“Larissa, I was hoping I would get the chance to bump into you.”
“You were?”
“Yes.Do you mind if we sit for a moment?”
It was then she realized he actually looked quite tired, and she quickly became concerned for him.
“Yes, yes, of course.”
She also realized that he might be using it as an excuse to make her sit down.Larissa knew she probably looked a sight.Carrying two babies was taking its toll on her, and it wasn’t a good thing.Big Dick kept worrying about her.She missed being able to work, but she didn’t want to do anything that would harm her babies.
Once she was off her feet, she did feel a whole lot better.
“Is everything okay?”Larissa asked.
“I never got the chance to apologize to you,” he said.
She sighed.“You don’t need to—”
“I do.And this is not because my wife has told me I have to.This is because I want to.When Big Dick and I made that bet, I had no intention of following it through.I just, I’d been watching the way he’d been watching you, and it had been happening for months.Even before you came to work for Smokey, I’d see the way he looked at you.He never approached you.Big Dick has been in love with you for a long time, and I don’t know what kept holding him back.The moment you walked into a room, it was like he was drawn to you.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, the bet, for me, was made with the best of intentions.It was never meant to hurt you.”
“I was never meant to find out,” she said.
“True.I was expecting Big Dick to have his wake-up call, and it took him a little longer than I expected, but we’re all here now, and we’re figuring it out.”He smiled at her.“I just ...he loves you.”
“I know,” Larissa said.
“You know?”
She chuckled.“He told me.”
“Please forgive me.”
Larissa reached out and put a hand on his knee.“You’re forgiven, but don’t go making any other bets with my husband.”
Carlos laughed.“Wow, Big Dick as a husband, who would have thought it?”
It was still surreal to Larissa, but it was a good feeling.She couldn’t help but twirl the ring around her finger.
****
“Big Dick, what areyou doing here?It has been a fucking lifetime, buddy,” Alan Lowe said, and went in with the intention of hugging him.
“Where is he?”Big Dick asked.
Alan frowned.
“Cut the crap, okay?Whenever Andrew was in any kind of trouble, he’d come to you to fix it.”
“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your family is in there, Alan.You want me to give them a reason to miss you?I’m here out of courtesy to you.Tell me where Andrew is, and I’ll make sure your family is protected.”
He watched as Alan went pale.
