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Me

We’ll see. Saturday, 12pm. Wear comfortable shoes.

Red

Oh, Jesus. What activity are you taking me on?

Me

Do what I say, or I’ll bring a gag to our date.

Red

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

My stomach somersaults and I grin at my screen. Sonny scoffs in the background. “She’sdefinitelygoing to break you.”

25

ANTHONY

It’sdays like today I’m grateful I shaved my head.

The amount of excess energy coursing through my body has produced never-ending sweat all morning. Even an hour at the gym boxing out my angst, only did so much. I caught myself pacing as I waited for Kali to confirm our date and spent way too long deciding whether to wear a black or grey shirt. Imagine having to style hair on top of that.

Even now, as I stand on Kali’s doorstep waiting for her to answer the door, my hands are sticky. I can’t remember the last time I felt this scattered.

Maybe when you were off your face on drugs,a voice mutters in my brain. I scoff to myself. At least I can shrug off those voices these days.

The front door swings open and Kali comes into view, her presence knocking the wind out of me. “Wow.”

Kali is sexy in anything but seeing her in jeans and a tight-fitting top that exposes a slither of flesh is tantalising. Her dark hair spills over her shoulders, tumbling onto her breasts. She bites her lip in apparent shyness as I assess her.

“Thanks. You look … good.” Her gaze travels down the long-sleeved grey shirt I decided on, hovering at the tattoos peeking out at my wrists. Her cheeks flush in the afternoon sun and I desperately want to know what dirty thought entered her brain.

“You’re doing wonders for my ego.” I lean in and kiss her on the cheek. I love the way her breathing hitches. “Shall we?”

I lead Kali by the hand along her garden path towards the road.

“Tell me you’re not doing the stereotypical bad boy thing and riding a motorcycle?” Kali asks, eyeing the motorbike parked ahead of us.

“Of course not,” I reply. “Motorcycles are impractical and expensive.”

“And Patrick won’t let you have one?”

I give a friendly slap on her perfect ass. She jumps and tries to swallow a squeal of delight, but I hear it before she can stifle it.

“Unfortunately, we’re in my boring old truck today.”

Kali smiles. “I like your boring old truck.”

I unlock it and head to the passenger side to open the door for her. When she brushes past me, I inhale her scent. “Ma’am.”

She peers at me. “I don’t know how to take this gentlemanly side of you.”

“I’m always a gentleman.” I lean in and my nose skates the shell of her ear. “Mostof the time.” I nip the edge of her ear and don’t miss her quiet gasp.

“Where are we going?” she whispers.