BEER WITH TERRELL
"Miss Carson, I just want to assure you that T&K Contracting is prepared to do everything in our power to make sure you are provided with top quality work from our--"
"Mr. Sterling," Juliet smiled into the phone. "I'm familiar with your company. I know you wouldn't steer me wrong."
"Absolutely," Gary Sterling agreed. "I just wanted to--you know, make sure we still live up to your expectations..."
Juliet found herself chuckling into the mouthpiece now. "Of course, Gary. Why the phone call all of a sudden? I didn't have plans to cancel our meeting or anything..."
"Well...rumor has it you're looking into another company and I just wanted to make sure you were getting everything you needed from us. And if you aren't, please, just say the word--"
"Another company?" She asked, confused. "What other company? I'm only talking to you right now, you know that."
"Word on the street has it that you're being courted by Reynolds Construction."
"Who? What word on what street? I don't even know who Reynolds Construction is."
"They're, uh, they're competitors of ours..."
"Oh..." Juliet said, suddenly remembering hearing the name recently. "I know who you're talking about. Yeah, they've been blowing up our phones lately, but I just haven't had time to stop and think about it. But not to worry, Gary. So far I'm really liking what I'm seeing of your company's work and I'm looking forward our meeting later this week. I'm still in the works with the realtors to buy the building but once the sale goes through, I'm really excited to jump right on the construction. My hope is that your company will be the one who'll be there until the end."
"That's great news, Miss Carson. Your wish is our command, no questions asked."
"I never doubted you," she smiled.
Moments later, she ended the call and she looked at the time with a smile. As if on cue, the receptionist knocked on her office door and peeked her head around the corner. "Miss Carson, your...uh, lunch date is here..."
Juliet's smile widened. "Thank you. Send him in."
"Hello, beautiful," the deep bass voice greeted her with a smile as her eyes floated up to the tall, dark, and delicious man that walked through her doorway.
Terrell Littlejohn, Juliet had learned, was more or less her male equivalent in regards to relationship habits. Standing at least six feet and five inches, the smooth, chocolate mountain had approached her in the gym over the past weekend and she was immediately attracted to him. If she hadn't had that benefit to attend later that night, she probably would have had him right then and there--and he would have let her.
Oh, the benefit. Her stomach churned at the mere thought of it.
Shoving the memories out of her mind, she stood from her desk as he openly undressed her with his eyes. "I hope you're hungry," he flirted.
"I'm always hungry," she flirted back.
He looked good, standing in her office. It was open, the walls the color of pale sand. Behind her, the windows reached from floor to ceiling, providing a near perfect view of the city, and she loved to spin around in her chair and stare out the window while she took her business calls. Her office was bright, it was spacious, and it was modern. She would miss it when the company relocated.
She rounded her desk to retrieve her coat and Terrell intercepted her before she could make it to the tiny wardrobe on the wall. "Look," his rich voice said as he slid an arm around her waist. "The truth is, I have a, uh, prior engagement to get to, so I don't have a lot of time today."
"Oh. Well, we can reschedule--"
"Juliet," he smiled skeptically. "Let's just be real here, call it what it is. You and I are...very similar people. I think you and I both know that a meal is merely a formality. An unnecessary...formality..."
She eyed him, taking his words as a challenge. She breathed in the strong scent of cologne that radiated from him and she looked up into his dark, brown eyes. "Well. Since we're 'being real' here, did you have any intention of eating with me at all?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Did you?"
She licked her lips as she looked him over, turned on by his honesty. She remembered the mountains of muscle that rippled underneath the tank top he'd worn at the gym earlier that week. "Have a seat," she offered him.
Juliet had no qualms with taking her clothes off in her office and, apparently, Terrell didn't, either. He sat in one of her chairs and unzipped himself, releasing his dick from his pants. "Come here, baby," he smiled at her.
Seconds later, his large hands explored her body and he took her breasts in his mouth, one by one. She rode him hard, wasting no time getting what she wanted out of him, and then it was over almost as fast as it began.
"Fuck, baby," he smiled as he slid his hands up her bare back. "I like a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it."
Juliet smiled flirtatiously, pulling on the collar of his shirt. "I appreciate an honest man." Then she glanced down between them. "A very honest man."
"Mmhmm," he agreed as he watched her climb off of him and put her clothes back on, piece by piece. Standing up, he tucked himself into his pants and adjusted the light blue button-down he was wearing. "So, look, uh...it's my understanding that you're the love 'em and leave 'em type, but...you know, if you ever want to get lunch for real sometime, I'm down."
"Hm," she replied in thought, with no real intention of granting his request. "Maybe."
"I'm serious. I'm not looking for a relationship, I just think we could hang. You know?"
"Hang? I don't...hang..."
"What, you don't have friends?"
"I have friends..."
"Okay..."
"You know what, I'm confused. Who goes on a booty call and then just wants to be friends?"
"Well--I mean, since you like honest men, I gotta tell you...I've had better."
Juliet's jaw dropped at his blatant and brutal audacity. "Excuse me?"
"I realize you're not used to hearing that sort of thing. But sometimes people just don't, you know, mesh like that."
She continued to blink at him in desperation to hear him correctly. "They don't...mesh? Like that? But--you got off..."
"Of course I did, you're a fine piece. Look, sugar, I like you. You're cool. But I'm not chomping at the bit to fuck you again."
"You just..." And then she stopped. He was her. Except male. And black. She'd never been on the other end of the spectrum like that before. For that, she had to respect him. She couldn't be offended by it, not when she knew he'd be able to see right through anything she tried to say or do.
A smile crept across her face. "You know what, Terrell? I like you, too. I think you're the only person I've ever met who actually gets it. I can't be mad at that."
"So...what, you're not mad?"
She thought for a second and then she shook her head. "It's weird. This is the part where I belittle you and I tell you that you're lucky I even considered fucking you and that you should be honored I even allowed you in my presence."
He narrowed his eyes and walked a couple steps toward her. "And then I would tell you you should probably pull the stick out of your ass because one of these days you're gonna spout that mouth off to the wrong person, cause you ain't hot shit like you think you are."
"Oh, believe me," she shook her head at him. "I'm so far past that, I wouldn't even know where to begin."
They stared each other down for a moment before a smile crept across Terrell's mouth, forming the dimples in his cheeks that likely made women swoon, and he started to chuckle with amusement. "Okay. You can hang. You drink beer?"
"Like a sailor."
"Here's my number," he said, fishing a business card out of his pocket. "You and me and a pitcher of beer. Give me a call."
She looked at the card and she smiled. "Terrell Littlejohn," she read aloud. "Events Coordinator, Yankee Stadium. Should have pegged you for a sports guy."
"Caught me. So, look, this has been fun. Hate to run out, got to go. Call me about that beer."
"Sure thing," she said raising his card in the air as he walked out her office door.
She stared after him for a moment and looked back down at the card in her hand. What just happened here? Was this normal? Did people just...do that? 'Well, we fucked, you sucked, let's go drink beer.' Who did that?
Apparently Juliet did. And Terrell Littlejohn. And she was sure they were probably the two craziest people in New York City and that was why she knew she could be fast friends with him.
_______________________________________
Eric sat in the restaurant alone, shamelessly doing what he did best--Googling Juliet Carson. There was nothing new. Nothing he didn't already witness in person three nights earlier. Frustrated at the lack of new news, he shoved his phone back in his pocket and sipped the beer he knew he shouldn't be drinking in the middle of the day like that. He needed it, though. God, he needed it. It was bad enough that he couldn't stop thinking about Juliet in that red gown and the way she ran away from him, but the sudden visit from Gary Sterling was finally starting to produce the pressure he hoped not to feel.
The truth was, he didn't know how far in talks with Carson Innovations that T&K Contracting were. For all Eric knew, all they had to do was sign the dotted line. For all he knew, all the hard work was done. For all he knew, she was already so deeply invested by now that there was no chance in hell that she'd ever change her mind. What he apparently needed was time, and it was not on his side.
Letting out a breath, he turned up his beer again. He looked around the restaurant, glancing at the host stand again, and only barely glancing at the large television screens that displayed the latest sports recaps. He must have glanced longer than he thought because he never saw Terrell approach the table until he heard his voice.
"Sorry I'm late," Terrell said. "Got a little, uh, tied up."
"It's no problem," Eric replied. "Not really in a hurry to get back anyway."
"Oh? Trouble at work?"
"I like my job. Promise I do. But sometimes..."
"Your old man getting to you again?"
"He will be soon. Any day now. I can feel it."
"Tough break," Terrell replied, picking up a menu. "Why don't you get out from under him? Start your own company or something?"
Eric glanced across the table at his best friend and shook his head, giving up on the conversation. The truth was, there were about a dozen reasons why starting his own company wasn't on the horizon for him, but he didn't want to discuss it. Instead, he changed the subject. "Why are you late?"
Terrell didn't look at him. He only shrugged a shoulder. "Had stuff to do. Took a little longer than I thought it would. You know how it is."
Eric narrowed his eyes suspiciously across the table. Terrell was being vague. Terrell Littlejohn didn't do "vague." Especially not with Eric. "No. I don't know how it is. Why don't you tell me?"
"It's really not important."
Terrell had been Eric's closest friend, besides his brother, for several years now. They met when they got into a heated argument over a major football game where they both had money invested in the same pool. Terrell ended up winning it and Eric was too drunk to accept it. Somehow, somewhere, in a beer-induced haze, they'd gotten over their differences and became fast friends by the end of the night. Since then, the thirty-two-year-old giant had saved Eric's ass on several occasions and was his only real voice of reason.
Eric scoffed and sat back in his chair in disbelief. "So, what the fuck? Is it some big secret I'm not supposed to know about or something? Are you doing something illegal?"
"Nah," Terrell said, shaking his head with a smile. "Nothing like that."
"So? Why did I sit here and drink a beer alone when we had plans?"
Finally, Terrell put the menu down and darted his eyes around the room before he lowered his voice. "Because I was getting laid."
A knowing smile crept across Eric's face. He swore, Terrell never ceased to amuse him. "You're such a whore. Who is she?"
"Nobody, man. She's, uh--nobody."
"You must have sunk to some kind of low, then, if this is how you're acting. You ashamed?"
"No. Not...not really..."
They were interrupted when the waitress came around and took their orders. When she collected their menus and walked away, Eric wasn't ready to let the conversation go. He should have felt guilty for it, but he wanted desperately to hear Terrell's story for the sheer fact that it allowed him to momentarily forget about his own stressors.
"You must like her, then."
"She's cool."
Terrell's lack of detail, derailing from his kiss-and-tell norm, suddenly told Eric everything he needed to know. He covered his mouth to stifle the laugh and his eyes glittered with amusement. "Oh my god...you respect her."
"She gets me."
"So she's a whore, too."
Terrell's eyes darted into his with a look that told him he should probably pull back a little with his words. "Or not," Eric swallowed.
"Not," Terrell clarified. Then he smiled. "But she fucks like one, so that makes her okay in my book. Rode me right there in her office. I didn't even break a sweat."
"Wow. You are made for each other. When's the wedding?"
Terrell shook his head. "She wasn't that good. We talked. We probably won't hook up again, but I told her to call me if she wanted to get a beer."
Eric blinked at his best friend, a mix of surprise and confusion coursing through him. "Terrell," he said. "I think your age is finally catching up with you."
"Maybe you should catch up to yours," he shot back.
Eric furrowed his brow at him, opting to ignore the comment. "So she's okay with that?"
"Believe it or not, yeah."
"You think she'll call?"
"Maybe."
Eric nodded as he took his words in. "Hm. Okay. Well. At least you had fun, right?"
"What did you get into over the weekend? Ted said he saw you at the gym, but I think I missed you by a couple of hours."
Now it was Eric's turn to be vague. If he told Terrell that he ended up at the Humane Society benefit, he would want to know why. Eric wasn't ready to discuss his Juliet Carson obsession yet, professional or not. It wasn't that he was ashamed of it--he didn't care what the tabloids said about her, he was choosing to be blissfully ignorant of the rumors. However, he knew deep down that he had absolutely zero chance with a woman like her--and he didn't need his friends chiding him over it.
"Nothing, really. Did some climbing, that was it. Nothing to write home about."
Terrell shook his head. "Man, you gotta start getting out. You can't get laid in random women's offices if you're not putting yourself out there."
Eric's lip curled up in a half smile and he shook his head. "I've never been the 'random woman' type. You know that."
"And that's why you haven't gotten laid in...how long has it been now?"
"I don't think it's necessary to have this discussion--"
"What, so you can interrogate me, but I can't interrogate you? She's gone, man. Moved on. You should, too."
Eric took in a breath and glared across the table as Terrell watched the waitress bring their food to the table. He'd been referring to Eric's ex, Samantha, with whom he'd realized too late that he'd wasted two years of his life. He'd spent several thousand dollars on a ring he ended up returning after he walked in on her with her building's maintenance man the day he planned to propose. The visual had plagued him for months afterward and he was just starting to break free of it when he saw Juliet Carson for the first time.
Eric shook his head as he dashed salt on his fries. "I haven't thought about her in so long..."
"Seriously?" Terrell asked with genuine surprise.
"Had to happen eventually."
"My man," Terrell announced with delight. "Go ahead."
Eric nodded as he dove into his food. He loved food. He loved the flavors, the juices, the spices...the only thing keeping him from gaining obscene amounts of weight was his regular gym routine.
"So I got invited to this party this weekend," Eric said, opening the top of his burger to dump more ketchup on it. "I think I'm gonna go."
"Alone?"
"Travis is going with me."
"Dude," Terrell chuckled. "You can't go to a party alone. Much less with another man--who's your brother. You can kiss your chances of getting laid goodbye if Travis is gonna be there."
"You know what? Maybe that's why I'm not getting laid. Because my inner circle's getting enough to go around."
"Yeah. That's the reason."
"Hey. I'm a hot guy. Women love me."
"And, yet..."
"Good things come to those who wait."
"Waiting too long also causes opportunities to pass you by. Look, do yourself a favor. Go to that party this weekend and get laid. That's your homework assignment."
Eric dove back into his plate to ward off the visuals that immediately came to mind. If Terrell only knew. What Eric wouldn't give to peel Juliet Carson's clothes off of her. To lay her across the bed. To run his tongue along every single curve and crevice on her entire body...
"Climbing," Eric blurted. "When spring comes around, we should do some real rock climbing. I've been doing a little research..."
"Miss Carson, I just want to assure you that T&K Contracting is prepared to do everything in our power to make sure you are provided with top quality work from our--"
"Mr. Sterling," Juliet smiled into the phone. "I'm familiar with your company. I know you wouldn't steer me wrong."
"Absolutely," Gary Sterling agreed. "I just wanted to--you know, make sure we still live up to your expectations..."
Juliet found herself chuckling into the mouthpiece now. "Of course, Gary. Why the phone call all of a sudden? I didn't have plans to cancel our meeting or anything..."
"Well...rumor has it you're looking into another company and I just wanted to make sure you were getting everything you needed from us. And if you aren't, please, just say the word--"
"Another company?" She asked, confused. "What other company? I'm only talking to you right now, you know that."
"Word on the street has it that you're being courted by Reynolds Construction."
"Who? What word on what street? I don't even know who Reynolds Construction is."
"They're, uh, they're competitors of ours..."
"Oh..." Juliet said, suddenly remembering hearing the name recently. "I know who you're talking about. Yeah, they've been blowing up our phones lately, but I just haven't had time to stop and think about it. But not to worry, Gary. So far I'm really liking what I'm seeing of your company's work and I'm looking forward our meeting later this week. I'm still in the works with the realtors to buy the building but once the sale goes through, I'm really excited to jump right on the construction. My hope is that your company will be the one who'll be there until the end."
"That's great news, Miss Carson. Your wish is our command, no questions asked."
"I never doubted you," she smiled.
Moments later, she ended the call and she looked at the time with a smile. As if on cue, the receptionist knocked on her office door and peeked her head around the corner. "Miss Carson, your...uh, lunch date is here..."
Juliet's smile widened. "Thank you. Send him in."
"Hello, beautiful," the deep bass voice greeted her with a smile as her eyes floated up to the tall, dark, and delicious man that walked through her doorway.
Terrell Littlejohn, Juliet had learned, was more or less her male equivalent in regards to relationship habits. Standing at least six feet and five inches, the smooth, chocolate mountain had approached her in the gym over the past weekend and she was immediately attracted to him. If she hadn't had that benefit to attend later that night, she probably would have had him right then and there--and he would have let her.
Oh, the benefit. Her stomach churned at the mere thought of it.
Shoving the memories out of her mind, she stood from her desk as he openly undressed her with his eyes. "I hope you're hungry," he flirted.
"I'm always hungry," she flirted back.
He looked good, standing in her office. It was open, the walls the color of pale sand. Behind her, the windows reached from floor to ceiling, providing a near perfect view of the city, and she loved to spin around in her chair and stare out the window while she took her business calls. Her office was bright, it was spacious, and it was modern. She would miss it when the company relocated.
She rounded her desk to retrieve her coat and Terrell intercepted her before she could make it to the tiny wardrobe on the wall. "Look," his rich voice said as he slid an arm around her waist. "The truth is, I have a, uh, prior engagement to get to, so I don't have a lot of time today."
"Oh. Well, we can reschedule--"
"Juliet," he smiled skeptically. "Let's just be real here, call it what it is. You and I are...very similar people. I think you and I both know that a meal is merely a formality. An unnecessary...formality..."
She eyed him, taking his words as a challenge. She breathed in the strong scent of cologne that radiated from him and she looked up into his dark, brown eyes. "Well. Since we're 'being real' here, did you have any intention of eating with me at all?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Did you?"
She licked her lips as she looked him over, turned on by his honesty. She remembered the mountains of muscle that rippled underneath the tank top he'd worn at the gym earlier that week. "Have a seat," she offered him.
Juliet had no qualms with taking her clothes off in her office and, apparently, Terrell didn't, either. He sat in one of her chairs and unzipped himself, releasing his dick from his pants. "Come here, baby," he smiled at her.
Seconds later, his large hands explored her body and he took her breasts in his mouth, one by one. She rode him hard, wasting no time getting what she wanted out of him, and then it was over almost as fast as it began.
"Fuck, baby," he smiled as he slid his hands up her bare back. "I like a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it."
Juliet smiled flirtatiously, pulling on the collar of his shirt. "I appreciate an honest man." Then she glanced down between them. "A very honest man."
"Mmhmm," he agreed as he watched her climb off of him and put her clothes back on, piece by piece. Standing up, he tucked himself into his pants and adjusted the light blue button-down he was wearing. "So, look, uh...it's my understanding that you're the love 'em and leave 'em type, but...you know, if you ever want to get lunch for real sometime, I'm down."
"Hm," she replied in thought, with no real intention of granting his request. "Maybe."
"I'm serious. I'm not looking for a relationship, I just think we could hang. You know?"
"Hang? I don't...hang..."
"What, you don't have friends?"
"I have friends..."
"Okay..."
"You know what, I'm confused. Who goes on a booty call and then just wants to be friends?"
"Well--I mean, since you like honest men, I gotta tell you...I've had better."
Juliet's jaw dropped at his blatant and brutal audacity. "Excuse me?"
"I realize you're not used to hearing that sort of thing. But sometimes people just don't, you know, mesh like that."
She continued to blink at him in desperation to hear him correctly. "They don't...mesh? Like that? But--you got off..."
"Of course I did, you're a fine piece. Look, sugar, I like you. You're cool. But I'm not chomping at the bit to fuck you again."
"You just..." And then she stopped. He was her. Except male. And black. She'd never been on the other end of the spectrum like that before. For that, she had to respect him. She couldn't be offended by it, not when she knew he'd be able to see right through anything she tried to say or do.
A smile crept across her face. "You know what, Terrell? I like you, too. I think you're the only person I've ever met who actually gets it. I can't be mad at that."
"So...what, you're not mad?"
She thought for a second and then she shook her head. "It's weird. This is the part where I belittle you and I tell you that you're lucky I even considered fucking you and that you should be honored I even allowed you in my presence."
He narrowed his eyes and walked a couple steps toward her. "And then I would tell you you should probably pull the stick out of your ass because one of these days you're gonna spout that mouth off to the wrong person, cause you ain't hot shit like you think you are."
"Oh, believe me," she shook her head at him. "I'm so far past that, I wouldn't even know where to begin."
They stared each other down for a moment before a smile crept across Terrell's mouth, forming the dimples in his cheeks that likely made women swoon, and he started to chuckle with amusement. "Okay. You can hang. You drink beer?"
"Like a sailor."
"Here's my number," he said, fishing a business card out of his pocket. "You and me and a pitcher of beer. Give me a call."
She looked at the card and she smiled. "Terrell Littlejohn," she read aloud. "Events Coordinator, Yankee Stadium. Should have pegged you for a sports guy."
"Caught me. So, look, this has been fun. Hate to run out, got to go. Call me about that beer."
"Sure thing," she said raising his card in the air as he walked out her office door.
She stared after him for a moment and looked back down at the card in her hand. What just happened here? Was this normal? Did people just...do that? 'Well, we fucked, you sucked, let's go drink beer.' Who did that?
Apparently Juliet did. And Terrell Littlejohn. And she was sure they were probably the two craziest people in New York City and that was why she knew she could be fast friends with him.
_______________________________________
Eric sat in the restaurant alone, shamelessly doing what he did best--Googling Juliet Carson. There was nothing new. Nothing he didn't already witness in person three nights earlier. Frustrated at the lack of new news, he shoved his phone back in his pocket and sipped the beer he knew he shouldn't be drinking in the middle of the day like that. He needed it, though. God, he needed it. It was bad enough that he couldn't stop thinking about Juliet in that red gown and the way she ran away from him, but the sudden visit from Gary Sterling was finally starting to produce the pressure he hoped not to feel.
The truth was, he didn't know how far in talks with Carson Innovations that T&K Contracting were. For all Eric knew, all they had to do was sign the dotted line. For all he knew, all the hard work was done. For all he knew, she was already so deeply invested by now that there was no chance in hell that she'd ever change her mind. What he apparently needed was time, and it was not on his side.
Letting out a breath, he turned up his beer again. He looked around the restaurant, glancing at the host stand again, and only barely glancing at the large television screens that displayed the latest sports recaps. He must have glanced longer than he thought because he never saw Terrell approach the table until he heard his voice.
"Sorry I'm late," Terrell said. "Got a little, uh, tied up."
"It's no problem," Eric replied. "Not really in a hurry to get back anyway."
"Oh? Trouble at work?"
"I like my job. Promise I do. But sometimes..."
"Your old man getting to you again?"
"He will be soon. Any day now. I can feel it."
"Tough break," Terrell replied, picking up a menu. "Why don't you get out from under him? Start your own company or something?"
Eric glanced across the table at his best friend and shook his head, giving up on the conversation. The truth was, there were about a dozen reasons why starting his own company wasn't on the horizon for him, but he didn't want to discuss it. Instead, he changed the subject. "Why are you late?"
Terrell didn't look at him. He only shrugged a shoulder. "Had stuff to do. Took a little longer than I thought it would. You know how it is."
Eric narrowed his eyes suspiciously across the table. Terrell was being vague. Terrell Littlejohn didn't do "vague." Especially not with Eric. "No. I don't know how it is. Why don't you tell me?"
"It's really not important."
Terrell had been Eric's closest friend, besides his brother, for several years now. They met when they got into a heated argument over a major football game where they both had money invested in the same pool. Terrell ended up winning it and Eric was too drunk to accept it. Somehow, somewhere, in a beer-induced haze, they'd gotten over their differences and became fast friends by the end of the night. Since then, the thirty-two-year-old giant had saved Eric's ass on several occasions and was his only real voice of reason.
Eric scoffed and sat back in his chair in disbelief. "So, what the fuck? Is it some big secret I'm not supposed to know about or something? Are you doing something illegal?"
"Nah," Terrell said, shaking his head with a smile. "Nothing like that."
"So? Why did I sit here and drink a beer alone when we had plans?"
Finally, Terrell put the menu down and darted his eyes around the room before he lowered his voice. "Because I was getting laid."
A knowing smile crept across Eric's face. He swore, Terrell never ceased to amuse him. "You're such a whore. Who is she?"
"Nobody, man. She's, uh--nobody."
"You must have sunk to some kind of low, then, if this is how you're acting. You ashamed?"
"No. Not...not really..."
They were interrupted when the waitress came around and took their orders. When she collected their menus and walked away, Eric wasn't ready to let the conversation go. He should have felt guilty for it, but he wanted desperately to hear Terrell's story for the sheer fact that it allowed him to momentarily forget about his own stressors.
"You must like her, then."
"She's cool."
Terrell's lack of detail, derailing from his kiss-and-tell norm, suddenly told Eric everything he needed to know. He covered his mouth to stifle the laugh and his eyes glittered with amusement. "Oh my god...you respect her."
"She gets me."
"So she's a whore, too."
Terrell's eyes darted into his with a look that told him he should probably pull back a little with his words. "Or not," Eric swallowed.
"Not," Terrell clarified. Then he smiled. "But she fucks like one, so that makes her okay in my book. Rode me right there in her office. I didn't even break a sweat."
"Wow. You are made for each other. When's the wedding?"
Terrell shook his head. "She wasn't that good. We talked. We probably won't hook up again, but I told her to call me if she wanted to get a beer."
Eric blinked at his best friend, a mix of surprise and confusion coursing through him. "Terrell," he said. "I think your age is finally catching up with you."
"Maybe you should catch up to yours," he shot back.
Eric furrowed his brow at him, opting to ignore the comment. "So she's okay with that?"
"Believe it or not, yeah."
"You think she'll call?"
"Maybe."
Eric nodded as he took his words in. "Hm. Okay. Well. At least you had fun, right?"
"What did you get into over the weekend? Ted said he saw you at the gym, but I think I missed you by a couple of hours."
Now it was Eric's turn to be vague. If he told Terrell that he ended up at the Humane Society benefit, he would want to know why. Eric wasn't ready to discuss his Juliet Carson obsession yet, professional or not. It wasn't that he was ashamed of it--he didn't care what the tabloids said about her, he was choosing to be blissfully ignorant of the rumors. However, he knew deep down that he had absolutely zero chance with a woman like her--and he didn't need his friends chiding him over it.
"Nothing, really. Did some climbing, that was it. Nothing to write home about."
Terrell shook his head. "Man, you gotta start getting out. You can't get laid in random women's offices if you're not putting yourself out there."
Eric's lip curled up in a half smile and he shook his head. "I've never been the 'random woman' type. You know that."
"And that's why you haven't gotten laid in...how long has it been now?"
"I don't think it's necessary to have this discussion--"
"What, so you can interrogate me, but I can't interrogate you? She's gone, man. Moved on. You should, too."
Eric took in a breath and glared across the table as Terrell watched the waitress bring their food to the table. He'd been referring to Eric's ex, Samantha, with whom he'd realized too late that he'd wasted two years of his life. He'd spent several thousand dollars on a ring he ended up returning after he walked in on her with her building's maintenance man the day he planned to propose. The visual had plagued him for months afterward and he was just starting to break free of it when he saw Juliet Carson for the first time.
Eric shook his head as he dashed salt on his fries. "I haven't thought about her in so long..."
"Seriously?" Terrell asked with genuine surprise.
"Had to happen eventually."
"My man," Terrell announced with delight. "Go ahead."
Eric nodded as he dove into his food. He loved food. He loved the flavors, the juices, the spices...the only thing keeping him from gaining obscene amounts of weight was his regular gym routine.
"So I got invited to this party this weekend," Eric said, opening the top of his burger to dump more ketchup on it. "I think I'm gonna go."
"Alone?"
"Travis is going with me."
"Dude," Terrell chuckled. "You can't go to a party alone. Much less with another man--who's your brother. You can kiss your chances of getting laid goodbye if Travis is gonna be there."
"You know what? Maybe that's why I'm not getting laid. Because my inner circle's getting enough to go around."
"Yeah. That's the reason."
"Hey. I'm a hot guy. Women love me."
"And, yet..."
"Good things come to those who wait."
"Waiting too long also causes opportunities to pass you by. Look, do yourself a favor. Go to that party this weekend and get laid. That's your homework assignment."
Eric dove back into his plate to ward off the visuals that immediately came to mind. If Terrell only knew. What Eric wouldn't give to peel Juliet Carson's clothes off of her. To lay her across the bed. To run his tongue along every single curve and crevice on her entire body...
"Climbing," Eric blurted. "When spring comes around, we should do some real rock climbing. I've been doing a little research..."