“‘Didn’t say a word the entire time. Not one. Just moved me where he wanted me, and I let him because when a man that size puts his hands on you like that, you don’t argue. A-plus. Would ruin my life for a second round.’” Harper looks up from the phone. “There are more.”
“Keep going,” Meadow says, leaning forward.
“‘The captain runs that bedroom the same way he runs his defensive line. Controlled. Precise. Devastating. I didn’t know silence could be that loud. My legs didn’t work for two days.’”
“Jesus Christ,” Vi whispers.
“There’s another one. ‘He doesn’t ask what you want. He already knows. I’ve never felt so seen by a man who literally didn’t speak. Rating: A. Only reason it’s not A-plus is because he didn’t stay for breakfast, and I really wanted him to.’”
The room is silent for approximately three seconds and then erupts.
“The man doesn’t speak?” Kimberly looks like she’s having a spiritual awakening.
“Apparently, he doesn’t need to.” Meadow smirks.
“Who knew the quiet ones had it in them,” Camryn says.
“I wonder if he’s single,” Kimberly muses.
“He keeps to himself. I don’t think he’s dating anyone.” As far as I know, the captain’s personal life is a locked vault. “He lives in this building, actually, on the same floor just down the end of the corridor. But you never see him.”
“The mysterious ones are always the best,” Camryn says knowingly, which earns her a look from every woman in the room.
“Anything you want to share about Nate?” Harper teases.
“Absolutely not.” Camryn grins into her glass.
“I want to read about Fish, he has the reputation for being a player.” Harper smirks at me. “Let me find out if it’s true.” She scrolls, stops, and her mouth falls open. “Oh.”
“Oh? What does oh mean?” Eve asks.
“It means oh.” Harper clears her throat. “‘I thought the confidence was an act. It is not an act. This man talks the entire time, and normally that would annoy me, but when Fish talks dirty, it’s like your brain short-circuits and your body just does whatever he says. A-plus. I’m not the same person I was before that night.’”
“Oh my god,” Kimberly whispers.
“There’s more. So many more.” Harper scrolls. “‘Funny, filthy, and genuinely cares if you finish. Three times. I finished three times. I didn’t even know that was possible for me. He also ordered me a pizza after and walked me to my car. A-plus-plus if that’s a thing.’”
“Pizza after?” Meadow laughs. “That’s actually kind of sweet.”
“Here’s another. ‘The man has the mouth of a devil and the hands of a god. He tells you exactly what he’s going to do to you and then does it better than you imagined. I’m ruined for other men. Truly ruined. I’ve tried to move on. I cannot. Rating: A-plus. Big Fish is not just a nickname.’”
“Oh, Big Fish, I like it.” Harper chuckles. “And you’re just friends with this man?” Harper asks, her eyebrow nearly hitting her hairline.
“Yes. We’re friends. That’s it.”
“Girl.” Vi stares at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.” But the way Vi says nothing means everything.
“Can we please move on to someone else?” I take a large gulp of my wine.
“Oh, what about the Russian guy, Artem Evanoff?” Meadow asks.
“Okay, let’s have a look.” Harper grins. She scrolls for a moment and then goes very still. “Oh. Oh no.”
“What?” Camryn leans in.