Gentleman Nine(12)

“Okay…”

“If there’s one book here that you’ve read, that you’d want me to read, what would it be? It should be something that I would probably otherwise never think to pick up on my own.”

She continued to follow me in silence until she finally said, “Probably The Law of Attraction.” She pointed to the non-fiction section. “I saw it over there. I’m actually studying it right now and would love another person’s take on what it teaches.”

“Alright. I’m gonna buy it and read it. But you have to read whatever I pick for you. Deal?”

“Yes.”

I picked up The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. “Have you ever read this?”

“No.”

“Okay, this is my choice for you. We’ll give each other a month to read. Then, we’ll discuss.”

“This is shaping up to be an exciting few months for you, Lord. Cats…staying home and reading. What’s next? Should I be looking for a Bingo hall?”

“Get on that. Also, don’t forget living with Negative Nancy…that’s another one.”

“Yup. That, too.”

I hoped she truly knew I was joking. “I’m really enjoying being here so far. More than I anticipated, actually.”

“It must have been the moldy cheese that did it.”

“Definitely the moldy cheese.” I grinned.

We were standing in line waiting to check out when I asked, “Hey, you hungry for dinner?”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

I knew exactly where I wanted to take her. “I saw this Jamaican place down the street on the way here.”

“I’ve never had Jamaican food.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing, then.”

“What’s your favorite dish?”

Without having to think, I answered, “Curry goat.”

“Did you just say goat?”

“Yup.”

“Snails…goat…do you eat anything normal?”





CHAPTER FOUR




* * *



AMBER




I’d been deep in thought when Annabelle took a seat next to me in the teacher’s lounge.

“How’s Channing?” she asked as she opened her lunch bag.

I couldn’t actually tell her the truth.

Well, Annabelle, I’ve masturbated to thoughts of him every night since his arrival. It’s a problem.

“He’s great, actually. I’m really enjoying his company.”

Well, that was the truth, too.

She bobbed her head to the side as she looked at me. “You seem like you have something on your mind.”

I have a lot of things on my mind, and most of them are not safe for work.

“Well…it’s nothing…it’s just…”

“What?”

I thought up an analogy to explain what I was feeling.

“You know how when you’re on a diet…as long as you don’t bring bad stuff into the house, you’re fine, but as soon as someone brings over that box of cupcakes, all of your willpower is gone? That’s sort of what having an attractive man around does to the celibate woman. Being around Channing is making me realize how badly I need to get laid.”

Annabelle was laughing at me. “The solution seems simple to me.”

She just couldn’t seem to get it into her thick head that I refused to go there with Channing. Just because two people are single doesn’t mean they’re a good fit.

“I don’t know how many times I can explain it to you. I could never be with him in that way.”

She examined my face then said, “I worry that the real reason you’re afraid to consider that is because of Rory.”

The R word immediately triggered my defenses. “What about Rory?”

“A part of you thinks that Rory and you are going to get back together, and you know that sleeping with Channing would ruin that because Rory would never be able to accept it. Am I right?”

God. Maybe. Maybe, that was at the back of my mind.

“I don’t know. Maybe, subconsciously. There is no doubt that Rory would never get over it if something happened with Channing and me. That’s for sure. But first of all, even if I didn’t care about the repercussions of sleeping with Channing, I don’t think he looks at me in a sexual way. He never did. He sees me like a sister.”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“I can’t entirely…but he could have almost any woman he wants. Well, everyone but some chick named Emily. So, it’s a safe assumption.”

“Emily?”

“Some girl he was telling me about that led him on then went back to her old boyfriend. I bet she’s out of this world gorgeous.”

He’d surprised me with that story. Emily must have really been something for Channing to want to consider settling down. That whole thing made me a little sad for him. I was jealous of Emily and kind of wanted to kick her ass for hurting my friend at the same time.

Her mouth was full when she said, “Have you looked in the mirror lately?”

“Yes, and I need to get my eyebrows threaded. Badly.”