35. Lana
35
LANA
ELLISON: Book club this Saturday
ELLISON: Also, I added my sister to the group chat—no place to hide now Baby Cakes
I snort as the text bubbles appear and then disappear before a message pops up.
ARDEN: Hey guys, this isn’t awkward at all
CAL: We live for awkward
BEA: That’s a true story
BEA: Also hiiiiii!
ELLISON: Your enthusiasm knows no bounds
BEA: (gif of woman curtsying)
ELLISON: Lana meet Arden!
LANA: We already met
ELLISON: You met without me?!
ARDEN: You should have come to lunch
ELLISON: Wtf guys that takes all the fun out of it
LANA: Oh my gosh! Arden, it’s so good to meet you!
ARDEN: You’re my person
CAL: I’m loving this way too much
ELLISON: I’ll make you take bus duty if you’re not careful
NESSA: Hey y’all I thought I could swing home for this but it’s just not going to work
ELLISON: You just keep kicking ass out there and we’ll save you all the margaritas for when you get home
My phone buzzes in my hand and I slide to the messages screen. I’ve barely opened it before I start laughing.
AMARA: Did you know that double orgasms are a thing?
LANA: Double and triple
AMARA: No freaking way
LANA: Blush emoji.
AMARA: I need all the details.
AMARA: What’s your record?
I chuckle, my cheeks heating and my core clenching at the memory.
LANA: FOUR in one night
ELLISON: Four what?
CAL: Orgasms?
CAL: You go girl!
BEA: Oh! that makes me so happy
NESSA: Mason has that young bull energy
I stare down at my phone and blink.
And then blink again, placing a hand over my stomach as I stave off the nausea that comes swiftly after the realization that I sent that message to the wrong text chain.
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
LANA: That was not supposed to go in the book chat message
LANA: (facepalm emoji)
ELLISON: Why? We’re so proud of you and your orgasm count!
NESSA: Congratulations! (message sent with confetti)
CAL: Think we should make T-shirts?
BEA: I’d wear the hell out of that shirt
ELLISON: Archer would probably have a heart attack
BEA: Probably but that’s one of the things I love about him
BEA: He’s always shy…except in the bedroom (devil emoji)
BEA: Unless I talk dirty to him then his cheeks flame like a fire truck
NESSA: That’s honestly adorable
CAL: That’s because the sheriff is filthy
NESSA: From your mouth to God’s ears
ARDEN: I am way too boring for this conversation
LANA: Do NOT leave me
ELLISON: You’re stuck with us favorite sister of mine
ARDEN: I’m your only sister
ELLISON: I mean that we know of
LANA: Um…
ELLISON: Long story
NESSA: I have to go to practice but I love you all xoxo
ELLISON: Man, the sheriff has made you soft
NESSA: I like the word pliable
CAL: Get it girl
BEA: Cal I’m going to text you about shirt ideas
CAL: Oh good, I was just about to send you some
I drop my phone on the table on a disbelieving laugh and cover my face with my hands. This is why I had one friend before moving here.
It’s also worth noting that I never would have talked about this stuff with anyone before either, probably because there wasn’t anything to talk about.
Jacob had been fine at best and lackluster on a good day.
LANA: Remind me why I have friends other than you?
I check and triple check the message is headed to Amara before hitting send.
AMARA: Because I’m exceptionally boring and will die alone with lots of dogs
AMARA: Also why?
LANA: I sent my orgasm count to the book club chat
AMARA: #queen #winning #hero
LANA: I hate you
AMARA: They loved it didn’t they
LANA: They did—but it’s not like I share that stuff
AMARA: Well now you know you can—that’s a good thing babe
AMARA: Also what’s your ‘in one night’ count?
LANA: Four
AMARA: You’re a goddess and I need your secret
LANA: There’s nothing to tell except you need to find a man who is dedicated to seeing how many orgasms he can pull from you
AMARA: That sounds heavenly
AMARA: Does he have a brother?
LANA: He does, but I think you’ll have to come to Blackstone Falls to find out.
AMARA: I’ll think about it
Grinning, I pull a mug from the cabinet and make myself a cup of tea. Amara will never leave Nashville, but maybe I can convince her to come visit. The thought makes me smile, like maybe seeing that I broke the cycle of unhappiness, she can too.
It’s a conversation for later because right now I have a book to read and the couch is calling my name.