Page 56 of My Undead Heart

“He didn’t try to kiss you?” Rae gasps.

“He didn’t try to kiss me!” I repeat for the second time. Last Pitch is busier than usual tonight and I have to shout out the words. I’m not angry about it. More or less, I was relieved. On the bike ride back to my apartment the sex machine was doing its job of turning me on, and yet in my mind I was reciting all the ways to turn Matt down without hurting his feelings. All because I had a wonderful time.

“And we’re certain he’s not gay?” Jared interjects, but when Rae and I glare his way he continues, “What? I’m only asking a question.”

“No. He’s most certainly attracted to me in the physical sense. I felt the evidence of his generous manhood.”

“Wait! When did you touch his cock? How did I miss this?” Rae leans forward on the table, her eyes wide and waiting. She was in New York for work so I didn’t get a chance to fill her in.

“I didn’t touch it. I felt it.” Jared cuts me off with a wave of his hand.

“They practically humped during one of their after-hours one-on-one training seshes. He asked if he could kiss her, and you know how that goes.” He rolls his eyes.

Rae meets my stare with deep concern. “Herkissing is more intimate than sexthing. Yes, I remember. She made us watch the YouTube clip.”

“It makes perfect sense.” Now I throw my hands up because it’s frustrating that neither of them agrees with me on this.

“It was satire, Kitten.” Jared pats my shoulder but I shake him off.

“So, you asked him not to kiss you ... and now he won’t kiss you. He seems pretty legit to me.” Rae shrugs and finishes off her pint of lager.

“But that’s not normal, right?” I’m genuinely puzzled by Matt’s behavior. He always seems to have one up on me, and I hate that.

“Define normal. Jared over here likes it in the ass. I sleep with my cat.”

I take a sip from my glass. “Yeah, at least your cat sleeps with you.”

“How is Mr. Rick Grimes these days? Still shitting in the closet?” Rae leans forward with genuine interest.

“Only when I have a bad day. Last week healmostbrushed my leg on the way to eat his food. I’m sure it was accidental, but I’ll count it.” I shrug and lift my glass.

Rae clinks hers against mine in a cheers. “Good for Rick.”

“Ladies, enough about the pussy, let’s get down to brass tacks. Mia, are you going to follow through on the bet with Muscle Man?”

I don’t like that Jared’s insinuating I’d quit so easily so I narrow my gaze at him. “His name’s Matt.”

His smug smile widens and he leans back in his chair with raised brows. “Ohhhh ... Well, that answers that.”

I shake my head, now even more irritated. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you’ve never been bothered by my nicknames before. But Matt, he gets special treatment so he must be ... special.”

“Like he rode the short bus? I don’t understand.” Rae, with her blissful innocence, chimes in.

“No.” I speak before Jared can continue with any more of this hearsay. “Your brother is trying to imply there’s more to Matt’s and my relationship than training, a business arrangement, and a simple bet.”

“Isn’t there, though?” His smile is wide.

“There’s not.”

“But you will be going out with him again?” God, he’s mean when he smiles like that.

“Sunday. Because if there’s one thing I am not, it’s a quitter.” I won’t admit aloud how much I’m looking forward to the next date, or what a fantastic time I had at the last one.

“So, you’re only dating him because of the bet?” Jared says but before I can even open my mouth he continues, “I retract my statement, your honor. No further questions.”

“You two are weird.” Rae says and then catches the attention of our waiter. “Check, please?”