Page 20 of Big Daddy to Go

“Oh, he can’t hear me,” Melanie waves me off with her hand.

“Okay, at first glance, Kane does look like Jason, but I swear he is nothing like him.”

I emphasize the word “nothing” to make my point.

“So, he’s not rich like Jason either?” she asks, knowing the answer.

“I didn’t know he was rich when I met him.”

“And you don’t know him. You spent one night with the guy. How do you know if he’s nothing like Jason?” Melanie asks with a sigh.

“I don’t, okay? All I know is I had an orgasm from someone other than myself for the first time in a year. And I’m hoping to come again tonight, so can you not ruin it?”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know, and I appreciate that. But it’s just sex. I’m trying to have fun for once,” I explain.

Melanie shakes her head at me and holds up her beer bottle.

“To orgasms with doppelgangers,” she toasts.

I snort as I laugh and clank my bottle with hers. Just then, Kane comes back to the table with a beer in hand. He pulls up a chair and sits down.

Before we can say a word, Ricky shows up with our nacho bucket.

“It’s about time,” Melanie teases.

“This one isn’t for you,” Ricky says, slapping her hand away playfully. “There’s a seat open at the bar, and I put your order in front of it. Why don’t you keep me company?”

“You don’t have enough company with all of those college girls up there?” she plays coy.

“That’s not the company I keep,” Ricky replies, giving her a cute smile.

Melanie looks over at me, and I wave her off.

“Have fun,” I wink as she follows Ricky to the bar.

“How are you?” Kane asks when I look over at him.

“I’m good. A little surprised to see you here.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” he asks, taking a swig of beer.

“I have a sneaking suspicion you don’t really hang out at dive bars too often.”

Kane laughs, the sound light and genuine. I can’t remember the last time I heard Jason laugh, other than a phony chuckle here and there.

“Your suspicion is right. I don’t even spend time in this part of town.” He shrugs his broad shoulders and grabs a gooey nacho.

He pops the chip into his mouth and washes it down with another swig of beer.

“I had a meeting in the area that night and decided to go for a drink and watch the game,” he continues his explanation while wiping his fingers on a napkin.

“I guess Morningside Heights is a little too lackluster when you’re used to penthouses, huh?”

Kane stares at me meaningfully.

“I didn’t say that. I just don’t get many reasons to come to this part of town.”

“What brings you to the area tonight?” I wonder.

His lips curl into a smirk.

“I was hoping to see you.”

My heart thumps against my chest, and butterflies fill my belly. I know I set him up for the answer I was hoping for, but it didn’t take away from me actually hearing him say those words.

He is in the exact same position as I am… hoping to see him again, wanting him to ravish my body one more time. Or maybe three more. The night is still early.