Never Say Never Read Free Page B

offend you?”
    “Absolutely not.” I laughed again. “I’m just not used to hearing women say things like that.” Straight women, that is .
    She wrapped her hands around her mug and stared into it, her bottom lip tugged down at one corner. “Why does he have to act like that?” she asked. “I hate it when shit like that happens. He is so full of himself that he can’t believe every woman doesn’t want him.” She lifted her eyes to mine. “He’s the jerk. Then when I set him straight, I get the reputation for being a ball-buster.”
    “A ball-buster? You?” I was surprised at first, but then I thought about it. I didn’t really pay much attention to office gossip, but I began to recall hearing about several guys that Sara had turned down. A cold bitch. That was the phrase they’d used.
    She was nodding, her eyes a little wider than usual, a little sad.
    “Who cares what they think?” I didn’t have the slightest idea how to cheer her up. “Fuck Kenny. He was being a jerk. Even Frank thought so.”
    She tried to laugh and change the subject, but a few moments later she decided to turn in and left rather abruptly. With a heavy sigh, a heavy heart, and a slightly groggy mind, I found myself ambling down the deserted hallway to the elevators. I managed to find my room and was just pulling my sweater off over my head when there was a knock on the door.
    I froze instantly, suddenly certain that Kenny was up to no good. I peered through the peephole and looked squarely into Sara’s eye.
    With a laugh, I swung open the door and stepped right into a snowball that splattered cleanly across my face. I was blustering, speechless as I wiped the snow from my face. A screech of laughter and dashing sneakers were careening down the hall, and I wasted no time in hot pursuit. I chased Sara down one corridor and up the next, both of us slowed by our own giggling. She would have gotten away had the elevators cooperated. But I caught up with her and had her cornered. She slipped to the floor, laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her cheeks.
    “Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha!” she giggled. She lifted her arms as if to fend me off. I reached down to grab her. Grab her? To do what? I caught myself and pulled back, realizing suddenly that I was about to make a terrible mistake. Oh great , I thought, what am I going to do now that I’ve caught her? Tackle her? Tickle her? Kiss her? I sobered instantly and squatted down instead.
    “It’s okay, you’re safe this time,” I assured her with a smile as her giggles subsided. “I’ll just wait until you aren’t expecting anything, and then you’ll get your payback.”
    “That was fun,” she smiled, then took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “I’m pooped.”
    “Me too.” I smiled back as the elevator doors slid open.
    “You’re lucky that elevator is empty. I’d like to see you explain your way out of this one.”
    She looked down at herself, sprawled on the floor in the hallway of a Marriott hotel. “I guess this isn’t very dignified, huh?” She wrinkled her nose and held out a hand. “Help me up.” I stood up and carefully tugged her to her feet. “Don’t forget, when you least expect it . . .” I taunted.

    “I can hardly wait.” She grinned and stepped into the waiting elevator.
    I stood back and watched the doors slide shut. “Wait!” I shouted. The doors magically opened again. “Yes?” She smiled sweetly.
    I stepped closer, nearly leaning into the elevator, aid lowered my voice. “Just what did you say to Kenny back there.” She grinned, her tongue doing that tuck and dip thing that I liked so much. “I told him,” she drew out the words slowly, “that he could take the pool stick that he was fondling so provocatively and shove it right up his ass.”
    I threw my head back and laughed loudly.
    “And they say I’m a ball-buster,” she shrugged sarcastically, her tone incredulous. “Can you imagine?” She let the doors slide shut