Page 65 of Phoenix
“What do you mean which one?” He raised his zipper.
“Which oil? Because my mom got me a housewarming basket when I moved in here and I’m pretty sure it had garlic olive oil. I’m going to be pissed later if you have a garlic-flavored dick.”
Tor laughed. “It was just regular oil, and I need to hop in the shower anyway.” He patted Jule’s ass and squatted down. “My dick will be back to its original flavor by the time you put your mouth on it.” He wiped off the cabinet and then stood and kissed Jule’s temple. “Figure out what you want for dinner while I clean up.”
Jule stood and watched Tor’s ass shift in those clingy shorts as he walked out of the kitchen. He was considering following him into the shower when he heard the doorbell ring.
“Did you order food?” Tor called out. “I’ll get it.”
“No. I…” He remembered the reason he had come into the kitchen in the first place. “Tor, wait.” He heard the door open. “Shit.” After taking a quick moment to adjust his clothes, Jule hurried out of the kitchen and over to the entryway.
Lydia was standing in the doorway, bags in her hands, mouth gaping, wide eyes locked on a shirtless, sweaty Tor Dunworthy.
“Julie, your girlfriend is here.” He looked over his shoulder and grinned at him.
“For fuck’s sake, Tori, go get dressed.”
“Why? I’m comfortable this way.”
Lydia continued staring.
“I swear to God, Tor.”
With a laugh, Tor sauntered away. “Be back in a few.”
They both watched him leave, and when he was out of sight, Jule turned to Lydia, who hadn’t moved from the doorway.
“He is so hot.”
Having never heard her sound or look like that, he barked out a laugh. “Yeah, he really is.”
An hour later, Lydia was sitting beside Jule on the couch, Tor was sitting on the floor on the other side of the coffee table, which was covered in empty takeout containers, and the three of them were laughing together like they’d been friends for years. Jule had known Lydia for a long time and they got along well, but it had never been like that.
“I like this side of you, Julian,” she said. “You’re happy.”
He looked at Tor. “Yeah, I am.”
“This means I’m going to have to find a new date to the Party in the Garden.” She sighed. “It’s probably for the best. I want to have kids at some point, and I’d rather not do it alone, so I need to meet someone.”
“What about that one guy? The one who didn’t ask any questions on your first date. Did he get better?”
“I cannot even begin to tell you how much more specific you’re going to need to be. You’ve just described every man.” She groaned. “I suck at dating, but I’m telling myself that it’s like anything else. I wasn’t great at bio when I was in high school, and now, I’m a doctor. So, I have to believe that sucking at something is the first step to being good at something.”
“Sucking can definitely be the first step to—”
Tor laughed and kicked his leg from under the table.
“But you know what? I don’t think I’m the issue,” Lydia continued. “They’re the ones who suck. It’s not just that they don’t try to learn anything about me, which is annoying enough.The last time I dated someone long enough to invite him over, he insulted my plants.”
“What’s wrong with your plants?” Jule asked her. He flicked his gaze to Tor. “Lydia has a major green thumb. She can give us tips when we move into the house next week.”
“Sounds good. I haven’t done anything with the outside yet, but I’ll get to it.” He looked at Lydia. “What were you saying about anti-plant guy?”
“We went to the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit. I wanted to stop at the gift shop on the way out to get a plant and he said I have too many of them and it’s a waste of money. As if it’s his money!”
“Fuck him,” Tor said.
“Exactly. Plants make me happy and I’m not letting anyone tell me that it’s wrong to spend fifteen dollars on something that makes me that happy. That fifty dollars will make me smile and that makes it five hundred dollars well spent.”
