Page 106 of Mr. Perfect

Here are a few things I took away from my first day in boot camp.

Pleasing others is great, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of my own happiness

Words are weapons that should be wielded responsibly

Believing in myself is paramount to what anyone else believes

Dreams are easy, achieving them is hard

I am enough, even if I don’t always realize it

I think Felix is a better mentor than he realizes, and I look forward to learning more from him. Someday, I hope to call him a friend.

Felix glanced up and met Jimmy’s gaze after he finished reading the report. The younger man had maintained his proud posture, but Felix caught him chewing on the corner of his bottom lip, and a light blush tinted his cheeks. Felix quirked a brow, and Jimmy released his abused mouth.

“This is impressive, Jimmy.”

The rookie blushed adorably. “Thank you.”

“There’s not a single comma out of place.”

Jimmy groaned. “Will I ever live that down?”

“Nope, but how does tomorrow at nine sound for lesson two?” Felix asked.

Jimmy smiled. “I’ll be here.”

After Jimmy left, Felix pulled up the story he’d feverishly written just hours before with the intent to edit and have it ready to publish when the news broke. He noticed halfway through the story he had switched from relaying the timeline events to laying out the reasons he should keep Spencer’s secret as if it were a foregone conclusion. The last line hooked his gaze and held it.

I could spend my energy wrecking Spencer’s second chance, or I can focus on the one I’ve been given with Jude.

When phrased like that, was there really a choice? Felix deleted the file, messaged Minerva that he was taking a personal day, then powered off his computer.

On his way to the parking lot, Felix sent Jude a quick text.Today would be a perfect day to lounge naked by the pool.

Jude’s response was immediate and resolute.Meet you there in twenty minutes.

“Lord, how the times have changed,” Marla said. She shook her head. “It wasn’t so long ago that I would’ve spent my Saturday afternoon getting ready for the club.”

Felix laughed. “And now you’re stuck teaching a knucklehead like me how to make your peach cobbler.”

Marla swatted his ass with a spatula. “I didn’t say anything about feeling stuck. I just remarked on how the times have changed.”

“How many more peaches do I need to slice?” Felix whined.

“Until I tell you to stop.”

“Why can’t we use canned peaches? Wouldn’t it be easier?”

Marla gasped and covered her heart as if Felix had mortally wounded her. “Baby, no self-respecting Southerner uses canned peaches in their pies or cobblers. It just isn’t done. Do you want to impress your man or not?”

“I do.”

“Then shut up and do what I say.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Felix replied.

Marla looked toward the hallway Jude had disappeared down when his mother called him. “Lord, honey, your man is so yummy.”