The Delivery by Mara White Read Free Book Online Page B

up of immigrants. My parents don’t have jobs. They did, but they lost them. I pretty much support them both and my grandmother who now needs around the clock care. My younger brother is there, but he’s not—he’s never been that responsible. My family is Russian, but they’re pretty old fashioned. I have a million and one explanations I could give you,” I say, picking at my cuticles.
    “You’re family is Russian, so that’s why you can’t be real with me?”
    “No. And I probably shouldn’t even be sitting here with you on the stairs, but I need to talk about this too. My entire family depends on this income, so I have no choice but to do a good job at it. If we were somewhere else, maybe I could hug you back or get to know you, but here I’m reserved for a very good reason and I guess I just need you to know that.”
    “So if we were somewhere else, you’d give me a chance?”
    “I didn’t say that, Mozey. Or if I did, it’s not what I meant. You are extremely talented and intelligent and charming, and I think you’ll go far. I have absolutely no intention of letting myself or anyone else screw that up for you. I’ll be the last person to stand in the way of your success.”
    “Even if you wanted to.”
    “Even if I want to,” the second I say it I wish I could take it back. I feel like he manipulated the words right out of my mouth—like he stole them without my permission. The look of satisfaction on his face is one of sexual conquest. I have the urge to punch him hard in his sexy, washboard gut and then kiss the satisfaction right off of his smug face.
    But I do neither. This has come way too close to admitting my feelings. After collecting myself from sitting, I dust off my butt, squeeze his shoulder and whisper, “see you on Monday.” Mozey stays on the step, somehow managing to look both riled up and tired as he watches me retreat.
    When I get back to the office Janey and Gunnar have already left, so I pack up what I’ll need over the weekend. I take one last look at my new painting but decide not to analyze it. Who cares if they think I’m prickly? I probably should care, but I’ve got priorities. Like my much more urgent date with a gin and tonic.

Chapter 7
    Z ’s is a dump but a friendly one with cheap drinks, and it’s literally walking distance from the office. We come here almost every week. Maybe if my life were more exciting, I wouldn’t be such a creepster over a hot delinquent kid. Maybe I should try clubbing or hanging out with someone other than my staff. Of course that will end up in the bucket along with ‘maybe I should go on a diet’ or ‘maybe at the library I could meet a nice man,’
    I spot Janey and Gunnar at a table in the back, and it looks as if they’ve lost steam on the future I’d envisioned for them. I order a round of tequila shots, take a deep breath and head on over. Gunnar jumps up when he sees me like he’s thrilled I showed up. I almost wish it were just Janey and me for another lousy, girl’s night out. Now I won’t be getting laid for sure because I’m not sleeping with Gunnar. I hand Janey my keys and tell her to keep them in her purse.
    Janey tips her tequila back, rolls her eyes then gestures to the dance floor. I can see her plan already because I know from prior get-togethers that Gunnar is no dancer. She wants to ditch him. So much for the sleigh ride, red wool scarves and pink cheeks I’d already planned for when his parents invited her back for Christmas. Gunnar declines our invitation and makes his way to the bar. Janey grabs my hands and yanks me out onto the dance floor. The tequila feels like warm syrup spreading over my body, and I let the week’s tension flow out of me and dissolve into the beat of the music.
    “I hate it when guys act like they’re all into you and then enter girl two and they just switch like it’s nothing!”
    “What do you mean? Are you talking about Gunnar?”
    “It’s obvious he likes you, but