15. Goldie
Chapter 15
Goldie
I STARE AT the text.
Is he serious right now? Good morning? Good morning ? Is that literally all the man is sending? We watched each other fuck ourselves with our hands last night and all he has to say in the light of day is Good morning ?
What am I supposed to do with that?
Did we go too far, too fast?
Yes.
Yes, we clearly did.
Also, he doesn’t even know who I am—despite me knowing very much who he is.
Who knew that little Matty Brodigan would grow up to be, well, not- little Matty Brodigan? Holy crap, I’m getting worked up just remembering how ridiculously thick his dick was.
Is. How thick his dick is .
And the second he realizes it was me on the other side? What then?
I am so screwed.
Wait. It’s Sunday. It’s yoga-and-walk-on-the-pier Sunday. With that realization, I’m up and moving. I screech into the yoga studio with a literal minute to spare, but only Willa and Reid are there. No Matty.
“Where’s Matty?”
Reid shoots me a curious glance while Willa answers, “Says he wasn’t up to it this morning.”
I try hard to keep my expression neutral. “Too bad. Hope he’s feeling okay.” Is that what I would normally have said? I have no idea anymore.
“What’s with the hair?” Reid asks.
I shrug. “Felt like experimenting. I’m washing it out later.” Also, holy shit . I can’t believe I didn’t think about my freaking hair. What if Matty had been here? He would have known. Instantly.
“If the chatterboxes in the back could be quiet,” the teacher says from the front.
My cheeks heat with the admonishment, but at least I don’t have to talk anymore. I start the sun salutation that most people are halfway through and try to lose myself in the session.
Ninety minutes and more holding of poses than I was even remotely ready for later, my body is loose but my mind is in free fall. What have I done?
Good morning. Good morning ?
I can’t get past it. What else could he have said? I don’t know, but was ‘good morning’ with no punctuation the way to go? No!
But also, did I respond? No, because…ugh, because I had video sex with Matty fucking Brodigan and he’s my sister’s best friend and what am I going to do?
Cool, I’m spiraling again.
I can’t hide the flinch when Willa touches my elbow.
She narrows her eyes and leans close, tucking her mat under her arm. “How did last night go?”
“Oh! Um…good.”
She looks over to Reid, who’s scooping Midnight into the sling and chatting amiably with a gaggle of women. I have no idea how Willa manages not to seethe with jealousy constantly. I’d probably go all Terminator on them, but clearly that’s just me. She swings her gaze back to me. “Just good? Really?”
“It was good.” I double down. “You haven’t—you haven’t told Reid, right?”
“You asked me not to, and I haven’t. Promise.” She holds her hand up. “Sisters before misters and all that. Even though I don’t understand the secrecy.”
I breathe a little easier. I can’t explain why I feel the need to keep this quiet, but I do. “Thanks.” I start heading to the front.
“But I want to know more about last night. Way more,” she whispers.
“Feel like a late brunch since Matty isn’t here to walk the pier?” Reid asks. “I’m feeling noshy.”
I snort. “Noshy? What are you, eighty?”
“And to think, I was going to pay for you, but now…” He trails off and smirks. “Mimosas are on you. Diner?”
What if Matty is there? Thinking fast, I toss out, “How about somewhere else? Maybe that breakfast place outside of town?”
“Ooh, yes!” Willa’s eyes light up. “I’ve been wanting to try their Eggs Benedict. Someone said their Hollandaise was better than mine.”
“Impossible.” Reid pulls her to him and kisses her temple.
My heart squeezes. I’d never be jealous of my sister, but if I’m being honest, I really thought I would have been the one to find her happily ever after first. Is that bad of me? “Meet you there,” I tell them.
I give myself a pep talk before I go into the restaurant. I can do this. All I have to do is remain calm, cool, and collected. Maintain eye contact as needed, but don’t overdo it. Avoid thinking about Matty and the way he kissed me. And definitely avoid thinking about his thick dick.
I groan and lay my head on the steering wheel.
Inside, I join Reid and Willa at a corner booth, with Reid on the outside and facing the front door, as always. I’ve known people who prefer to have a view of the front door, but for Reid, it’s more than a preference. He absolutely must be able to see what’s going on at all times. He says it’s standard police stuff, but I think it goes back to all that mess he got into with the Bunnies.
Willa and I each get mimosas, and I get the breakfast tacos. Willa orders the Eggs Benedict, of course, and Reid orders a burger and iced tea.
“What did you get up to last night?” Reid asks. “I heard there was some fundraiser thing at the pricey hotel.”
My heart plummets into my stomach. “Oh?” I stammer, reaching for the mimosa and taking a deep swallow. “I just hung out at home.”
Willa looks at him. “How did you know about the masquerade ball?”
Reid shrugs. “Ox mentioned it. Said his brother was swinging in for it and bringing Charlotte with him and everything.” He glances back at me. “You really didn’t hear about it?”
He knows. He has to know.
“Nope!” It comes out like a chirp.
He regards me silently, his face as blank as a master poker player.
He definitely knows. Does that mean Matty knows?
Oh, God .
Does Matty know it’s me? If he does, then why didn’t he say anything?
Does Reid know ? Like, know know?
Wait. Does Willa know? Crap. What if Willa knows and she’s staying quiet out of some best friend loyalty?
But doesn’t sisterhood trump best friends?
I’m spiraling. Again.
I take another gulp of the mimosa and wave the remainder at the server. I’m definitely gonna need another. Or three.
Willa, bless her, changes the subject, and when the food comes, I dive in so that I have something to do that doesn’t involve hoping against hope that Reid hasn’t already figured me out.
Damn cops.
“This isn’t as good as mine,” Willa declares. “It’s not nearly as thick and creamy.”
“I’ve got something thick and creamy for you,” Reid jokes.
“Okay, ew ,” I gag. “Stop that. Stop that right now.”
Willa laughs. “Looks like you found Goldie’s line.”
“That should be everyone’s line,” I protest. “Do not ever talk like that in my presence again.”
Reid laughs and pops a fry in his mouth. “You got it, Goldie.”
After a mere two mimosas and some delicious tacos that I have to repeatedly assure Willa are not, in fact, as good as hers, we wrap it up and get ready to leave. Willa holds me back while Reid goes to the front to pay.
“What is going on?” she asks. “You were distracted and barely talking the whole time. Usually, we can’t shut you up.”
“Maybe it was Reid’s nasty mention?—”
“Nope,” she cuts me off. “Nice try, though. What happened last night? Was he an asshole? Did he smell? Oh my God!” She grips my arm and yanks me to her, lowering her voice. “Did he try something? Does that asshole not know what the word ‘no’ means? I will sic Reid on him so fast.”
I can’t help the giggle that comes out. “Easy there, killer. He wasn’t an asshole, he didn’t stink, and anything that happened was done with my enthusiastic consent.”
She whirls on me. “I knew it! Did you kiss? Did you take your masks off? What does he look like?”
“Yes, yes, and I don’t know.”
She raises a brow. “Come again?”
I’d like to, very much, thank you.
I shake my head. I need to focus. I take a deep breath and meet her eyes. “Fine. I’m giving you this because I know I was an insane person when you and Reid were just getting together.”
“Glad you can finally admit that. Now spill. But hurry, because Reid’s waiting.”
I look and sure enough, he’s paid and is waiting on us. “Fine. He took our masks off in the dark, we kissed, I didn’t see his face, and it was the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
She squeals and grabs my arms. “ Goldie! Seriously?”
“Calm down.” I widen my eyes and look around. “ Please .”
“But this is so exciting ! What if he’s the one? Oh my gosh, we could have double dates and hang out at each other’s houses, and the guys could do guy things and…” She sighs happily.
I might puke. And it has nothing to do with the mimosas.
Grabbing my phone, I look at the screen and pretend there’s a text from JJ. “Oh, look at that. I need to go, sis. Work calls!”
“On a Sunday?”
I pull her into a hug. “News never sleeps. Love you.”
Reid gets the same spiel on my way out, too.
“Let me drive you to the office, then,” he says. “I’ve got to start my shift soon anyway.”
“Nope!” I answer brightly and swivel away from him. “I’ll be just fine.”
“Wait.”
His commanding voice stops me in my tracks.
Reid continues, advancing on me in full police officer mode. “How many drinks did you have in there?”
I roll my eyes. “Two mimosas, Officer MacKinnon . And they were skimping on the champagne, I assure you.”
He’s unconvinced. “It’s field sobriety test time, Miss Dash. Follow my finger.”
“Willa, your boyfriend is being mean!” I call out, laughing as I dutifully follow Reid’s finger.
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” she responds.
“Walk nine heel-to-toe steps in a straight line,” Reid intones.
I obey, then turn and walk back nine steps at his direction, too. When he makes me stand on one leg with the other raised off the ground, I do it, only objecting when he tells me to count by thousands.
“Reid!” I huff out, exasperated and still holding my foot up. “Let me go already.”
“Fine. But text your sister when you get to the office.”
I promise, and then I bolt.