In fact, I’d been dicknotized so hard, that list was all it took to punt my rule into the end zone and do a victory dance. It was stupid and irresponsible and I didn’t give a single shit. I wanted to be with him, and I foolishly believed I was safe and strong enough to know my limits.
So I answered him with a kiss full of relief and thanks and absolute pleasure.
When I broke away, he was smiling again.
“Hit me up, Penny.”
“I will,” I said.
And as he left, I reassured myself that I could have fun and keep seeing Bodie with no strings.
I couldn’t even blame him for the fact that I was already falling for him, and I was so naive that I didn’t even realize it.
8
EASY PEASY
Penny
I hit the bed with a thump and a bounce, naked and out of breath and grinning from ear to ear.
The bed jostled as Bodie flopped down next to me, smiling just as wide as I was, looking just as sated as I felt.
It had been four days of nothing but work and Bodie. Somehow I’d found myself at his place every night, plus once during my lunch break. Ramona had moved out, a tear-filled, horrible day that I ended in Bodie’s bed. The void of her moving had been filled by Bodie and his smile and his jock and his big, muscly arms.
He was absolutely perfect.
There were no strings, not a single longing gaze, not one second where I felt the itch to ditch.
It was a goddamn miracle. I’d found the unicorn of men — a smart, snarky, magical sex creature who made me want to stay put for a minute — and I didn’t think I’d been so happy in my whole life. I didn’t feel crazy, and neither did he. It was easy, just like he’d said.
I hadn’t laughed so much in ages. I hadn’t felt so good in ages.
Bodie let me lead under the promise that I wouldn’t wait too long between us seeing each other. As if I could stop. I was addicted. A-dick-ted.
I giggled stupidly to myself at the thought, and he somehow smiled wider, deepening his dimple.
We rolled to face each other at the same time, and I curled into his chest, his arms wrapping around me as our legs scissored.
“You sure are something else,” I mused.
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and into me.
My smile falling as I thought about leaving. “Ugh. I wish I could stay for a while.”
“Well, you can hang here as long as you want.”
I frowned — in part because the thought of staying didn’t bother me at all, which bothered me, and in part because I couldn’t actually stay.
“I’ve got to head back to the shop to film an interview.”
“I thought you weren’t filming until the wedding?”
I snuggled deeper into his chest and smelled him shamelessly. “We aren’t, but we have these interview things we have to do for a recap on what’s been going on since the break. They’re going to film a little for a montage at our dress fittings in a couple days.”
“Is it weird being on TV?”
“Not really. I mean, every once in a while someone will know who I am, which is really strange. Like, they feel like they know you because they watch you on TV, and they know all this stuff about you, but you have zero context for who they are. Mostly I just smile and listen and take the occasional picture with them.”
He laughed again. “You have fans.”
“I do. So strange,” I said with an echoing laugh. “Otherwise though, it’s kind of fun. I like to show people what it’s like in the shop, and our show is different from the other parlor reality shows — we don’t focus too much on our personal lives. Sometimes it’s unavoidable though. Like when Annika and Joel started banging on the sly. They had this huge blowup on film. Like, Joel ripped a camera out of a guy’s hands and threw it across the shop.”
He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “I saw that episode. I bet that wasn’t cheap.”
My mouth popped open. “You watched it?”
He nodded, smiling with his lips together. “I did. Is that weird?”
“Not at all. What’d you think?”
“Well, I binge-watched it in a day, so I guess you could say I liked it all right.”
I chuckled as my cheeks warmed up.
“I liked seeing you work. And I liked your pink hair, too. But I think I like the purple better.” He ran a strand through his fingers.
I sighed, smiling like a fool. But it was gone in a poof when I remembered I had to leave. “What time is it?”
He shifted to look, not letting me go. “Four thirty.”
I groaned. “I’ve really got to go. I’m sorry.”
He laughed, kissing my forehead before he let me go. “What are you sorry for?”
I peeled myself off the bed and moved around the room, putting on my clothes and gathering my things as I spoke. “Bailing so soon. I really do wish I could stay.”
“Penny, you can come over for a quickie anytime you want.”
He was propped up in bed, smiling back at me in a way that made me want to jump right back into bed with him.
In fact, once I was dressed — somehow in my mind, clothes could actually stop us from having sex again — I did climb back in bed to lie on my stomach next to him with a smile on my face and a secret in my hand.
“I got you something,” I said mysteriously.
One of his brows rose with one corner of his lips. “Oh?”
I nodded and extended my hand, opening it to reveal a calculator watch.
He busted out laughing and took it, holding it up for inspection. “Where did you get this?”
“Chinatown. I was there buying hair dye and thought of you.”
“I love it.” He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss me. “What color hair dye did you get? Thinking about switching things up?”
“Oh, I think I’m happy where I’m at for now.” I raised my feet into the air and crossed my ankles behind me. “I’m off tomorrow. Maybe we can see each other?” My eyes trailed over the tattoo on his arm and shoulder, which flickered as he put the watch on.
It capped his shoulder and ended mid-bicep, an octopus drawn to look like a Victorian-era etching, framed by swirling waves in the same style. He had a few other smaller pieces, but this one was my favorite.
“Yeah, I’ll be around.”
I touched his arm, tracing the artwork. “You got these done in LA, I’m guessing?”
“Venice Beach. Do you approve?”
“Mmhmm,” I hummed, admiring it.
“Good. I’d hate to think I got ripped off.”
I chuckled. “Does it mean anything in particular?”
He shifted to look at it. “I’ve always thought octopuses were interesting. They’re the smartest creatures I’ve ever come in contact with. My dad caught one once and put it in our tank at home — he was always bringing home starfish and sea cucumbers and fish to add to the tank. I named him Stephen, and he was an escape artist. I’m pretty sure he was a whiz at game theory too.”
I laughed, and he trailed a finger down my arm. “How about yours?”
“Mostly they have stories, but some are just pretty, like the flowers on my stomach. Ramona, Veronica, and I all have tiny tacos here.” I pointed at the little line drawing of a taco about the size of a dime on the front of my shoulder. “Because what says friendship more than tacos?”