Page 27 of Money Shot

“You’re one to talk. You read as much as I do,” I said as I stood.

“I read a lot, that’s a fact. Now don’t leave mad. You still need to talk?” he asked as he stood.

“Ain’t mad,” I said. “Just thinking.”

“You wanting to start fucking this girl? Just between you and me?” he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Fuck I don’t know, kind of.”

“So what you’re really wanting to know is if you can fuck her without fucking up the friendship, right?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. It’s just. Fuck, I don’t know. I’ve never been around a woman as cool as she is. She reads books. Reviews them online and stuff. We meet every Sunday for lunch, and have been for three or four months now. We sit and talk about books, cars, bikes, people, politics…” I paused and shrugged my shoulders before I continued. “Shit, you name it, and we’ve discussed it. God damned woman is drop dead gorgeous, but that ain’t what I like about her. I like it that she’s so down to earth. No fucking drama. No bullshit. No whining, bitching, or acting like a little girl.”

“Believe me, that’ll all change,” he said.

I turned to face him and nodded my head. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Listen, I’ll never shack up with a woman. Every motherfucker in this club knows that. They’re good for one thing and one thing only, and that’s shovin’ ‘em full of dick. That’s it. Beyond that, I don’t have much use for ‘em. But my opinion on women shouldn’t be your opinion on women. There’s sure plenty of men on this earth who are happily married, in solid relationships, or shovin’ the single neighbor gal next door full of cock, and doing it successfully. Does it mean this girl’s for you? Only you can answer that question, Vince. Only you,” he said.

“I think I’ll probably keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens,” I said.

“Sounds like a good move,” he said.

“Devil looks after his own,” I said as I clenched my fist and held it at arm’s length.

He pounded his fist against mine and grinned. “He damned sure does.”

As I walked out of his office and into the shop, I didn’t feel any better about the situation I was in. Axton was right, the only one who knew what was best for me was me, and no one else.

What it came down to was whether or not I was ready to take the risk of being hurt again.

And I didn’t know much, but I knew the answer to that question.

I wasn’t.