Ironically, he’s what I would usually go for since I’m not looking for anything serious either. If he wasn’t the owner of Striking Back, I’d probably give him a go, but there’s no way I’m going to fuck him and then worry about running into him every week. S.B. is important to me, and I don’t want to leave it behindfor one night of sex, no matter how fantastic his ass is. So, it’s settled. No sex with the tatted Adonis. The carnival is a few weeks away, and I’ll come up with some excuse not to go with him.
After two hours at the gym, I stop by my apartment to shower before heading to my book club. We meet once a week in a small Italian restaurant downtown named Bellini’s. It took me awhile to feel like I really fit in, but now, hanging out with these ladies is the highlight of my week. I know people picture a book club as a dry, boring meeting of bookworms, but we’re far from it. There’s no pretentious discussions of what the water imagery in a story represents while sipping coffee in a stuffy room.
The books we choose—when we actually read one—are typically the kind you want on your e-reader instead of in paperback, so no one can see the cover. Bellini’s is owned by Marie’s family and they reserve the back dining room for our boisterous group of fifteen wine guzzling, gossiping women. I love it.
“Ev!” Marie calls, as I make my way to an empty chair beside her. “You’ll back me up on this.” She gestures to Macy. “Best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody, am I right?” A grin settles on her face as she fills my wine glass.
“Oh, Macy, did you and Al break up?”
Macy’s eyes glaze and she nods. “He’s too controlling. I can’t take it anymore. That alpha male shit may be hot in books, but in real life it sucks.”
“You deserve better,” I agree.
“He wants to tell me what to wear, who to talk to, where I can go. He’s so jealous.”
“I know it’s hard now, but you’re doing the right thing. Guys like that only get worse.” Sometimes until they end up beating the shit out of the woman. “Look at you,” I say with a grin, taking in her long straight ebony hair and almond shaped eyes. “You’re gorgeous. The guys will be all over you when they find out you’re single. Let him stick that up his jealous ass.”
A wide smile spreads across her face and she gulps the last of her wine. “And Marie’s not wrong,” I add. “A little change ofdick never hurt anybody.” The room fills with laughter as Macy, Marie, and I clink our wine glasses together.
My phone chirps with a text message from an unfamiliar number.
-Having fun with your book club?-
Who the hell?
-Who is this?-
-You promised to remember my name until the carnival. I’m devastated.-
Mason. His stalker skills know no bounds. The bastard must’ve got to my phone when I wasn’t watching.
-Do you invade everyone’s privacy or am I special?-
-You’re special. And I didn’t look in your phone. Just used it to call mine.-
-Well, now I have your number, it’s going on the bathroom wall.-
-You trying to get me a date?-
-Men’s bathroom wall.-
-Ouch! I surrender.-
I can’t help but smile, picturing his wicked grin.
-Good night Mason.-
-Good night Evie.-
“And who put that smile on your face?” Macy asks.
“What? Nobody.”
Marie and Macy glance at each other before staring at me. “Spill it,” Marie insists.
“He’s infuriating, a stubborn Neanderthal. I didn’t even give him my number! He swiped my phone to call his.”
“Uh-huh. What’s he look like?”
