Chapter 12
“Ialmost kissed him,” Justine confided to Katie Friday night at her apartment as they watched the first episode of one of Katie’s favorite series of all time.
The show involved half-naked and fully-naked men fighting each other and having sex with women all over the place.
Justine could see why her best friend loved the show.
Katie’s eyes grew wide. She paused the television and turned to gape at Justine. “Say that again. You almost kissed your boss?”
Horrified, Justine shrieked, “Are you insane? No, Katie. I almost kissed Xavier. Yesterday in the laundry room. We were standing way too close, and you could cut the tension with a knife.”
“Cliché, but I’ll allow it.” Katie held up a finger to stop Justine’s retort. “No, wait. I want to hear everything. Right now.”
With a sigh, Justine told her all about Wednesday evening coffee and meeting Auggie, and then the near kiss in the laundry room. “And I swear,” she ended, “I can’t be sure, as I was trying not to get caught staring, that he was pretty excited to be near me, if you know what I mean.”
“What? No.” Katie shoved a handful of popcorn in her mouth and chewed like a hungry squirrel.
“What do you mean, no? And ew, I can see your food.”
“I can’t believe you waited until now to tell me. How are we best friends?”
“Oh stop. I haven’t told anyone else.” Not that she had anyone else to tell.
Well, if Aunt Rosie had been around, she might have called her.
But then, probably not. Her aunt had a way of making her feel like an old cow put out to pasture, as her aunt liked to say, and Justine had yet to reach thirty.
“I’m still a little confused,” Katie said.
“I know you and Mitch didn’t end in a good way.
Well, minus any drama, it was the driest breakup ever.
No screaming or throwing things. You just took a few extra weeks to get all your stuff together, slept in the spare room, and were never home. Then you moved all your stuff here.”
“I thought it was a mature way to end things.”
“Bah.” Katie scowled. “You’re an amazing person with creative ideas and a real passion for life. Except when it comes to guys. Xavier seems intelligent.”
“He is.”
“Nice.”
“He’s nice.”
“And he’s freaking hot. You have to admit that.”
Her cheeks still felt warm as she answered, “He is.”
“So what’s the problem? There’s no time limit between getting new boyfriends. And let’s face it. Mitch was a pain for a long time,” Katie pointed out. “You and he had emotionally broken up months ago. Why not see where this thing with Xavier leads?”
“That’s my point. There is no thing with Xavier.” But there could have been yesterday. Right? Or had she been reading into the situation? She shook her head. “No, I know he felt something. He touched my cheek.”
“To remove an eyelash, you said.” Katie snorted. “That’s right up there with the stretch to land an arm around your shoulders. I can’t believe neither of you made a move.”
“Well, Sam interrupted. Or maybe I’m delusional.”
“No, you know what you felt and saw.” Katie added with a sly smile, “So what exactly did you see that made you think he might be super ‘excited’ to see you?”
Justine blushed, remembering. “I didn’t mean to look down at him. I couldn’t help myself. And it was just... His jeans looked pretty tight. And he was pretty, um, er, big.”
“Um, er, big? Which in Justine-ese, means huge, right?”
“Stop it.” Justine laughed. “How are you so able to talk about all this without blushing?”
“Have you met my mother? The one who’s so not embarrassed about anything that she’s actually embarrassing about everything?”
“Oh, right.”
“And anyway, you’re repressed. Not your fault, since your parents are always on you to conform and behave—whatever that means.
But come on, sex should be fun. Adventurous.
And always with a man with wonderful proportions.
” Katie paused. “Unless you’re not into men or physical sex. Not judging, just saying.”
Justine sighed. “You know I like guys.”
Katie brightened. “Right. So you want ‘em hung and into making you happy. Seriously, sixty-second wonders, no matter how big they are, aren’t worth more than the eye candy.”
A knock at the door startled them both.
Justine answered to find Xavier standing in the doorway.
“Hi, Justine. Can I talk to you?”
She pulled back, and he glanced at Katie sitting in the living room munching on popcorn.
“Oh, sorry. I can come back another time.” He blinked at the TV. “What are you watching?”
She turned to see the main actor’s ass hanging out as he was frozen on the screen in a wrestling hold with a larger, more muscular combatant.
“And speaking of hung and making ‘em happy...” Katie murmured.
Xavier turned to her. “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Justine blurted and glared at her friend.
“No, I think this calls for a man’s input.” Katie motioned for Xavier to join them. “Want some popcorn? We’re rewatching Spartacus. It’s one of my favorite series.”
Xavier entered, and Justine helplessly closed the door behind him.
With any luck, Katie would be less “Katie” and not shock everyone in the room into awkward silence.
Yet that was one of the reasons Justine loved her.
Katie didn’t hold back, not with what she said or how she felt.
And the girl was loyal to a fault, a true friend even during their disagreements.
Xavier cleared his throat. “The Spartacus I know is based on the Thracian gladiator who rebelled against the Roman Republic for freedom. This... doesn’t look anything like the movie I once saw, which was an older version in black and white.
” He joined Katie on the couch and took a handful of popcorn. “Thanks.”
Justine sighed. “Something to drink?”
“Sure. Anything’s fine.”
“Ice tea coming right up.”
“Top me off, Justine?” Katie asked.
“Fine, so long as you behave.”
Xavier chuckled. “Uh-oh. Katie doesn’t like behaving, eh?”
“Well, it’s more what we were talking about before you got here that’s got her worried,” Katie just had to mention.
“Oh?”
Don’t say it, you viper. Don’t you dare. The warning in her eyes must not have penetrated because Katie looked at her then looked at Xavier and said, “What are your thoughts on size versus skill?”
Xavier paused. “Well, I’d have to have more context.”
Katie pointed at the TV, where they could all clearly see hints of the combatants’ packages from behind. “Take our main man. He’s not as bulky as his opponent, but he’s streamlined and has a nice bit of man meat the camera’s teasing us with.”
Justine massaged her temples.
Xavier gave a noncommittal murmur. “Ah, I see.”
“I was telling Justine that I think size is important, but if you don’t know what you’re doing with that size, then it’s all for show.”
Justine tried but couldn’t see Xavier’s reaction, only the back of his head. She hurried over with more drinks for everyone and sat on the floor so she could observe while they talked.
His cheeks looked a little pink to her, and that naughty gleam in Katie’s eyes was telling. Her friend was having a blast with the vulgar conversation.
Xavier, though, surprised her by laughing. “You know, you and my sister would totally get along. Auggie’s pretty frank too.”
“Sounds pretty self-confident,” Katie said.
“You have no idea,” Xavier answered. “But in response to your question” — he paused to glance at Justine, his growing grin wicked indeed— “then I think both are important. First, you need to fit, physically. If he’s too big it could be painful.
Too small, then there’s no sensation for either of them, really. ”
“Good points.”
“Oh my God,” Justine muttered.
They ignored her.
“But like you said, if he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s the only one having a good time. She’ll likely never want to see him again. One-and-done guys are typically selfish and boring. Or just really inexperienced, but that’s not an excuse.”
“I agree,” Katie stated. “Justine?”
“Yeah, sure. What you said.”
“Isn’t she cute when she’s blushing?” Katie teased.
Xavier nodded. “Adorable.”
She shot him the finger, surprising herself, and had Xavier and Katie laughing.
Xavier followed up with, “I’m sorry. I’m trying to be a good guest by answering Katie’s questions.”
“Whatever.”
“No, he’s got a unique point of view. Continue, Xavier.”
Xavier gave Katie a warm smile, and Justine felt the wattage of it and needed to cool down.
“Look, every guy wants to be thought of as larger than average, because people make such a big deal about size. But a man who’s interested in pleasing his partner is more about skill than his anatomy.
It’s, what’s the expression? It’s not the size of your boat but the motion in the ocean? ”
“Oh, I like that.” Katie nodded.
“You would,” Justine said, still not understanding how Xavier had become part of this conversation.
“You will too once you have rockin’ waves.”
Xavier raised a brow.
“She’s in between boyfriends.”
“I know. She’s waiting until she’s ready.”
“Ha! Take that.” Justine pointed at Katie. “Xavier understands all about needing space.”
Katie answered, “Which is why we’re hanging out here watching naked men wave their flags around instead of hanging at a bar where we could be meeting showers and growers.”
Xavier choked on his drink.
“Hey, Xavier, do you want to watch some Spartacus with us? Or would you rather talk to Justine about whatever it was you wanted to talk about?”
Xavier got a strange look on his face as he looked from the TV to Justine. “You know what? I think watching this show with you sounds fascinating. My conversation can keep. Justine, are you comfy down there on the floor?”
Katie patted the spot between them on the couch. “Yeah, there’s plenty of room to join us. You can sit right between Xavier and me.”
It would be a super tight fit. Something Justine couldn’t handle just now. “Nope, I’m fine. You sure you want to watch this? It’s pretty violent.”
“And sexual,” Katie had to add.
Xavier’s grin made her want to sigh. “Sounds perfect. Besides, what could be better than watching gratuitous sex and violence with two gorgeous women? Wait until I tell my friends how I spent my Friday night.”
“With two hot babes and a lot of swinging dick,” Katie added.
Xavier chuckled. “Exactly.”
Justine groaned. “Screw the ice tea. I think this calls for beer.”