So. Long(24)

Make room folks, he’s probably going to bolt.

Adam grins and pulls me to him. “Well, I guess we should make good use of your time off from mommyhood. Want me to try to help you to get your words back one more time?”

I push his arms away and step backward. “That’s not happening again.”

Adam tugs at his earlobe, his expression perplexed. “But—I—I thought we—you know—hit it off.”

I shrug. “No. You refused to actually hit it, but you still got what you wanted.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re exactly like every other man I’ve had the displeasure of dealing with.”

His lips press into a slash buried in fur.

He points to himself. “Me? A displeasure?”

I cross my arms, lifting one brow.

His voice rises. “Oh no, don’t even—you were definitely pleasured—several times. In fact, you came so fucking hard you almost drowned me in cream.”

Heat radiates up my neck and over my face, settling in my ears as I sputter, trying to make the words conform to my will. “Y—you—you used me and then bragged—”

“What?” He holds up his hands and he yells, “I used you?”

“Like I said, just like all men. Untrustworthy. Braggarts. Cads.”

“All men? I am not like all men. There are very few men like me, I’ll have you know.”

I roll my eyes. “Puh-lease. That’s what you all want to think. Trust me, it ain’t true. All men are the same. Their game might be slightly different, but you all play them.”

“Games? What games?”

Cheat. Lie. Use. Deny responsibility. “Look, it’s fine. I get it. I’m just another notch—”

“Whoa. Hold up there. I didn’t use you. You’re the one who was looking to wind up your muse. If anyone got used it was me.” He frowns, looking away and lifting his chin like he’s been deeply offended.

I poke my tongue into my cheek, studying him through narrowed eyes.

He stabs his little plastic spoon into his lemon chill hard enough that the handle breaks off in his hand

Fuck. I hate it when this happens. I have to admit—he has a point.

I plaster on my politest smile. “You know, you’re absolutely partially right. We used each other. It was a mutual-use situation.”

Adam draws back, as though he’s shocked that I agree with him.

I give a single nod. “No, really. You’ve given me a revelation. It’s true. We used each other.”

“Damn straight we did. We both got something we wanted.” He says with a smug, vindicated smile. “You got licked, and I got to taste that sugar glider.”

I clench my teeth tight and suck in a deep breath through my nose. “Whatever. Either way, I now realize I’m not okay with that.”

“Okay with what? Being licked? Getting off?”

“I’m not okay with being a convenient piece of ass until you find a new one. I’m not really okay with being one in a long line of girls you plan to fuck until you find what you’re looking for. And I’m really not okay with being with a guy who sees women as nothing more than a twat to be fucked. Let’s forget it happened and part friends. Okay then? Good. Thanks.”

I turn toward my house, licking the dripping cream off the side of my treat. It doesn’t taste even the slightest bit sweet now.

When I get to the door, Adam yells, “Well, it’s your lucky day; I’m a helluva a friend to have.”

We’ll see about that.

My hand tightens on the doorknob. It takes everything I have to not look over my shoulder as I let myself into the house.

I promptly wilt against the inside of the door.

Counting to ten, I take deep cleansing breaths.

Friend. He’s a good friend to have?

I just bet he is.

Damn him.

Heading back to my office, I shake off the remnants of my frustration and upset.

It’s time to get to business.

I need to focus on what’s important—finding someone to share my life with. Someone who will want to be with me and only me, someone who likes kids. That person is definitely not Adam.

Adam is Mr. Wrong. There’s nothing about him that’s right, except for his prowess between my thighs.

I go to my web browser and pull up the DATE.COM site.

It’ll be best to let someone else act as my muse.

All right, then. Who do we have for Today’s Suggested Dates?

I navigate to my personal page. Three emails from three different Date Opportunities wait for my response.

Question of the day is will any of them be worth a shit?





EIGHT





I come around the side of the house, dragging the dead tree I cut down in the backyard.