Misadventures with a Manny Read online

  “Yeah. I can’t be seen with you guys.”

  That makes me laugh as I shake my head. “We’ll talk later,” I say, kissing his head. When I go to reach for my purse, Lincoln is holding it, along with a peanut butter bagel.

  “I’ll carry this out for you.”

  My lips curve. “How nice. Thank you.”

  Together, we walk out, and when he shuts the door, I glare at the sidewalk. “Stupid Simon. I hate him.”

  “I know,” Lincoln agrees as we head down the walkway. “I don’t understand his deal.”

  “I don’t either. It’s wrong to put all that on our boys.”

  “It really is, but you can’t say anything.”

  “He’s one lucky asshole for that,” I sneer, throwing my door open. I sit down as he hands me my stuff.

  “Hey, don’t let this ruin your day.”

  “Oh, no,” I say dryly, and he glares. “It’s not like I have anything else to worry about. My oldest wants to date, my youngest is worried his dad will hate him if he likes you, and I have a huge meeting today. Yup, nothing to worry about.” I know he is trying to help, but I feel like his feelings are hurt in a way. I know mine would be. So I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll text you when I get to the office.”

  “You sure?” I nod as he bends down, holding my breakfast sandwich to me. “It’s gonna cost you.”

  I grin before looking to the windows. When I don’t see the kids, I give him a quick kiss.

  “I want more than that.”

  “Well, you’re gonna have to wait.”

  “What if I can’t?”

  I laugh. “The struggle is real.”

  He laughs as I shut the door once he is out of the way. Watching Lincoln as I pull out, I wish I could tell him I am also worried about what is going on with Phillip.

  But he doesn’t need to know that.

  And he sure as hell doesn’t know I’m calling him.

  When my brother-in-law’s voice comes over my speaker, I don’t give him time to say anything before I ask, “So why can’t Lincoln and I date?”

  He pauses, and it’s almost like I can hear him thinking. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  I don’t hesitate. “I do.”

  “Fine.”

  But everything he says is far from fine.

  And I’m not sure how that makes me feel.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Lincoln

  I am dying for her.

  Sitting on Jenny’s couch, I inhale hard as I take in the photo that Vera just texted me. She is wearing the same shirt she left in, but of course, she unbuttoned a few buttons just for me and put a little kitten grin on her face as she looked at the camera. She is stunning, and I’m utterly blown away.

  You won’t take the shirt off, huh?

  LOL! No!

  Come on, I haven’t had you in over a week.

  The boys leave this weekend. You can have me all weekend long.

  I grin, though I know she can’t see me.

  So you still want me?

  What kind of question is that?

  You’ve been a little standoffish.

  Oh? I didn’t realize. I’m sorry. Let me hump you in front of my boys.

  I snort in laughter, which earns me a nasty look from my working sister.

  You know what I mean. Usually you at least flirt with me.

  I’ve done no such thing, but nonetheless, yes, I want you. I’ve just been stressed. You do remember I took my son on his first date. It was painful.

  I laugh out loud, and this time Jenny glares at me. “I’m on the phone!”

  I mouth sorry before looking back at my phone.

  Hardly. He had a great time and got himself a kiss at the end of the night.

  Thank you so much for that reminder. Remind me of this when I’m going down on you this weekend. SO I DON’T!

  I fight back my laughter.

  You wouldn’t hold out on me.

  Maybe not, but still. We’re good, aren’t we?

  I hope so.

  We are.

  Setting my phone down, I can’t help but feel like something is off. It isn’t that I don’t think she digs me anymore. I know she does, but it’s like she’s walking on eggshells, or maybe it’s that she’s not as into me as she was. But we have both been busy as hell this week. I don’t know, maybe it’s just my insecurities, but one thing is for sure—I want to get her in bed. I want to get her naked so we can really talk. The sex is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but talking to her, feeling her against me, that’s what I crave.

  Us. I crave us.

  “Still fucking your boss?”

  I look up to Jenny, popping Lincoln to the second power’s pacifier back into his mouth. I nod. “I am having sex with my girlfriend, yes.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You’re so dumb.”

  “Why is that?”

  She holds my gaze. “Is Phillip still not speaking to you?”

  I look away, shrugging. “No, he isn’t.”

  “So you chose ass over your best friend?”

  “No, I want ass and my best friend, but Phillip is being a jerk.”

  “For good reason. He’s right.”

  I shake my head. “He isn’t. Vera is great.”

  “I don’t doubt that, but she’s older.”

  “She’s only three years older than me.”

  “And she already has kids.”

  “So? Doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It means everything, and you know it.”

  I roll my eyes, tucking my phone into my pocket before picking up Lincoln. “I’m not having this out with you,” I say, going to her and laying him in her lap. “I gotta go get the boys.”

  She just gives me a dry look. “All fun and games until someone gets hurt.”

  I don’t even entertain her as I kiss her head. “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” she sings. “But you should call Phillip.”

  I ignore her as I go out the back door. I know she’s right about Phillip; I miss him, but he is being a baby. If anything, I am more inclined to believe that Vera and I go together great. When we aren’t texting, we’re talking on the phone or sending each other pictures. We are enjoying each other. A lot. And our FaceTime sex is so fucking hot. I thought porn was great, but seeing Vera pleasure herself does nothing but take me back to our first time together.

  I like her. Hell, I may even love her.

  Crazy, I know, but when you know, you know.

  But I find myself dialing Phillip’s number as I head toward my car. I don’t like listening to my sister, but I also don’t like the thought of “choosing ass over my best friend.” It isn’t like that, and I have to make sure he knows that.

  “Hello?” His voice is tight. He doesn’t want to talk to me.

  “Hey, man. What’s up?”

  He hesitates for a second. “Nothing. Just at work.”

  “Oh, well, long time no talk.”

  “Yeah,” he says slowly, and I swear it’s like pulling teeth.

  “So what’s been up?”

  “Nothing. Just getting ready for the baby, hanging with Riana and all.”

  “That’s cool.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Yeah.” I tap the wheel with my thumb. “Listen, dude, I miss you, and I don’t like that we’re fighting.”

  He doesn’t answer right away. “I don’t either, but I stand by what I said.”

  “I understand that, and I don’t blame you, but I don’t want that for Vera. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to be with her. Wholly.”

  He lets out a long breath. “Man, it isn’t that easy. She isn’t ready for that kind of thing.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “Well, no, but I know her—”

  I’m over this “I know her” shit. “Listen, until she tells me otherwise, I’m doing this.”

  “But you’re setting yourself up for failure.”