Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“I’m not intimidated,” I say, honestly, “I just don’t want to screw it up. She’s a good person. Really good. Special. And I…”
“You want to treat her right,” Stone finishes. “That’s sweet, Tank.” I’m about to tell him to fuck off, when he hurries to add, “No, seriously, it is. And I agree with you. Stephanie seems like a special person.” He pauses for a moment before adding, “I mean, I’ve only been to a few of her classes, but as far as I can tell, what you see, is what you get with her. She doesn’t seem like the kind of girl who’s going to play games or expect you to read her mind or any of that shit. If you’re dropping the ball, I’m pretty sure she’ll tell you.”
I nod. “I know she will, but I don’t want her to have to, dude. I don’t want to be that guy. I want to be proactive. I just… I don’t even know how often to text or call. I mean, do people who are exclusive still call each other up out of the blue? Or should I text first to make sure she wants to talk? And how far in advance should I make plans? Is three days good? Should I aim for a week? More? And who makes the plans? Do I suggest something, and then ask her if—”
“Okay, okay, I get it now,” Stone cuts in, his head bobbing. “But honestly, dude, I don’t know if there are any hard and fast rules about any of that. I think it depends on the person. I mean, I would consider you a monster if you called me without asking, but Stephanie has more inner peace than I do.”
“A monster?” I challenge, arching a brow.
“Yep,” he says. “Or a sociopath.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Fine. How about just the rudest person who ever lived? Calling without texting first is basically bad touch, dude. Every time my phone rings when I’m not expecting a call, I feel violated. So, don’t violate me. Not unless you’re in imminent danger or just saw my dog run into traffic or something.”
I shake my head, my lips hooking up on one side. “Such a drama queen.”
“Such a normal person, you mean,” he corrects. “Trust me, I’m the normal one here. But like I said, Stephanie is less normal. In a nice way. You should just ask her if it’s okay to let your calling-without-texting freak flag fly with her, how far in advance she likes to make plans, etcetera.”
“Ask her.” I chew the inside of my cheek, mulling that over. “That’s not being lazy and expecting her to do all the work? Like when women get mad about having to give their husbands lists of chores instead of the guys looking around, seeing what needs to be done, and just doing it?”
“No. I don’t think so, anyway.” Stone frowns before adding with a sigh, “But I could be wrong. Dating is fraught these days. Women are confusing. And angry.”
I grunt. “Can’t blame them. A lot of men suck. You should have seen the dickhead Stephanie was dating before. Two sentences out of his mouth, and I was ready to punch him.”
“Well, to be fair, you’re a punchy person,” Stone says, continuing after I concede the point with a tip of my head, “But you’re not wrong. The last girl I was with before I swore off pussy said she didn’t date at all anymore. Like…at all. She just hits it and quits it before the guy can disappoint her. She doesn’t even give men her real name or phone number. On the rare occasion she wants to hook up more than once, she has a burner phone just for dick dialing. Like she’s a drug dealer or something.”
“More like she’s in the witness protection program. With a real number, you can find out way too much about a person. She probably doesn’t want creeps knowing where she lives and works and shit.”
He makes a considering noise. “You’re probably right. I should have thought of that before I gave her shit about it. I was just teasing, but still… Maybe I would have gotten on the dick dial list if I’d thought that through a little more.”
“She told you about the dick dial list, but didn’t put you on it?”
He sighs. “Nope.”
“Sounds like maybe you forgot to take care of her health first,” I quip, unable to resist giving Stone some of his own medicine.
He tosses a piece of rice across the table that I dodge easily. “Fuck you, man. I attended to her health like it was my mission in life. I even ran out and got her coffee at five thirty in the morning because she had an early flight and was dreading getting felt up by airport security without caffeine.”