Page 49 of Big Stick Energy
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” His shoulders relax slightly. “You’re one of the toughest people I know.”
“And no more lying to make me feel better.”
His expression flickers with something I can’t read. “Deal. But you can still call it quits if you feel the need. My, uh, mother isveryexcited about meeting you.”
“Sheis? Why?”
He sighs. “Because she and Maribel had a chat after the party, and Maribel told her about you, and…” He swallows. “Well, I wasn’t on the call, but all of a sudden, my mother feels like she has something exciting to focus on instead of my dead brother’s upcoming birthday.”
“Oh,geez.” My heart clenches for this poor woman.
“Yeah.” He frowns. “Not that any of this is your problem to solve. Your fake boyfriend isn’t much of a catch, I’m afraid.”
That fizzy feeling in my stomach begs to differ.
What is wrong with me?
While I’m pondering this, a single female moan punctuates the night air, followed by a low male groan. A beat later, I hear an “Oh Goddd. Oh yes!”
The weird thing, though, is that I think those sounds came from two different upstairs windows. My neck cranes on instinct toward the surround sound of sex.
What’s worse is that I catch Eric doing the same thing. And the look of confusion on his face probably mirrors mine. A beat later, it happens again—mismatched moans from different screened windows.
That’s when things get super awkward down here on the ground. “Uh-oh,” Eric says with an uncomfortable laugh. “Which room did they give you? I hope the walls are sturdy.”
“I don’t have a room. This is just a day trip—I just wanted an afternoon at the beach before I go back to work tomorrow.”
“Work?” he yelps. “It’s summer.”
And this is the difference between me and the big, important hockey player. “We don’t all have your schedule, E-Train. Duringthe summer, I work three days a week for his lordship. While also taking two college classes.”
“Oh, hell,” he says, looking genuinely shocked.
Another moan pierces the summer night.
“Um, in fact…” I check the time. “I’m getting on the LIRR at ten thirty. I need to get a rideshare.”
“How about I drive you to the train? I don’t need to stand around here listening to…” He gestures wildly toward the house. “And even if we get there early, there’s that place for…”
“… Ice cream!” we say in unison. And somehow, we’re smiling at each other in the dark.
“Get your stuff?” he says.
I hesitate for approximately one and a half seconds. But I have no chill when it comes to Eric, so I dart into the house to find my bag.
Then, in a twist of events I’d not predicted for tonight, I’m back in Eric’s Porsche and heading for town. And twenty minutes after that, we’re licking ice cream cones at the train station. I’m way too aware of his tongue on that mint chocolate chip, while moths flutter cluelessly around the streetlights.Pathetic little crush, indeed. It’s still going strong.
“Any thoughts on a wedding gift?” Eric asks, catching a drip of his ice cream.
“Again? Do I have to doallthe work in this relationship?” I bite into the cone.
He chuckles. “Sorry.”
“I have some ideas. I’ll try Theo again. He wouldn’t blow me offagain, right?”
“If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask my mom for advice. I think I hearyour train. Are you sure you’re okay going through Penn Station at midnight?”
“Yes, Captain.”
