Page 67 of Finding Storm

Honestly, just never know what kind of shit is going on in people’s lives, do you?

So, I tell him a truth of mine, echoing the words I was just thinking before. “Same. I was literally just thinking that it’s been a long time since I’ve had fun with a man who isn’t my dad or Beck.” I cast a smile his way.

“Can I ask why?”

Opened myself up to that one, didn’t I?

“You don’t have to tell me,” he adds. “I totally get it.”

I sigh. “No, it’s fine. It’s just boring, to be honest. The old cliché story. Girl is with the same boy through the latter part of high school. They stay together while he goes to college, and she stays home and waits dutifully for him to return. Girl thinks her and boy will be together forever. Boy finishes college, comes home, and takes a job, working for his dad at his family-owned golf club. Boy asks girl to marry him right there on the grounds of the golf club. Girl is over the moon. A month later, girl finds boy dick deep in a college student who was hired to work there over the summer. He’s screwing her, on his office desk, at the very place he asked the stupid girl to marry him.”

“Shit, Stevie,” Nick whispers.

“Don’t feel bad for me.” I give a wave of my hand, brushing my words away. “It’s been over a year. I’m past it.”

“I don’t feel bad for you,” he tells me. “I’m just trying to figure out what kind of fucking dipshit has a girl like you and then cheats on her. He must be fifty fucking shades of stupid.”

My throat tightens with … something.

I swallow back my feelings. “He did me a favor really. Better I found out who he really was before I married the jerk.”

“Well, he did all the men in the world a favor, setting you back free into it, if you ask me.”

Even though hearing those words makes me feel amazing, my inner cynic—the one who appeared when my ex cheated on me, zapping my ability to trust my own judgment and the words of a man—has my natural jokey instinct rising to protect my fragile heart at all costs.

“Dude, that was terrible as far as lines go.” I grin.

He smiles wide, his lips lifting at the corner, showing those gorgeous teeth of his. “Okay. Wait, I can do better,” he says. “Give me a minute …” He puts fingers to his forehead, tapping them in thought.

I intermittently watch him between watching the road, thoroughly interested and amused at what he’s going to say. My heart only still mildly hammering against my rib cage from Nick’s previous words.

“Okay, I’ve got one.” He clicks his fingers, turning in his seat to face me. “You’re gonna love this. You ready?”

“Hit me with it.”

“Are you from Tennessee? Because you are the only ten I see.”

“Ah, dude, no.” I chuckle.

“No? Okay, this one will get you for sure. Feel my jacket. It’s made of boyfriend material.”

“Oh Jesus.” I shake my head.

“Come on! Okay, this will definitely make you laugh. Did you just fart? ’Cause you blow me away.”

I snort.

“See, I fucking knew you’d like that one! Wait, I got more. Do you work at Subway? ’Cause you gave me a footlong. And another: if you were a Transformer, you’d be Optimus Fine.”

I’m totally laughing now, but he isn’t stopping. The man is on a roll.

“Wait, this is the créme de la créme of lines. I saved the very best ’til last. You ready for this?”

I nod because I can’t speak; I’m laughing so hard. My eyes are watering from it.

“Okay, here it is … I hear you’re looking for a stud. Well, I’ve got the S-T-D, and all I need is you.”

“Fucking hell,” I choke out. I’m full-on belly laughing now. Tears rolling down my face. Not practical when I’m driving a car. “Dude, you gotta stop.” I hold my stomach. “Or I’m gonna crash!”