Glass Ceilings Read Online Free Page A

my bed,
I thought but instead said, “She was just learning. Next time.”
    “No, no. A deal’s a deal,” he insisted.
    Angela nodded, amused at Jase’s enthusiasm for enforcing the bet. “He’s right. I shook on it.”
    All three stared at me, waiting for my response. When I couldn’t offer one, Jase said, “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Really? You can’t think of one thing? Can I have your winnings?”
    “Shut up, Jase.” Eve leaned in and rubbed her hands together. “I got it!”
    “Oh no.” Angela sighed heavily, unable to hide her exasperation.
    Eve cut her eyes to her cousin, narrowing them for a beat before continuing. “As your Bucket List Manager, I propose that Nick chooses to be your one-night stand.”
    Angela gawked at Eve, Jase smiled like a fucking fool, and my heart sped up in my chest. How perfect.
    One hot as fuck night with Angela?
    Brilliant.
    I stood quietly, not encouraging Eve’s idea but, more important, not discouraging it, either.
    “Are you crazy?” Angela asked her cousin, the look of panic clear as day on her beautiful face.
    “Why not? He’s exactly your type. He kind of reminds me of that other Nick you like, what’s his name, Bateman?” She tilted her head and widened her eyes before adding, “Although your Nick is cuter.”
    “Oh my God, shut it, Eve. You’re talking nonsense.” I couldn’t help but grin at the exchange between them, and Angela’s reaction to everything Eve said.
    “No, I’m not. It’s better than picking up a stranger who could easily kill you in your sleep. Nick, you aren’t a serial killer, right?”
    “Oh, like he would answer honestly if he were!”
    “Shush, you. This doesn’t pertain to you.”
    Angela’s mouth dropped open in a comical way. I had to stifle a laugh just from the look on her face.
    “I am not a serial killer. I promise,” I offered.
    Jase clapped his hands together once. “Perfect idea, Eve. Beauty and brains, my fiancée is the complete package.”
    Eve smiled victoriously, completely oblivious to Angela’s gawking. When Angela dragged her eyes away from Eve, panic was still evident on her face.
    “Look, we’ll make it official and professional,” Eve continued. “We can draw up a contract of dos and don’ts, to protect both parties involved.”
    Jase nodded his head manically. “Right. There will be rules and guidelines. No dildos, toys, or gadgets of any kind. Orgasm must be achieved naturally, or the other person is disqualified.”
    “This isn’t a game show, Jase.”
    “Eve, you’re so smart. This would make a great game show! My fiancée will be the hostess, and I’ll be the host.
The One-Night Stand,
where contestants will have one hot night to get the other off as many times as they can before they—”
    “Jase!” Angela cut his stupid rant off mid-sentence. “There will be no game show, no contract, no dildos, no one-night stand!”
    Jase leaned into Eve and said, “I thought it was a great idea.”
    I needed to take control of the situation, or Jase would end up with a dart between his eyes at Angela’s hand.
    “Okay, Mugs is going to start charging us rent soon. You guys ready to go?”
    Relief altered Angela’s frown and caused her shoulders to sag slightly. The entire topic of us having sex, whether discussed in jest or not, most definitely had made her uncomfortable. The change in her behavior was very interesting. She was no longer relaxed or natural. She fidgeted, her eyes kept darting my way, and she kept dragging her teeth over her bottom lip.
    As Eve and Jase exchanged numbers, and swapped spit, I walked over to Angela and smiled warmly. “You okay?”
    “Sure, why wouldn’t I be okay?” she snipped before quickly adding, “Um…I’m sorry, Nick. Thanks for offering to drive us home.”
    “Not a problem. Let me grab my coat.”
    —
    The streets of Chicago were deserted. The thick, heavy snow and the holiday had partyers sequestered in their warm, cozy homes, while the four