I might still end up punching him in the face, but I liked him enough now that I would apologize for it afterward.See?I’m a decent guy.
“He takes a while to warm up to people, that’s all,” Greg said.With Mr.Fluffy strapped securely in a mesh-walled pet carrier on his chest, every person in the bar tried to get a better look.“Try bringing him snacks.He’s like a golden retriever—you have to train him with treats and head scratches.”
“He’s right,” I say.“Especially if it’s coffee.The stuff at the B&B is awful, and my results with ordering from Maya have been inconsistent.She refuses at least half the time.”
“She might be more inclined to make you coffee now,” Kai mused.“You know, since you took care of her drunk ass and cleaned her apartment when she trashed it.Did anyone ever tell you that you’d make an excellent househusband?”
“I wish playing househusband was all it took for her to make me coffee.And you need to stop lying about her apartment.”I frowned at Kai.“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Well, either way.You cleaned it up for her.That has to count for something.”
I took a drink of my beer, mulling it over.Maybe it did count for something.
“With how many times she’s wished for his death, I wouldn’t bet on it.”Greg slid a piece of homemade jerky into the pack for Mr.Fluffy.“She promised to slit his throat in his sleep when they first met.”
Kai barked a laugh.“That’s what you meant by death threats?I love it.”
“That’s nothing,” I said, unable to suppress my grin.They laughed along as I explained a few of her more impressive schemes, including Greg’s favourite: cologne waterboarding.“Her death threats do it for me, I guess,” I added with a laugh.
Just then, Sierra walked into the bar, and Kai shot up as if he’d been hit with a taser.She stared through him as though he weren’t even there.I glanced at Kai, but he had his eyes glued to Sierra as she walked past us.Greg raised his eyebrows in question, and I shrugged.He knew as much as he did.
At the bar, Sierra grabbed a boxed takeout order and turned to leave.She stopped at our table on her way to the door.“Hey, Liam.Greg, welcome back.Did you get that outfit Nana picked out?”
Greg nodded.“Mr.Fluffy will wear it later today when we go visit Nana.Isn’t that right, buddy?”He looked at the ferret, who was far too busy shredding his jerky to acknowledge the conversation happening around him.“I didn’t want to risk getting beef jerky stains on it before Nana had the chance to see it.He’s a messy eater.”
“I mean, who isn’t?”Sierra stooped to eye level with Mr.Fluffy.In a high-pitched voice, she cooed, “Who’s a handsome gentleman?Is it you?Yes, it is.Yes, it is.”She straightened, clearing her throat.“Anyway, I’d better get back before a customer comes in.The new spring line fromLittle Puppy Frou Froujust came in, and I don’t want anyone digging through the boxes before I’ve put up my displays.Talk to you two later.”
Greg and I nodded our goodbyes.
“Bye, Sierra,” Kai said, his voice shaky.
Sierra extended her middle finger without a backward glance as she walked away.“Eat shit, dickface.”
Kai exhaled a resigned breath, his eyes trained on Sierra as she walked out the door.
“Uh, what was that all about?”
“Long story short?We dated.I messed up.She dumped me.Now she hates my guts.The end.”
“Thatisshort.”I chuckled.“Care to elaborate?”
He scrubbed a hand down his face, then forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.“Nah.We’re here to talk about you asking Maya out.It’s been years for me already.My problems will keep until another day.”
I tilted my head, silently asking if he was sure, but he waved a hand for me to move on.
After filling them in on what had happened in Maya’s apartment yesterday, I was less optimistic about my chances.The guys thought my conversation with her in the park boded well for me, though, so there was still hope.But my doubts were piling up, and I remained unconvinced.
“What if she really hates me?She couldn’t get rid of me fast enough yesterday.Maybe she apologized because she thinks I’m a creep and she wanted me to get away from her.”My eyes widened as my nerves threatened to get the better of me.
Greg and Kai exchanged amused looks before bursting into laughter.Poor Mr.Fluffy bounced around his carrier on Greg’s chest while those two dipshits laughed their asses off at my expense.
“You guys are assholes.”I suppose I was being ridiculous.But only a little.It’s not that I thought Maya would kill me, but I didn’t know her well enough to rule it out entirely.She had been surprisingly creative with her threats, after all.“This is serious.What if she follows through on one of her threats?”
Kai grinned.“Dude.Relax.Even if she hated you, I doubt she’d try to kill you.Besides, she’s half your size.If she made an attempt on your life, I’m fairly confident you could take care of yourself.”
An image slammed into my brain.Maya, naked, wrestling me for control until she wins, then she’s straddling me, her thighs squeezing my hips, her hands splayed on my chest as she grinds down—Jesus Christ.
“Dying doesn’t soundsobad,” I muttered, distracted by all the blood in my body rushing to my dick.“As long as I get to do it under her.”
