Chapter 21

Chapter 21
Angie

She stumbled to her desk to find Kelsey perched on the edge, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and totally ready to pounce.
“Hi,” Angie said.
“Well, you look like the dead,” Kels replied. “So, obviously you didn’t get laid last night.”
Angie plunked down in her chair and glugged some coffee. Then she stretched her arms above her head, resisting the urge to slap herself across her cheeks. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Kelsey sighed, gripped Angie’s upper arms, and shook. “You. Sexy time. Max. Many orgasms.”
That snapped Angie out of her fatigue . . . at least for a moment.
She wasn’t used to staying up so late on a work night and by the time she’d managed to calm herself down after the game, and Mandy, and then Max’s kisses, it had been close to three in the morning.
And she usually got into the office at seven.
She shook her head. “You’re crazy,” she muttered.
“About the multiple orgasms?” Kelsey asked, way too innocently in Angie’s opinion. “No way. He’s got that look.”
“What look?”
“The I’m-gonna-fuck-you-six-ways-to-Sunday look.”
Angie blinked, really liking the image that particular statement brought to the forefront of her mind. Max naked and on top of her. Or her naked and Max beneath her or—
“He’s so sexy.”
“You’ve talked to him?” Angie asked, wondering why she was feeling the teeniest bit jealous when she had absolutely no right to.
No right. No claim. No sex.
Boo, said her vagina.
Probably smart, said her brain. It’s too soon.
You want it anyway, said her vagina.
Of-fucking-course I do, said her brain.
So, go for it—
“Nope. But I’ve seen him at Devon’s, remember? And on TV and in magazines and”—Kelsey fanned herself—“he’s totally got the DILF thing going on. You need to sleep with him, find your happy place between the sheets.”
Max was seriously hot and given the way their kisses had nearly melted her bones last night, she had to agree with Kels. They wouldn’t have any problems with chemistry. But it wasn’t just sex, or the anticipation of it, or the fact that she wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anyone else in her limited experience. He was sweet and funny and genuinely cared about the people he’d adopted into his family—whether that was by blood, like Brayden or by friendship, like Mandy.
“I’m really into him,” Angie said. “It’s going to be a serious problem.”
Kels frowned. “Why?”
“Because I barely know him.”
“So, get to know him.”
Angie sighed. “That’s just the thing. I’m normally so nervous to get to know people, all awkward and weird—case in point, drinks with your friends—”
“You know they’re already your friends, too, right? We’re like the mafia, once you’re in, there’s no getting out,” Kelsey teased. “But seriously, I like you and they liked hanging out with you, too, so now you’re stuck with us.”
Angie’s heart went warm and fuzzy. “I liked hanging out with them and you, too,” she said, a self-deprecating smile twisting her lips. “After I spent the first half making it really fucking weird.”
Kels snorted. “You weren’t that bad,” she said. “And I wasn’t going to let that giant brain of yours get in the way of fun.”
Angie rolled her eyes. “Your brain is bigger than mine.”
“Is this how women do penis comparisons?” Kelsey tilted her head to the side, tapping a finger to her chin. “Your brain is bigger. No, yours is.”
“Maybe.” Angie chuckled. “Except for the fact that I don’t think any man would willingly tell another man his penis was smaller.”
Kelsey started giggling. “You’re right.”
“I’ve got ten inches, you’re twelve,” Angie said, deepening her voice and waving an arm in front of her pelvis. “You’re bigger. You win, said no man ever.”
“Twelve? Damn, girl.” Kelsey’s giggles continued, and this time Angie joined in.
“I have high standards,” Angie joked.
That was it. They both started cackling, bending at the waist and not even attempting to pretend they were focused on something work-related. The elevator dinged while they were still in that state, and Jordan walked by her desk, pausing for a second before shaking his head. “Nope, I don’t think I’m going to ask.”
“Probably for the best,” Kelsey told him.
He nodded and they watched him walk away, disappearing into Heather’s office.
Angie turned to Kels. “Poor guy,” she said.
“He’ll survive,” Kelsey replied then bumped her shoulder. “And that was a legit joke, girlfriend. A legit-non-awkward, dirty-minded joke. “When you forget about being in your head, you’re . . .”
“Normal?”
Kelsey huffed. “Who says there’s a normal? My point is that when you’re not overthinking everything the world gets to see the real you.” She bumped Angie’s shoulder again. “And the real you is pretty damned great.”
Angie felt her eyes burn. “Kelsey,” she exclaimed. “That’s not fair!”
“What? Emotions?”
“Yes. Emotions.” Angie sucked in a breath, released it slowly. “But seriously, thank you for pulling me out of my shell. I know I don’t know you super well, yet, but I feel like we’ve been friends for a lot longer.”
“You complete me.” Kelsey drew a heart in the air. “So Max?”
Angie’s heart fluttered. “He means something.”
“I know. I can see it in your eyes,” Kels told her. “They soften when you say his name.”
“Damn. There goes my poker face.”
Kelsey touched her arm. “I think you deserve someone who makes you feel that way, someone who makes you smile.”
“You’re sweet.”
“I’m also extremely annoying.”
Angie shrugged. “That’s a given.”
“Hey!” They both laughed again as Kelsey pushed up off the desk. “I guess we should get some actual work done, huh?”
“Probably.”
“I don’t want to,” Kels whined.
“I know.” Angie sighed. “And I didn’t even tell you what happened between the end of the game and our make-out session in front of my apartment building.”
“Oh, my God. He kissed you!”
“Dude. My tonsils are thoroughly checked.”
“Was it as amazing as I’ve imagined?”
“What do you think?”
Kelsey grinned. “That I’m really fucking jealous right now.”
“You should be.”
Angie laughed at the outraged noise that came out of Kels’ mouth. “Drinks tonight. Bobby’s. You’re going to tell me every last detail.”
“I have a date with Max tonight.”
“Ugh.” Kels shook a fist at the ceiling. “I’m so not good at delayed gratification. Fine. Saturday night. And I’m calling in the girls.”
Angie smiled. “I’d like that.”
“And you’re going on the group chat.”
“Heaven help me.”
Kelsey snorted, turned to leave.
“Wait,” Angie blurted. “What should I wear tonight?”
“Do you want it to just be a date?” She lifted her hands, as though weighing options. “Or do you want the fucking-you-six-ways-to-Sunday version?”
Angie bit her lip, heart pounding.
What did she want? To play it safe or to dive in headfirst and see where things laid? And that aside, she wasn’t even sure she could sleep with someone this soon. What if she froze up? Plus, she wasn’t the type of girl to—
No.
No more weighing all the pros and cons, worrying over every possible outcome.
This came down to something much simpler. This came down to how she felt in her gut, her heart.
Did she want Max?
Yes.
Did she trust him?
Her heart skipped a beat because . . . yes, she did.
And, for once in her life, she didn’t want to let fear hold her back. She wanted to jump in feet first with a man who was nice and sexy and liked her for herself—nerdy, awkward, and occasionally a pain in the butt.
She wanted to shirk the anxiety that had held her back for so long and just feel.
She wanted to live.
And so, she turned to Kelsey, lifted her chin, and said, “I want the six-ways-to-Sunday option.”
Kelsey’s smile widened. “I know just the dress.”