dregs of a coffee and then motor on through the plan.
Starting now.
I grab my phone, search for cute leopard-print panties, and order a few pairs.
I send them to my home for express delivery. Then I forward her the email, adding a line: For next time.
It’s a sex gift. That’s all. Even though a new notification pops up on my phone—a calendar invite for this weekend.
Carter and Rachel decide upon costumes for the Halloween party so they can claim top prize like the badasses they are.
I hit accept. I won’t feel all warm and fuzzy about a reminder. I won’t. I just fucking won’t.
Then, with my renewed focus, I open my text app and start a message.
26
IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A TO-DO LIST
Carter: What else is on your list?
Rachel: Besides showering?
Carter: Mental note made of showering.
Rachel: You’re taking a note that I’m showering?
Carter: You took mental pictures of my shower. Fair’s fair. But seriously. Your sex list. In bed last night, you mentioned you wanted me to show you how to do…a certain something.
Rachel: Are you actually afraid to say give a blow job?
Carter: Blow me.
Carter: Suck me.
Carter: Take that dick.
Carter: There. I was being fucking polite.
Rachel: I’m so proud of you for using your words. But by list, I thought you meant a to-do list.
Carter: You thought I was texting you about your to-do list?
Rachel: Well, yeah. And it was sort of sweet that you’d ask.
Carter: Now I have to know—do you really put shower on your to-do list?
Rachel: Ummmmm.
Carter: Holy shit. You do???
Rachel: Sometimes I get busy and then I’m doing fifty things and I’m behind on the day, and then all of a sudden, someone is coming over and I’m showering later than expected and then he shows up right when I’m answering the phone with my boobs flying!
Carter: DO NOT EVER PUT SHOWER ON YOUR TO-DO LIST WHEN I’M ON MY WAY OVER.
Rachel: Glad to know you always want me to answer phone calls shirtless.
Carter: I always do. Anyway, so you have a sex list. Go on.
Rachel: I don’t actually have a sex list. But I have some ideas.
Carter: Sure, sure, same thing. Now, tell me your ideas.
Rachel: Besides learning how to suck your secret dick?
Carter: And that nickname stuck.
Rachel: In the back of my throat.
Carter: Well played.
Rachel: Thank you. Thank you very much.
Carter: Anyway, I’m waiting for your naughty list. And make it very, very specific.
Rachel: Fine. Here’s an item. After the first time we had sex, when I was bringing cookies to the table, I was admiring your strong back. You were shirtless. I was ogling your back muscles. Then checking out your ass. And then I wondered how you’d look in the mirror fucking me. And then I decided I wanted to have sex in front of a mirror to watch you, um, rail me. So it was sort of an ‘if you give a moose a muffin’ train of thought.