Playing Along (Awakenings Book 5) by Michele Zurlo

Author:Michele Zurlo [Zurlo, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Lost Goddess Publishing
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15—Stephen

The evening passed in a leisurely manner. I ordered takeout for a late dinner, and we skinny-dipped in the pool. She was playful. She’d splash me and swim away. When I caught her, she’d squeal and squirm out of my grasp, splashing even more. I splashed back, and when she came after me, I snatched her up for liberal bouts of kissing and feeling each other up.

We talked a lot, sharing stories of our childhoods, moments of pride, and worst mistakes. I hedged a bit on that one, and I chose to go with the first deal I’d closed for Galen Enterprises. It had showed quick profits, and then steady losses that more than negated the initial profits.

She laughed. “I meant a personal mistake.” She floated closer and pressed her chest to mine.

I wrapped an arm around her waist, my hand sliding up to cup a breast. “Why don’t you go first? I can’t think of anything big I’ve really fucked up in my personal life.”

Her gaze lifted as she thought. “Hmm. This is harder than I thought it would be. I make tons of small mistakes, like saying things when I probably shouldn’t, but nothing too huge. Unless you count dropping out of college. I often wonder where I’d be if I’d stuck it out and did something with a degree.”

“What did you want to get a degree in?”

She lifted her shoulders. “I was undecided for as long as I could be. Then I spent some time in fashion, history, English, French, anthropology, psychology, and business. I did go to college—different ones—for four years, at which point my parents refused to pay for anything more. That’s when I stopped going. I’d been working at a boutique with Samantha, Mandy, and Cori for a couple of years at that point, but I was tired of it, so I picked up and moved to Mexico to work for a resort.”

I could have listened to her ramble forever, but she stopped abruptly. “What happened in Mexico? How did you get from there to Wisconsin?”

“Look, Stephen, I’ve spent the last eight years bouncing around to different countries and trying out different dead-end jobs. That’s the only reason I would consider not getting a degree at that time to be a mistake. I’ve loved living in different places, meeting all types of people, and trying new things. I don’t regret the choices I’ve made, but I keep thinking that, since I’ve turned thirty, I need to get my life together. Maybe settle down, try to find a job that has a future and benefits and long-term potential.”

The idea she might move on from being my assistant alarmed me. “Working for me has long-term potential, and you get full benefits—health care, vacation and sick days, contribution to your retirement plan.”

She cupped my cheek. “I can’t see being your assistant forever. The day will come when you won’t need me to pick up your laundry or make your tea anymore. I knew when I took the job that it was temporary.

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