Page 86 of Nailing Heat

After we are all sitting around the table, drinks in hand and meals ordered, the questions begin coming in.

“So, how is it living with your new boyfriend?” Cassie is the first one to fire.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I tell them. “I’m not sure what we are.”

“Interesting, have you two not done a lot of talking? Is this more of an exclusively fucking situation?” she asks.

My face turns a deep shade of red, and I shake my head. “It’s not just fucking. We have conversations. He took me book shopping,” I tell them, hoping that buys me a change in topic.

It doesn’t.

“We’ll come back to the book shopping,” Hendrix says, taking a sip of her beer. “What about the talking? Do you two actually talk?”

I nod. “We do, we do. I haven’t wanted to ask him anything about what it is that we are. It’s seeming pathetic or like a high school move to ask him to define the relationship. So, I keep quiet about it,” I admit with a shrug. “Plus, he’s recently divorced, and for all I know, I’m his rebound.”

Mac shakes her head. “No, Amelia, you’re not a rebound. I’ve watched that man track you all across the field. And we recently saw him pin you to the wall with this hips. That man wants more from you than a quick a dirty fuck. Trust me.”

I smile. “I hope you’re right, because I sure want more from him than that,” I admit.

“I agree with Mac; I think you’ll get it,” Cassie chimes in. “And you know, he’s divorced. It might be one of those situations where he was unhappy for a while like Jase was. He’s ready for some happy and you, my dear, are exactly what the doctor ordered.” She winks at me. “He’s a good guy. He hung out with Jase and I one night and I can tell you that I was impressed with him and his maturity. I think you’re fine. He wants more from you than some fucks.”

I nod. “So, you guys like him?” I feel like we’re in high school when I ask that question. But their opinion of him matters to me.

“Of course we do.” Hendrix is the first one to speak up. “He’s a good trainer; takes more interest in us than Cary did. Or hell, even Lucas, and he still works for the Blaze.”

“Agree, he’s great,” Cassie adds in.

“I second the motion,” Mac says with a laugh.

“Well, good. I’m glad.” I pick up my margarita and take a sip.

“He fits in well with our little group,” Hendrix adds. “Now, tell us about this book shopping. What did that entail?”

I grin widely. “Well, he drove me to the bigger Barnes & Noble in Tampa and followed me all around while I shopped for books. He actually bought me like, twelve books. I couldn’t believe he did that for me.”

“What made him do that?” Hendrix asks.

“He said he knew what type of books I read based on what his sisters read and wanted to make sure we had plenty of material.” I flush when I say those last words.

“Ooh, I like this one for you,” Cassie chimes in. “He sounds like he really cares about you. This makes me so happy.” She clapsher hands and adds, “It’s like August was playing cupid for the two of you.”

“Fuck that idea, August doesn’t play cupid. He’s too self-centered for that,” Hendrix chimes in with her usual August hate. It makes me feel more confident that what I told Dex was correct.

“Yeah, yeah, you hate August, we get it,” Cassie says with a roll of her eyes.

“I have good reasons,” she insists.

“You do,” Mac says, patting her on the back. “No one doubts that.”

“On a fun note, from the bookstore, Dex used his auto-pilot on his Tesla to finger me on the way home. Best car ride home ever.”

“Seriously!” Mac yells a little too loudly.

“Indoor voice, honey, indoor voice,” Cassie scolds her while we all laugh.

“Sorry,” she says with a laugh. “I was surprised. I didn’t realize you two had it in you.”

“Did you not see the way they were when we picked her up? How could they not?” Hendrix chimes in.