Page 51 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 5

ZACHARY

Ford: Here’s me right now, but after I go to dinner and drag queen bingo I’m heading back to the hotel to change into one of your fancy shirts so I can pull a hot man.

Ford: [photo]

I zoomed in on Ford’s face. He was attractive, sexy in a slightly unkempt, I-can’t-be-bothered-to-use-product way. He was also younger than I’d assumed. Maybe mid-forties.

Yum.

Dammit, why did he have to go to Palm Springs to hook up? He’d changed planes in Vegas—why couldn’t he have just stopped here? I’d have gladly offered myself as tribute.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?” Joel poked me in the arm.

I looked up, feeling slightly guilty. I was supposed to be paying attention to the grooms-to-be, not mooning over Ford. But I obediently held out my phone. “This is Ford.”

His eyebrows popped up, and he whistled. “Damn, Zachary, you need to hit that. Didn’t you say he lives in Dripping Springs or somewhere?”

“Bent Oak.” I watched helplessly as he passed my phone around, and all the guys agreed I needed to “hit that” as soon as possible.

“We’ll see,” I muttered as I finally had my phone returned. I went back to the texting app.

Me: You don’t need to change shirts. You’re sexy for days, and the forearm porn is real. Looks like you’re in a bar. Anyone hit on you yet?

There was a pause.

Ford: Oh, shit. I think somebody did, but he left. I didn’t notice because I was thinking about putting on your lacy underwear.

I almost spit out my beer. I glanced around to make sure none of the guys had seen, but fortunately they were yelling at the TV over the bar.

Me: Fuck, Ford. Warn a person! Are you really going to wear them?

Ford: I think I am. Jimmy Buffett would approve.

I blinked.

Me: The Margaritaville guy? Does he like lacy underwear?

Me: Oh, wait, sorry. Isn’t he dead?

Had I missed a celebrity scandal involving Jimmy Buffett’s underwear? I opened a browser to search, but then Ford replied.

Ford: I meant he’d approve of me getting out of my comfort zone. Having a little unexpected adventure.

Ford: [YouTube link: Last Mango in Paris]

Ford: It’s not my personal fave JB song, but I needed to hear what it says about seizing the day and saying yes to opportunities

Me: Okay, I can get behind that attitude. I can’t listen to the song right now because we’re in a bar, but I’ll check it out later.

Ford: If you’re going to listen to Jimmy’s songs, here’s the absolute best one (in my opinion)

Ford: [YouTube link: Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season]

Me: Thanks. And I don’t know him well, but something tells me Jimmy Buffett would definitely approve of you taking a selfie in my lacy underwear.