“I hate to break this to you, but Reed is a great guy. He wouldn’t have let it. Dean runs hot. Sex has never been a problem with us. The daily living, the casual day to day encounters and communication is where we don’t thrive.”
“Are you suggesting that my sex life is boring?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“Not at all. I’m sure Reed rocks your world, but you have to admit he’s probably ready to cuddle before you are.”
She uncrosses her arms and her silence says I’m right.
“There’s nothing wrong with Reed. He’s perfect.” Hannah places her hand on Victoria’s.
“Okay, because I drew blood the other night I’ll have you know.” Victoria nods her head about a million times per second as though neither of us believe her.
Reed’s so fucking hot there’s no way the guy doesn’t know how to work a woman’s body. The nice factor of him says he’s probably perfected his moves and knows what Vic wants before she does.
“Dean’s just a different species than Reed, that’s all I’m saying.”
“I think it’s good,” Hannah says. “Keep those legs closed until you’re ready to give up the milk.”
We all laugh because the whole analogy is such bullshit. If I give him a taste of my milk and he doesn’t want to buy the cow than fuck him, I don’t want the asshole farmer.
“I’m losing my will, but I was proud to hang on strong that night,” I say.
They rise from their chairs. The workday needs to begin at some point.
“We’ll let you go call and thank him,” Victoria says, ever the romantic.
“I think I might run over to his office at lunch and thank him instead.” I bite my lip wondering if I can walk into his office and not imagine that kiss we shared against his desk.
“Watch it or you’ll end up having an afternoon delight,” Hannah says on her way out.
We all laugh and then they’re gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I pick up my phone to text Dean, but I think a surprise is so much better.
You’d think there was a city grandfather clock that chimed at noon from the swarms of people rushing down the streets to get lunch. I’m spoiled from having The Sandwich Place on the main floor of my office building.
They know us so well now, half the time I don’t have to give my order.
The sun glares off the million-dollar skyscrapers and onto the city streets, so I decide to walk instead of taking a taxi to Dean’s office. I’m still crossing my fingers he’s not in some sort of meeting or lunch date.
I round the corner after having been shouldered five times on the walk over and smile as his building comes into view.
I’m in so much trouble.
As slow as I want this relationship to go, my body is not relenting on getting what it wants—Dean.
I press the walk button, glancing at everyone around me with their earbuds on and missing the beautiful spring day. The city is so much more alive when the weather is nice.
My mood is light and buoyant as I cross the street. Even the cab’s horn blaring at me when I’m not fully on the other side yet doesn’t make me flip him off.
Turning left, there’s a big group of men stepping out from his building’s doors. After the group of men, Dean emerges out of the building. He pauses, running his hand through his dark strands. I admire the man who took my heart so long ago. The one who refused to give it back the last five years even if he didn’t know it. Even with the stressed look on his face, I can’t help but notice his tall body, lean muscle, and strong shoulders. I’m not close enough, but I can imagine his heart shaped lips, piercing dark eyes and straight nose all outlined with a chiseled jaw.
A woman walks by, her predatory gaze on him the entire time she passes.
Yeah, hands off. He’s mine.
I step forward, just as he swivels on his dress shoes, heading in the opposite direction.
“Dean,” I call out, but the loud sound of a delivery truck revving its engine drowns out my voice.
I increase my speed, figuring I’ll catch him at the next light. Surely at lunch time in the city he won’t get that far in front of me. I imagine covering his eyes and him wrapping his arms around my middle lifting me with the surprise.
The light turns just as I’m midway through the block.
Shit.
“Dean!” I yell again, but he doesn’t hear me.
A few people glance over at me and I ignore their inquisitive looks.
Damn. I didn’t wear the best heels to try and chase someone down. Seduction? Yes. The hundred meter dash? Not so much.
I make the crosswalk in time, but I’m panting when I reach the other side. Continuing my pursuit, I see him sneak into a McDonald’s under the Brooks Building. My footsteps slow when the red hand flashes at me. He’ll be there for a while at this time of day, so I have some time.
Casually, I wait at the corner for the crosswalk to light up, scouring the windows for a glimpse of where he is, but it’s overfilled with people coming in and out and I can’t find him.
“Oogum Boogum Song” by Brenton Wood streams out of the window of a cab sitting at the light and my head and shoulders start moving. The best part of spring and summer is the different kinds of music coming out of the cars. The city gives you its own soundtrack during the warmer months.
I cross the next street and finally those golden arches are prominent on the awnings in front of me. I finally reached him.
Swinging the doors open, I step into the foul smell of perfume mixed with cologne mixed with fast food and it clogs my nostrils. My eyes search one way and then back the other way.
No Dean.
I wait by the front door to see if maybe he went to the bathroom, but after seeing five men go in and out, I doubt that’s where he is. Walking over to the bathrooms, I wait outside and when a man comes out I stop him.
“Anyone else in there?”
“Well, lady I’m an eyes-front kinda guy.” He steps away and then turns back around. “But I think I was alone.”
My shoulders sag and I refresh what I saw in my mind. He ducked under the awnings and I saw him walk through a door.
Leaving McDonald’s and looking like a lost girl from Kansas, I search for any other door he might have gone into. I pull out my phone, when I see nothing—no other signs that indicate there’s another food joint in the building—figuring I’ll forget the element of surprise, and just text him.
Me: Hey, where are you eating for lunch?
I wait for the three dots as people rush by me talking about their bosses, their schedules, their kids, their marriages. It’s Monday, which means there isn’t much optimism to be found even with the nice weather.
A nicely dressed woman opens up a door down from me and I quickly follow. Maybe that’s where he went.
She walks up a set of stairs, turning when she hears me and smiles. I return her smile.
Is this creepy? A little. Desperate? So much so I don’t want to admit it to myself.
She turns right into a room and I follow. My feet freeze when I enter the room.
“Are you new?” A man approaches me from behind. How did I not hear him?
“Um…”
“No need to be shy. Come on in.” He ushers me into the room.