Free Wishes in Her Eyes by D.L. Uhlrich Page B

you.”
    “Oh sweetheart, I get tired of them after a while. Plus they wear out so fast. They just don’t make men like they used to.”
    Darry was right. They didn’t make them like they used too. And they certainly don’t make them like Stone. I saw him in his uniform once and got the vapors. I’m a sucker for a man in uniform, but he looks even better in a suit. Athletic cut suits that fit like a second skin. Along with being tall, he has broad shoulders that seem to span the width of a doorway and a smile that turns my knees to jelly. That smile.
Sigh.
His smile alone is worth the price of admission, even if he never spoke a word, but luckily for me he does speak, even if it’s just to exchange pleasantries.
    I had a quasi-conversation with him once. I was in my office working diligently when Darry came flying in like his ass was on fire. After he closed the door, I asked, “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you pregnant?”
    “Shut up hussy. I just had a confab with Stone! He asked about you!”
    “Come on Darry. I’m not in the mood for your theatrics. I’m tired and sick of looking at this computer. What are you talking about?”
    “I’ll ignore your pissy mood for right now. Anywho, I was in the break room and he came in looking fabulous as always. We made small talk and then he asked me if you were seeing anyone.”
    I felt my eyes getting big. No way did Stone ask about me. Then I realized he was asking Darry. I was almost too scared to find out what he had told him.
    “What did you say?” I held my breath, bracing for one of Darry’s flamboyant answers.
    “I told him you weren’t seeing anyone....” I let out my breath. “Except,” he continued, “your shrink for your nymphomania issue.”
    “Oh my God! Please, please tell me you didn’t say that,” I implored. I never knew what would come out of Darry’s mouth. I desperately hoped that this hadn’t.
    “Of course I didn’t. You have to have sex to be a nympho and since you haven’t had sex since Christ was a child I—”
    “Okay I get it! What did you tell him?”
    “I told him you weren’t seeing anyone and that you were as free as a bird. He said that he’s been wanting to ask you out, but didn’t know if you dated white guys. I told him that you were an equal opportunity lover.”
    Ugh, I felt flustered. I wanted this, now I didn’t know how to behave. What should I do? Let him come to me? That sounded good. I’d go with that. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to ponder this decision.
    “What’s wrong? You look a little green around the gills,” Darry stated as he came around my desk. “Harper, there’s no time for that! Stone might still be in the break room.”
    And with that he yanked me off my chair, out of my office and to the break room. Oh, look. Stone was still in there.
Great.
    “Hello Stone. I’m so glad you’re still here!” Darry said, his words were sugary sweet and dripped from his tongue. “I wanted you and Harper to continue the wonderful conversation we were having.”
    Darry pushed me in front of Stone so hard that if I had had wheels on my feet, I would have squealed to a stop. Humiliation washed over me as I looked up at Stone. I was gonna kick Darry’s ass for this.
    Looking so proud of himself, Darry said, “I’ll just let you two kids talk,” as he scurried out of the room.
    Stone looked as uncomfortable as I felt, but at least he was gracious about it. “Uh, Darry didn’t waste any time.”
    “Time is something Darry never wastes when it comes to men.”
    He laughed.
Was I funny? He thought I was funny. I wasn’t trying to be, but I’m glad I was.
    “I guess Darry told you that I wanted to ask you out.”
    “He mentioned something about that,” I said as I waved my hand in the air and tried to appear nonchalant. I didn’t want him to think I’d give my right pinky toe to go out with him, which I would have. But maybe I was playing it too cool.
Damn!
Luckily he didn’t