Dirty Playboy - Alex Wolf Page 0,16
just want to be there now. I’m tired of fucking waiting around for bullshit. I want to see her face when I tell her to get in the damn car, we’re done messing around. This shit is real and it’s time to get on board.
Yes, I’m aware it’s my fault things are this way. I’ve been weaseling my way into her life for the past seven months or something ridiculous. She’s done telling me no, though. If I thought she meant it, I’d do my best to move on, but I know she feels the same way too. She can’t hide it from me. There’s a connection there that’s real, and it shall be explored.
Finally, I make it through the light and turn left onto her street.
This is it.
My big moment.
If she’s not ready, she better get ready. Rick fucking Lawrence is coming to the door, and he’s leaving with what’s his, goddamn it. I make a mental note to not drop any GDs in front of her. That wouldn’t go over well.
Someone signals to pull out on the road in front of her building, and I smile up at the sky, thanking the parking gods for providing in my time of need.
Once they’re gone, I pull in and parallel, then step out into the street and walk over to the sidewalk. I didn’t overdo it, but I’m dressed nice. I’m not about to wear a suit like the asshole Collins brothers, but I have on my nicest button-down shirt and some designer jeans. It’s a far cry from my usual ratty tee shirts. My hair is slicked back. I look good, someone Mary wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen in public with.
I get all the way to the entrance of her building and freeze in front of it. I stare up at the high-rise, jutting ten stories high into the Chicago sky, and take a deep breath.
She’s yours. Don’t be a pussy.
I glance down and—shit. Motherfucker. I stare at my empty hands and can’t believe this. I don’t have flowers for her. This can’t be happening.
It’s a fucking catastrophe. Who shows up for a first real date without flowers?
You dumb shit.
I stare down at my watch.
It’s 5:50.
My head swivels both ways down the street. I know for a fact there’s a florist who has a street cart in front of a store, one block down. I already got her flowers once today, but those were work flowers, not date flowers. I take another deep breath, glance up at the building, then back down the road. I think I can make it.
I take off in a sprint.
Orchids. Orchids. Always orchids. You need more.
That’s what my brain says on a loop. It’s Mary’s favorite flower and I know she saw them earlier, and she’s getting more. Every orchid in Chicago, I’ll buy them all if I have to, corner the fucking market. I overheard her and Abigail one day, shooting the shit in the paralegal bullpen. It was April of last year, warm day, Mary wore a floor-length khaki skirt and red blouse, hair down.
“They help add calm to the environment and they’re easy to care for.”
That’s what she told Abigail as I eavesdropped, while Abigail made her case for roses. Abigail is wrong. If Mary says orchids are the best, it’s fucking fact.
These assholes better have a truckload of them to choose from or I’ll kill someone.
I slalom around a few people walking home from work and one old lady with her dog on a leash. When I get to the cart, the worker lady is trying to close up early.
“Orchids!” I half yell the word right at her as I bend over panting.
“Excuse me?”
“Need. Orchids.”
She puts her hands on her hips and stares at me. “Sorry.” She nods back to the store front. “Closing up.”
My eyes must turn fiery red because I watch complete panic and fear overtake her face.
I do my best to look non-threatening because she looks like she might call the cops.
“Please? I really need some. It’s an emergency.”
Now, she looks intrigued. “An orchid emergency? At 5:55?”
I hold both hands up. “I have a first date with the love of my life. Might be the only chance I ever get. She loves orchids, and I can’t show up empty-handed.” I manage a sly grin. “You wouldn’t want to be responsible for ruining our fate, and our future children never being born, would you?”
She stares at me for a long second.
“Please, I’ll pay anything. And your sign