I flexed in the mirror behind my desk, admiring the progress I’d made since my breakup six months ago. Yeah, it had fucking hurt, but damn did it help to push me at the gym.
“See?” Fallon mumbled through a beak full of icing. “You’re fucking ripped.”
I sighed and sat down in my desk chair, hitting the power button on my computer to boot it up for the day. When I opened the gym, I thought I’d spend the majority of my time working with clients and training, but in reality, I spent most of my time doing clerical shit and writing checks. I desperately needed to hire someone for this.
“Do you need something?” I asked, typing in the password for my computer.
“I know you’re busy with the wedding this weekend, but I was wondering if you wanted to hit the club with me next weekend. We can—”
“Dude, I told you. Clubs just aren’t for me. I don’t drink. I don’t do random hookups, and besides, I just met someone—” I snapped my muzzle shut before I spilled the last part. The last thing I needed was this giant chicken trying to play matchmaker.
Fallon stared at me, the wheels in his bird brain turning until it finally clicked. “There’s someone you’re interested in.”
Shit. I’d really done it now.
I groaned and dragged my claws through my fur. “I mean, I guess so?”
“Who?” he asked.
“The woman who owns the bakery down the street was loading up a cake and she dropped it. She was kneeling on the sidewalk crying so I stopped to help her.”
“Okay. And? That sounds like your typical nice-guy shit, if you ask me.”
“I just—I don’t know. She made me feel things.”
“Like what sort of things?” he asked. He was so invested in our conversation that he was on the edge of his seat, nearly leaning over my desk.
“I haven’t been attracted to someone like that in a long time,” I admitted.
“Oh. My. Gods,” he shrieked. “And I thought this day was never going to come.”
I balled up a piece of paper and tossed it at him. “Shut up.”
“Did you get her number?”
“No,” I snapped, rearing back. “That would have been weird.”
He sighed, rubbing his temple with his talons like I was a massive disappointment. “You have been out of this for so long thatyou have absolutely no game. You should have asked for her number. Or at least given her your card.”
“I told her where I work and to let me know if she ever needs help.”
“You need to do more than that if you’re interested in her, though.” He was quiet for a second, then bolted upright. “You know what—was the cake for the wedding tonight?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Didn’t you say the mayor invited everyone from the local businesses? If she owns the bakery and made the cake, she’s probably going to be there tonight.”
My ears perked up at the prospect of seeing her again. “You’re right.”
I had to give Fal credit. He was smarter than he looked.
“Dude. You totally have a crush on her.”
“I do not. I just—want to get to know her better.” Wow. That didn’t sound convincing at all.
“You know what they say. The best way to get over someone is to get under somebody else.”
“It isn’t like that.” Sure, my mystery woman was attractive, but hooking up with her wasn’t a priority—at least not yet.
