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Tommy blushes at this, and I know I’ve had this particular nail on the head. He was feeling me out for sharing more of my space with me, though I don’t know what specifically he’s thinking — long-term or short-term. Whichever it was or is in the end, I don’t blame him. I’d want to get away from his dad too if I were unfortunate enough to have to live with him, let alone be related to him.
“I’m open to discussing new arrangements,” I say. “Just like I’m open to discussing what you want to do for late-night dinner since we slept through a good portion of the fine-dining circuit around here.”
“There’s a late-night burger place,” he says.
“One on just about every corner in Manhattan,” I say, snuggling into his belly and chest. “But sure. I don’t mind. Burgers sound really good after our exercise.”
“Then I’ll go out and get them for us if you lend me your keys,” says Tommy, beginning to wash off the bubbles and suds, though he doesn’t go to get out yet.
“They don’t deliver?”
I must sound more disappointed than I meant to because Tommy frowns. “Well, I don’t know. They might. I’d have to check. Or use a third-party delivery service. But I can do that, if that’s what you want, pet.”
Now it’s my turn to frown. “Sorry.” I look down. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m feeling really clingy right now.”
Tommy wraps his arms around me, kissing me on the neck. “Cling away, pet. You can be needy with me too, you know. You can be demanding if you want. I won’t love you any less.” With this, he gives me a tornado of kisses again. “You deserve to be a little that way, after being emotionally and physically abandoned by your so-called partner of over a year.” Around these words, he sounds downright pissed. He shifts to get up in the next second. “If you want me to stay in, I’ll find a way to stay in and get us food.”
He picks me up in his arms and carries me out of the tub then wraps me up in a towel before I can even get the slightest bit chilly. “And I’m going to be paying for that if I pay for nothing more tonight.”
I have no objections to this. Whatever he does, however, he makes it work, I’ll be happy with. So long as he gets to stay in bed, and the burgers come to us.
Chapter Fifty
Tommy
True to my word, I get us the food we need eventually. It takes some unconventional means (calling on a third-party delivery service and paying the premium at this time of night), but I get it done. At just before midnight, our bag of burgers and fries arrive.
I also took the liberty of getting us some desserts: pies and ice cream. Before paying for the food via my debit card, I look to make sure that my paycheck for the week has finally come into the bank. It finally cleared, as of this last afternoon — shortly after our shopping trip, actually. Something I think is odd but in no way coincidental. How could it be? Vanacore may be in control of a lot of things around the office, but she’s not in control of what does or doesn’t happen at the bank.
That detail doesn’t matter to me in the end, though. All I care about is the fact that the paycheck is just as big and fat as it should be for all the extra “work” I’ve been putting in for Vanacore, the way she likes it when she likes it.
Something I’m going to have to keep up and escalate as of Monday morning when I go back into the office, I think, putting away my phone and carrying the bag of food and holder of drinks into the master bedroom, where Melissa is waiting patiently and eagerly for me.
Setting the food and the drink holder on the nearby nightstand, I undress and get into bed. From there, I start unpacking the food and doling it out like a fast-food Santa Claus. Handing Melissa her burger and fries.
I know Monday’s going to come too soon. Even with tomorrow available for us to spend together, I have to make my plans and solidify them. So I know how I’m going to make every motion and pick up every bit of evidence, before doing what I need to do to take Vanacore down.
I’m going to have to give Vanacore what she’s been looking for this whole time. I’m going to have to get down on my knees for her. If she’s the kind of woman I think she is, she is going to start pushing me for that even more on Monday. In the last few weeks, I’ve gotten away with teasing and titillating her, but that’s not going to satisfy for much longer. I unwrapped one of my three burgers and bite into it, halfheartedly savoring the flavor of spicy, smoked beef. I’m going to have to make sure to bring it up before she does. Especially if I’m planning to record it so that she doesn’t smell the rat in her midst.
