Holy fucking shit.
“Are you asking for a second date, Lauren?”
For a moment, all I could do was nod helplessly. Then I swallowed hard, and regained some control.
“Yes,” I said, gripping the phone again. “I am.”
Silence. Dead silence.
“Is that… something you guys actually do?” I asked.
“Sometimes,” Corey answered.
More silence. More nothingness.
“Okayyy… I laughed. Annnnd?”
“We’ve had second dates before,” Corey went on, “but only a handful. And only with women we really had a good time with,” he added.
I started pacing again. Even faster than before.
“So I am—”
“Yes Lauren,” Corey chuckled warmly. “You definitely fall into that category.”
I sipped my wine again, this time with a little more confidence. “I should lead that fucking category,” I said proudly.
Corey’s chuckle turned into a laugh. “Well I can only speak for myself, but I’m thinking you might.”
I felt emboldened by a swell of pride. This wasn’t so bad. Maybe I knew what I was doing, after all.
“We have two little problems though,” said Corey, matter-of-factly.
Disappointment edged its way in, threatening my otherwise perfect evening. “Alright,” I said. “Let’s hear them.”
“Well for one, we’re not available tonight,” said Corey.
My heart sank all the way down to my feet.
Not available.
I pictured the two of them, out with another woman. Charming her. Laughing with her. Claiming her together, the way they had me…
“We have work tonight,” Corey said, and a wave of relief crashed over me. “In fact, Brody’s already in the shower.”
“Sh—Shower?” My brows knit together. “You guys live together too?”
“Yes, we share an apartment on the west side of town,” said Corey. He paused for a few seconds. “We share a lot of things,” he added smoothly. “As you already know.”
“Oh, I know,” I laughed flirtatiously, still relieved that I wasn’t being blown off for some other woman. Not that it was any of my business to begin with. “So what’s the second problem?”
I could feel a shift at the other end of the phone. Corey’s voice was a little lower, a little throatier when he spoke next.
“Well, the first date is always about the woman,” he said. “We fulfill fantasies, take care of needs. Like with you, for instance.”
My pulse was racing again, just thinking about the way they’d taken care of me last night. Even so, still I didn’t see what he was driving at.
“But the second date…”