Freeform Read Free Page B

Maybe that's why Fate isn't pushing me to leave so quickly. Maybe for once, it'll let my greatest unfinished piece actually find peace.

June
     
    I pedal faster on the stationary bike in hopes of burning away any lingering sexual tension.
     
    Did you see him yesterday? No. I mean did you really see him? Tanned, toned, and basically one audition away from a role on Baywatch. I didn't even know they made men that tanned. What'd he do? Tan on the goddamn sun? Oh! And did you see his smile? The way it tugs a little higher to the left...I swear it alone would be worth losing my job over. Wait. No. I didn't mean that. I couldn't mean that. Nothing is worth losing my income over. I have rent to pay. Bills to pay. Groceries to buy. Student loans to hopefully stop drowning in.  I have too many things to check off for a smile to be the reason I'm out on my ass. But...if I'm being honest with you, and only you , I've never seen a smile that makes me wanna spread my legs like my ankles are allergic to each other.
     
    The irritation over the situation moves my feet faster.
     
    Eight weeks of gawking and staring and drooling over the astonishing artistic anomaly isn't going to go well. I just know it. There's this ache in my chest as if trying to announce there are life altering consequences lingering in the background.  Maybe there's some sort of pill I can take to at least dial back whatever it is he's naturally doing to my hormones. Any suggestions? Seriously, I will take anything necessary not to let my unused lady parts ruin the highest paid job I've ever had.
     
    “You okay?”
     
    The voice startles me out of my thoughts and my right foot slips off the pedal. It continues winding around knocking into my shin. “Ou...”
     
    She giggles and sheepishly apologizes, “Sorry.”
     
    “It's okay, Jaye. You know I'm clumsy.”
     
    She climbs onto the bike beside mine and begins to pedal slowly, pushing buttons then  asks. “Probably didn't help that I scared you?”
     
    Probably not.
     
    “Just thought you heard me the first time.”
     
    I offer a smile. “Sorry. I was...lost in my own head.”
     
    Well, I was talking to you, but we're not gonna tell her that. We don't want her thinking we're crazy.
     
    “Work bothering you again?”
     
    “You could say that,” I mumble.
     
    “What's that crazy boss of yours got you doing this time? Nothing with baby goats again, right?”
     
    Long story, but let's just say they're not city animals and definitely not rooftop fans.
     
    “No. She's got me watching her nephew for the next couple of months.”
     
    “That doesn't sound so terrible. Unless you hate kids.”
     
    “Which I don't.”
     
    Her flawless face, lights up. “I love kids...I think I want Archer and I have to have a dozen someday.”
     
    That's a lot of kids. They're not one of those things that really are cheaper by the dozen. I hope she knows that.
     
    After gently patting my face dry, I sigh, “The problem is he's not a kid. He's a twenty-six year old tatted Greek God that I'm pretty sure even Zeus would be tempted to give Olympus over to based on his smile alone.” She begins to giggle and the rest of the words fly out of my mouth without waiting for me to give them more thought, “I don't know what I'm gonna do. One look at him and my brain turns to mush. Speaking in a way that makes sense is now a miracle. My brain basically goes back primal, lost in the jungle for too long, mouth click noises are now the only form of communication you know, kind of instinct. It's ridiculous.”
     
    She breaks out into more laughter this time hiding it behind her coffee colored hand.
     
    I don't have many friends outside of Jaye Jenkins and we haven't even been friends that long. I don't exactly have time to go searching out new people to hang out with. My time off is so sporadic it makes doing just about anything personal impossible. Not that there's anything personal I really wanna do anyway. I don't