Free The Big O (The Virgin Diaries) by HJ Bellus Page B

communication.”
    “Yeah, my new one is on the way, but my insurance cut me off.”
    “Too many claims?”
    “Bingo.”
    “Well, just try to be careful, hun.”
    Oh, if I had a dollar for every time he’s told me that, I’d have enough money to buy my first O.
    “Yeah, yeah.”
    “So, what are you up to? Calling me on a Friday night and I don’t hear Scout in the background.”
    “Well, Pops, I’m…”
    I stall because the next few words are so damn foreign to me that I’m not sure that I even know how to begin to process them.
    “Gay? Getting a sex change?”
    “Dad,” I squeal in between giggles. He always knows when a heavy topic is coming.
    “I’m going on a date, Dad.”
    “Very good. Another set up disaster type?”
    “No, remember the other day when I said the blind date went well but was complicated?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, it’s that guy. Oh, Jesus. I mean it’s a guy I met that night.”
    “Very good, Olivia. You must like him if you’re giving it a second chance.”
    “Honestly, Dad, I’m scared.”
    “That’s a good feeling to have dear. I’ll never forget how terrified I was when I flew over to meet your mother.” He pauses and I know it’s because he’s getting choked up. He rarely talks about the whole process of him purchasing a mail order bride.
    “It’s okay, Dad.”
    “No, Olivia, listen to me. I wanted to fly home before I met her. I was sick thinking of all the bad things that could’ve gone wrong, but the second I laid eyes on her she made every single wrong in the world right in my eyes. And all my nerves vanished. I brought your mother home, married her, and then we finished off our fairytale with you.”
    “Ahhh, Dad, now you’re going to make me cry and I’ll tell Scout that you messed up my make-up.”
    “Shit, don’t do that. I’m afraid of that girl.”
    I laugh into the phone, petting the top of Pedro’s head. “I love you Dad, even if I inherited all your awkward genes.”
    “Olivia, you’re the world to me and I want nothing more than for you to find that hopeless and endless love like I did with your mother.”
    A knock at the door distracts me, saving me from a full-blown fit of tears. “He’s here, Pops, I gotta go. I love you so much.”
    “Update tomorrow at the shop.”
    “You got it. Bye.”
    He hangs up the phone in his typical abrupt fashion. The man never says good-bye. Refuses to say the word, claiming why say it when I’m not going anywhere.
    With sweaty palms and all, I take each step to the door with a mixture of excitement and whole lot of nerves. Pedro yaps and barks like his ass is on fire. I scoop up the little hellion before opening the door.
    When I open the door, Oren stands before me like I’ve never seen him before. Loose blue jeans, a tight white V-neck shirt, and a dazzling smile. I do believe he looks even sexier out of uniform. Then my eyes land on the large bouquet of yellow flowers he’s holding.
    “Olivia.” He nods, shooting me a dazzling grin.
    “Hey.” I swat at Pedro, trying to get him to quit growling.
    “I know you don’t date, but,” he holds up the roses, “I had to.”
    My face burns with embarrassment at his gesture and then everything else that happens flows out naturally, like we’ve been an old couple for years.
    “Thank you, Oren.” I bounce up on the tips of my toes, giving him a one-armed hug. Pulling away from him is a different story. He’s wearing new cologne that hypnotizes me into the most sex-inducing trance ever. He smells a tad bit sweeter than his normal masculine musky smell with hints of a woody smell mixed with basil.
    “Hey, killer.” Oren pats the top of Pedro’s head and I realize I’m still hanging off him like a freaking crazy-ass monkey.
    I slowly step away, inhaling deeply, relishing the smell without flat-out sniffing him.
    “This is Pedro,” I say stepping back, letting Oren into my apartment.
    “Seems like quite a vicious guard dog.”
    “He’s all bark