His teeth flashed as he smiled. “I know.”
Of course he did. “Right. Well. My boss is big on punctuality. Bright and early, and all that.”
“Is he? Sounds like a hardass.”
“You have no idea,” I said honestly.
Jeremy chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint your boss, then.”
“No,” I said quietly. “I wouldn’t want to do that.”
He looked down at me for a moment longer before shaking his head. “I’ll probably head on home after I get done with the photos. Do you want me to tell the others you’re out here?”
“If you could.”
“Yeah.” He stepped back, and I found the strength to breathe. “Just… thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being here. For me. It means a lot.”
“What are friends for?”
He nodded, and something crossed his face that was gone before I could figure it out. “Yeah. Friends.” And then he did the damnedest thing. He reached out and touched the side of my head. “I like the hair. Looks good on you.” He looked at me for a moment longer before heading for the door.
I should have been relieved.
I was disappointed instead.
He stopped with a hand on the doorknob. “As a friend, can I tell you something?”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Go for it.”
“The leather suits you like you wouldn’t believe. But you don’t have to do that for me. I like you just the way you are.”
And then he was gone, leaving me to gape after him.
It took me a full minute to finally say, “What in the fucking fuck.”
Chapter 10: Men and Their Meat
COREY: WE HAVE TO HAVE A BARBECUE NEXT SATURDAY
MadMatty: WHAT? WHY? WHAT HAPPENED?
NanaBanana: lmao! brb!!!
LarryBerry: I thought we talked about caps
MadMatty: WE DID. WHY A BBQ?
Corey: SOMETHING HAPPENED. I DON’T KNOW WHAT.
PaulyShore: This is not a Monday morning conversation.
SoVainDarrenMayne: Why am I in this thread?
IDreamOfVince: Paul >_< u kno wut dat is