21 Days (Time for Love 2)

“Right?” I responded, throwing my arm over my eyes. I needed a minute to catch my breath.

I felt Sasha’s lips meet mine briefly before she said, “I have to get ready for work.”

I barely managed a grunt and must have dozed off, because I woke to her kissing me again, but this time she was fully dressed in one of her killer suits.

“You leaving already?” I asked groggily.

“Yeah, I’ve got an appointment.” I looked at her and noticed her eyes roaming. That’s when I remembered I was naked.

I shot a grin at her and asked, “You sure you can’t be late?”

She brought her eyes up to mine and grinned. “Tempting, but I really do have to get going.” She leaned down for one last kiss, then turned and headed toward the door. She stopped and turned, “Oh, yeah … I’ll be late tonight. I’ve got dinner with my dad.”

At her grimace I got up off of the bed and walked over to her. I ran my hand along her face, stopping to cup her cheek. I looked her in her eyes and said, “Don’t let that asshole get to you. Treat it as if it’s a business dinner. Smile and get through it, and you’ll be fine.”

Sasha nodded once, “Okay. You doing anything tonight?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m meeting Scott and Cal this afternoon, that may turn into dinner or a beer or something, but I should be here when you get back, if you need to unload.”

“Thanks,” she said with a smile, and I leaned over to taste her lips once more before letting her go, chuckling when she squeezed my naked ass and walked off with a wink.

A few hours later I was knocking on Scott’s door after spending the late morning and early afternoon with Brock on a job. It wasn’t often that I saw him at the site, but we were painting the house of one of his friends, so he wanted to be in on the action. I’d left him after the job to come and meet the guys, and he was going to pick up flowers and get ready for his date with Gaby. He’d seemed pretty excited about it, and as I stood waiting for Scott to answer, I wondered how things were going to play out for everyone. It seemed to me that Scott still harbored feelings for Gaby, and Brock was definitely into her, but I had no idea where she stood on either of them.

I was saved from my rambling thoughts when the door opened and I was greeted by Victoria’s scowling face. I gave her my sexiest grin and a wink and said, “Hey, Vicky.”

“It’s Victoria,” she replied haughtily. So I chuckled, just to piss her off even more.

“Is Scott here?” I asked, ignoring her correction.

“Scott, TJ’s here!” Victoria yelled behind her as she walked passed me to leave.

“See ya!” I yelled out, chuckling genuinely when she ignored me and kept walking.

What a bitch.

I walked in and shut the door behind me as Scott and Cal walked out of the kitchen.

“She was in a pleasant mood,” I said with a grin at Cal.

Scott handed me a beer and ran his hand through his hair, “I don’t want to talk about it … Let’s just forget about women for the night and discuss business. That’s at least something I can understand.”

I shot another look at Cal, eyebrow raised, but he just shrugged and sat down on the couch.

“Business?” I asked, a little confused. They’d mentioned wanting to talk for a couple weeks now, but I had no idea what aspect of business they would want to discuss with me. I was a man who worked with my hands, I did not have a head for business. “What type of business?”

Scott indicated that Cal should talk, so I took a swig of my beer and turned to focus on whatever Cal had to say.

“Alright …” Cal clapped his hands together once and grinned as he got ready to talk. “I’ve been talking to Scott for a while about starting a business. A shop. I’ve talked to Brock about how he got started, some pros and cons, that kind of thing, and I’ve talked to Shelly about whether or not I should go for it, or if I should just look for another job like the one we just lost. I’ve written lists, talked to the bank, and have basically thought of nothing else for the last month, and now I’ve decided to do it … I’m going to open a shop.”

I let everything he was saying seep in, but I was surprised, and a little hurt, that this was the first time I’d heard about this. Cal was one of my best friends; hell, we’d worked together for the past six or so years, and it sounded like he’d talked to everyone about it except me. What the fuck.

“Okay,” I said neutrally, pissed as hell, but not wanting to ruin what was obviously an exciting moment for Cal. “Um, have you found a place?”

Scott was watching me closely, and Cal looked somewhat confused by my reaction, but answered, “Yeah. I found a great spot right on the outside of town by the freeway. It’s a prime location, with a little land around it, so it will be perfect for what I have in mind.”

“What’s that?” I asked, trying to be enthused, but my reaction was clouded by hurt. I should’ve been used to being let down by people, but Cal had never let me down before, so the sting was sharp and deep. Did he not trust me? Did he think I would be jealous of his dreams? Or did he think I wasn’t smart enough to be in on the plan?

“Are you okay?” Cal asked puzzled. “I thought you’d be more excited.”