“Now, I’m sure you all had a good laugh when you read over the sex application,” Bianca says, “but I wasn’t being serious. It was a joke that got out of hand.”
“Well, if you’re ever in the mood, the bucket is always waiting,” Jacek tells her.
Sighing, she says, “I’ll be upstairs doing my chores, but expect to see me down here in an hour. I will clean around you if I have to.”
“She handled that better than I expected,” Carl says.
“What exactly did you expect her to do?” I ask.
“Heck, if I know. Cry, yell, maybe throw something.”
“Did you know it was fake?” Prince asks Carl.
“Of course, I knew it was fake. Didn’t all of you?”
The guys grumble, each annoyed that the source of their amusement was taken away.
“Just because the application was a joke doesn’t mean the intent isn’t,” Jacek insists.
“Did you forget that she already rejected you?” Prince scoffs.
“Publicly,” Jacek is quick to point out, “but that’s how it is with us and women. Behind closed doors, she’ll be like all the others.”
“You really think she’ll go for you?” Prince challenges. I have a feeling he’s fallen for the new stray, and I wonder how that’s going to play out.
“Clearly, the woman has needs, and I have the means to fill them.” Jacek thrusts his hips and groans.
I go back to the game streaming on my phone, annoyed that it’s been weeks and I still haven’t solidified my relationship with Samantha.
But now that my sister’s working for her, Samantha will see that I have her best interest at heart, and she’ll realize she can trust me. That being with me isn’t a risk or a concession. That I was made for her.
And if she doesn’t, well, I guess I’ll just have to take her back to a hotel room and remind her what I’m capable of.
FIFTEEN
Toxic
Each day I wake,I’m reminded that I’m drawing closer to an inevitability I have no control over. One that brings me both joy and terror in equal measure.
Maria spent all night focused on her responsibilities with her new position, and because of her go-getter drive, Samantha increased her hours from twenty to thirty and gave her a five dollar an hour raise.
It’s not much, but it’s a start.
It’s hard to stay focused with so much pinging through my mind, and I mess up simple dance steps more than once, but Carl seems to sense my stress and doesn’t come down on me too hard.
When practice is done, Armando comes over and slaps me on the shoulder.
“You okay, man?”
“About as okay as I can be.”
“Well, just so you know, if you need a godfather, I’m godchild-less.”
From the outside looking in, people might believe we’re savage muscle heads that think only of ourselves.
But nothing could be further from the truth. We’re family. Or at least the long haulers are. We’re a little distant with newer Hunks, because they so often leave, but the ones who stay longer than a year can expect to be friends for life.
I reach and place my hand over his. “Thanks, man. I’ll keep that in mind.”
