Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Tomorrow, actually, I write back.
Can I come by in the morning? At 10 a.m.? I won’t stay long, as I know you probably want to relax on your day off. I’ll have Rose with me.
My mind immediately tries to calculate if I will have time to run out for a baby gift after work tonight, knowing that I will be cutting it close by the time I get out of here. But then I remember…I work in a freaking hospital with a maternity ward, and the gift shop is filled with appropriate stuff.
I grin as I shoot her back a text. Sure. See you then.
We have a little more back and forth to give her my address and Sutton promises to bring bagels for breakfast. I want to tell her my hips won’t appreciate them, but I don’t. I love a good bagel.
My sandwich is finished by the time our conversation is over, and I turn reluctantly to Reed’s text. I brace for the worst and hope for the best, but I’m not quite sure what I think the best or worst could be. I know I had a damn good time with him last night and this morning, and despite feeling a tiny bit awkward about being in his bed, it was some amazing, freaking sex. Like toe curling, mind blowing, and I’m ruined for any other type of sex.
Let me just say: Reed Olson has it going on in that department.
I suck in my breath and hold it in my lungs as I read his text. Just checking in to see how your day is going. Had a great time last night, better time this morning, want to make it even better tonight. Tell me what you want for dinner and I’ll have it waiting for you at my house when you get off work.
The air seeps out of me slowly as I take in his words. His sweet, reaffirming words.
He doesn’t regret last night apparently and wants more.
I want to accept that, but doubts keep plaguing me as I read his text over and over again.
What if he’s just scratching an itch?
What if I’m just a challenge to him?
What if he’s in a dry spell and can’t find an available Barbie?
What if, what if, what if.
There are so many ways I could respond to Reed. I could take him at face value and tell him I’d love to see him tonight. I could play it safe and tell him I’m too tired, which means that I won’t let this go any further.
Or, I could be a glutton for punishment and let my doubts possibly make this very weird.
Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
So I text him back. What is this we have going on?
I cringe internally as soon as I send the message, then nibble on my thumb while I wait for his reply. It could come any moment or it could be hours from now, because he could be busy doing something.
My heart nearly explodes when I hear the chime of his response before I see the actual words. I hold my breath again as I read his text. This is me, being interested in you.
Hmmmm. That’s kind of vague.
Like the way you’re interested in Barbies? I write back.
His response is almost immediate and produces a flushed warmth in my body. How do you feel about being spanked in bed? Because that’s what I’m going to do if you compare yourself to one of my Barbies again.
Okay, I get a little sidetracked. All sorts of dirty thoughts about Reed and him taking his palm to my ass. Would that be over his lap? While I’m on my hands and knees? Naked or clothed?
Another chime breaks my attention and I see Reed’s texted me again. You’re thinking about me spanking you, right?
No, I was not thinking that, I write back, and hope the speed with which I respond makes him believe me.
It takes a few moments to get a response. Quit second-guessing and take me at face value. We’re friends, Josie. The benefits are very good. So good I don’t need benefits from anyone else. Your benefits are the only ones I’m interested in. Okay?
This relieves me and I know it to be true because it feels like a weight comes off my chest. Reed wants me. Wants to continue to see me. And we’re still friends. He’s also clarifying that what we have is casual but monogamous, and the casual appeals to me. I don’t have time for more than that, but more important, I don’t have capacity for anything more. Aiden broke me, and I don’t ever want to feel that way again about a man.
As long as we keep this light and fun with an emphasis on the friendship—well, an emphasis on the benefits—this should work out fine.