when I go back to work. I took some vacation days to get settled in my new apartment.” She mutters, looking back through the window.
“I’m sorry your vacation has been so shitty.”
“At least my company’s been good.” She murmurs, taking a sip of her white wine before she folds her arms around herself again.
“If you keep complimenting me, I’m gonna start thinkin’ you give a damn.”
Riva’s eyes whip in my direction quicker than I anticipated, almost exorcist fast. Kinda freaky. “Why do you think I don’t?”
“I was just joking with you, Mouse.”
“I wish you wouldn’t, joke about it . . . I mean.”
I set my beer down on the bedside table and walk over to her. “What’s got you so wound up?” I’d sit on the windowsill across from her, but I’m damn positive my big ol’ body would crack the wood.
She looks up to me for a split second, then chugs the rest of her wine before she speaks. Turning, she throws her legs over the windowsill and stands up. “I don’t take anything you’ve done lightly, like, at all. I . . . I like you, Mammoth. I mean I really like you, and that freaks me out. I won’t even lie about it, but considering you’ve told everyone I’m your girlfriend and all, I kind of am. You know what I mean? It just. It makes me freaked out if this doesn’t work between us . . . because in what lifetime does a girl like me find a man like you?”
“What?” I mutter, in a bit of disbelief myself. Here she stands actin’ like I’m the catch.
“You put my needs above your own. I’m not blind to that. I appreciate it so much, and it makes me care for you. It shows me your character and how beautiful of a heart you have . . . and I just worry that if this doesn’t work out, ‘cause you know I’m the type that totally worries about shit she shouldn’t, like way ahead of the game— obviously.”
“Obviously,” I chuckle, letting her continue her ramble.
“I don’t want to fuck this up.” She finally says, peering up through her thick lashes. Her gray eyes shine from the city lights that shine into our room. I wanna touch her so fuckin’ bad, to show her there isn’t any way she could fuck this up. It’s much more likely I’ll be the one screwin’ shit up, let’s be real.
I take my hand and cup her cheek, running it over her cheek bone and push her hair behind her ear. We stand here caught in each other’s eyes, completely silent. “You don’t need to worry about jack shit, Mouse. Trust me. There’s nothin’ you could ever do to make me feel bad about you, or fuck this up. You’re damn near perfect in my eyes.”
“Says the man who saved me from being raped then killed, put his neck out on the line and got himself an ol’ ball and chain, then called in a favor to a club, then some mafia woman in Philadelphia to save my pappa’s life. Now we’re in Queens, New York and you’re about to do something else . . . Mammoth. Wait. No. What’s your real name?”
“Fredrik, Fredrik Johansson.” I tell her.
Riva smiles, “Fredrik.” She says my name sweetly, smiling through it. “Fredrik, in such a short time you’ve shown me how much I can rely on you. I’m not the kind of woman who believes in love at first sight, but I do believe in there being a pull between two people. The first time I met you I thought you were the hottest Viking man I’d ever laid my eyes on. I had such the hots for you,” Her cheeks begin to flush bright red which causes me to smile. “Sorry. Wow.” Riva fans her face, laughing. “Okay, back to what I was saying. Your heart has shown me so much, not only how I can rely on you but . . . so much about you. I just have one serious question to ask you.”
My heart starts pounding in my chest. “Ask away.”
“Why do they call you Mammoth?” Riva asks.
I chuckle lightly, remove my cut then take off my black hoodie and put them both on the windowsill. Now I stand shirtless in front of her. “Why do you think?”
“I have no idea.” She admits. I want to fuck with her a bit, but I won’t.
“You ready to know why?” I ask, cocking a