sex addict and somehow meets this twenty-five-year-old virgin that she falls in love with? How is that even possible?”
“It’s fiction,” I seethe. “Anything is possible, Mr. Cooper.”
“Yeah, but give your readers some credit, Malone. A twenty-five-year-old virgin?”
“He was raised by a religious group that believed sex before marriage was a sin. His character moves to the big city and he runs into this woman at his local grocery store. How is that unbelievable? And I’m fairly certain that the last time you checked, you were missing a vagina and therefore have no clue what women want.”
“Quite snappy this morning, Malone. Something keep you up?”
I am ready to pounce on him when Mr. Sadler pops back in and asks me to resume. I do so, without looking at the Jerk, and by the end, Mr. Sadler is pleased and asks to see a final presentation by the end of the month.
He leaves the room and I pack up my materials in silence.
“Perhaps the next time, you prepare in advance. Doesn’t hurt to plan ahead,” he tells me. “You should try it sometime.”
“Perhaps next time, you stop being an ass and tell me in advance that I need to prepare a presentation. I do not appreciate being told late at night—some of us use the night hours to sleep, not whore it around the city.”
“You can sleep when you’re dead, Malone. I had you pegged for being a little bit more adventurous.”
I almost drop my items in a blind rage. “You don’t know me,” I grit through my teeth. “So whatever game you’re playing, leave me the hell alone. You’ve got your toys to play with. In fact, she is probably waiting for you now.”
Leaning against the wall, he crosses his arms as his lips turn upwards, forming an annoying smile with a hidden agenda. “Ouch! Jealousy is an ugly trait on you.”
“Jealousy?” I laugh. “I know what it’s like to be with a real man so don’t for a second think you’re worth my time.”
“So tell me then, Presley, if you know what it’s like to be with a real man, why did you break it off with him?”
He catches me off guard. “Excuse me? How did you know I broke it off?”
“Office gossip. Helps that I’m sleeping with her.”
I am at a loss for words; the subject of Jason and I no longer being together is still very raw, especially in my current state of mind with lack of sleep and morning coffee. It overwhelms me.
He isn’t worth a single second more, so I walk past him.
Ignorance is bliss.
For the rest of the day he is smart enough to avoid me. It doesn’t stop him from canoodling with Dee, and because I am exhausted, my hearing is impaired and I accidentally find myself asleep for a few minutes at my desk.
“Pres…Presley.” A hand shakes my shoulder. Dazed, I focus in on Vicky’s face.
“Did I fall asleep?” I mumble.
Vicky laughs, handing me a cup of coffee. “Uh yeah. Rough night?”
“Yeah.”
“You know what you need? A girls’ night out. Drinks, dancing, and just some good clean fun.”
“Clean fun?”
“Well I could have said dirty fun but one step at a time, honey.”
“Thanks Vicky, but I just want to head home and—”
“And what? Wallow in self-pity and cry yourself to sleep?”
“No,” I lie. “I’m exhausted. Maybe next weekend?”
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Okay, next weekend, but call me if you change your mind.”
With only an hour left, I speed-read through some work, and the second it turns five I’m packed up and ready to go home. It has been a long time since I have felt so drained, and boy does it take me back to my early twenties when I would party all night.
I enter the already-cramped elevator and squish myself into the wall. Just when I think we’ve maxed the people in it, another body mashes against mine. I look up to be met by the Jerk’s reflection. Ignoring him wouldn’t be difficult, but the more people enter the elevator, the more appropriate he feels it is to practically rub his body against