Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Holy shit, you have to tell us all about him,” Jasmine demands, sliding her chair closer. “I lost mine in the back of my mom’s Camry to a guy who wanted to start a band. It was so awkward and terrible. You marched out of there with a guy who looked like he owned half of downtown Manhattan. It must have been better than that!”
Taylor and I both laugh. I can already feel myself starting to get excited–just by the idea of discussing Marlon with them–and as I dig into the memories of last night, my heartbeat starts to speed up.
“Okay. But I hope you guys are ready for a crazy story.”
I go over everything with them, sparing no detail–from the way we spoke at the bar, the first rule he laid out, to his incredible car and chauffer, to his unbelievable penthouse. I even go into detail with how he took me, and watch as both of their eyes widen as I lay out every explicit bit of information from how incredible how body looked to the unbelievable dominance with which he took me.
And then I tell them about how the incredible evening came to a crashing halt with the most unbelievably awkward ending, and the second rule Marlon laid on me if we were going to continue our relationship.
When I finish, the both of them just stare at me like neither of them can believe any of it.
“Wow, not the most gentlemanly of gentleman,” Taylor finally remarks.
Jasmine frowns and leans forward.
“And he gave you his card?”
“Yup.”
“Lemmie see.”
I reach into my purse and pull it out so they can both see.
Taylor nods slowly. “This totally feels like that scene in American Psycho where they’re all sitting around showing off their business cards.”
“Oh my God, shut up!” I laugh, snatching it back.
“So are you going to do it?” he asks. “Keep fucking him, I mean.”
I realize that up until this moment, I hadn’t even thought about it. I hadn’t even had time.
But then when I think about last night, and just how incredible Marlon was in bed, and how mind-blown I was after he had his way with me, I realize there’s only one answer.
“Yes. I am.”
Jasmine shakes her head. “Bad idea.”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“You’ll never be able to pull it off,” she says.
“What are you talking about? Pull what off?”
“A friends-with-benefits thing with this mysterious guy who won’t let you in who won’t let you ask questions?” She shakes her head again and glances at Taylor, who does the same. “You’ve never even had a real boyfriend before, Rain. You’ll get too attached and fuck the whole thing up.”
“Oh come on!” I blurt out. “That’s not fair!”
“She’s right, Rain,” Taylor interjects. “You won’t be able to let it go. You like little mysteries, and this guy’s one big mystery. And you’re gonna try to figure him out.”
I lean back in my chair and sigh.
A minute ago, I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do with Marlon–whether I would take him up on his offer or not–and now I feel as though I have something to prove. It’s like I have to follow through with his offer, or I’m showing weakness or something. Like I’m a not capable of keeping up with him.
“But why do you think he’s so secretive about his life?” I ask. “And what’s that little necklace he was holding?”
Both Jasmine and Taylor sigh nearly in unison and start to laugh.
“See?” Taylor says to Jasmine. “She’s doing it already!”
“Yup, she is!”
“Doing what!?” I cry out.
“Trying to figure him out!” Jasmine cackles.
“Oh, shut up!” I protest.
Jasmine leans in and takes my hand, caringly, like a mother would do with her daughter.
“Listen, Rain. I’m being serious now. You’re not a hookup kind of girl.”
“Maybe I am. Maybe I could be…” I reply half-heartedly. But she’s right. I’m not. I never have been.
“You’re a long-term girl. A relationship girl. Remember when you adopted that dog from the shelter that ended up dying of cancer?”
A sting hits me in the chest as thoughts of Rufus, my golden retriever, come flashing back to me.
All I can do is nod.
“You were sick about him for weeks, sweetie. And when you fall for this guy, when you get too attached and mess up your arrangement by breaking the rules you two have laid out, and he cuts you off, what do you think is going to happen?”
I shake my head and pull my hand away from hers.
“Don’t be silly, Jasmine. Marlon isn’t a dog.”
Jasmine looks at me and does that thing she can do where she raises only one eyebrow.
“Are you sure?”
4
MARLON
Not a cloud in the sky.
I should be out enjoying the weather, but not today. Today there’s business to be conducted.
I stand in front of the tall window in my office that looks out over the yard and watch the machinery–tons and tons of various metals being picked up and separated so that they can be smelted down and sold off to be reused later.