CHAPTER 13
Silvia stretched out contentedly, like a cat in a sunbeam. As for her best friend, she was more like a kitten. Mindy pounced on the bed, staring down at her with big green eyes. “What are we going to do next?”
“Nothing,” Silvia said.
“You’re ready for bed?”
“No. I’m basking in the sensation of not having to do anything.”
She’d needed this. Silvia had caught up with her Business Law class and sped on ahead, wanting to master the material so she could focus on what came next.
She practiced typing at every opportunity, including the Student Government meetings.
Her parents always needed help with this and that, Omar demanded a lot of attention, and then there was her part-time job at the record store.
Silvia was worn out and had wanted to recharge.
So she gave Anthony her Saturday shift and made plans with her best friend, always enjoying the carefree atmosphere here.
They had sorted through the clothes Mindy’s sister left behind when she moved out, keeping some and trading the rest downtown at a second-hand store.
Shopping on a budget! Mindy didn’t have a job and Silvia was putting away every penny, concerned about funding her dream.
Although she did spend a few bucks to rent a movie.
When they returned to Mindy’s house with it, they raided the pantry and baked brownies, eating most of them while watching Dirty Dancing.
Judging from the way Mindy was shaking the bed with manic energy, she’d had one too many.
“Let’s do something crazy!”
Silvia laughed. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. We could make some prank calls. Or how about we play Truth or Dare?”
“You already know all my truths,” Silvia said dismissively. “And I know yours.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Mindy said cagily.
Silvia sat upright. “What do you mean?”
“Only one way to find out.”
“Okay, fine. Truth or dare?”
“Dare!”
“That’s not fair! I want to know your deep dark secrets.”
“Too bad.”
“Fine.” Silvia thought about it. Then she smiled slowly. “I want you to call Archie’s Pizza Pie and ask to talk to Omar. He’s working tonight. Except you have to pretend to be Llama Lovelace.”
Mindy made a face. “Isn’t that one of their weird costumed characters?”
“Yes. Omar is crazy about them. He’ll be thrilled.”
“But what will I say?” Mindy covered her mouth and tittered. “Never mind. I’ve got it.”
She grabbed a phone made of transparent plastic from the nightstand and dialed information for the number. The operator connected her directly.
“May I speak with Omar Jafari?” Mindy asked in a professional tone. “He works there. It’s very important.” She kept stifling giggles while on hold. Then she perked up and put on a breathy seductive voice. “Well hello there! This is Llama Lovelace.”
Silvia moved closer so she could listen in.
“Uh… Hey?” Omar replied, sounding anything but certain. “Are you calling from inside the building? Because I just passed you in the party room.”
“No, this is the real Llama Lovelace. I’m phoning from the corporate office to let you know that you’re the sexiest employee we’ve ever had. We’ve had quite a few mothers leave comment cards about you.”
“Oh yeah?” Omar asked, sounding interested. “What did they say?”
Mindy looked to Silvia for help. She cupped her hands in front of her chest to indicate his impressive pecs.
“That you have really big boobs.”
Silvia swatted her.
“Muscles!” Mindy amended. “And a really impressive package. Why, I’ve heard it’s almost as long as my llama neck. And just as furry.”
Omar chuckled. “Why don’t you come here in person and I’ll show you.”
“I’d love to! Does that mean you’re single?”
“Nope. But if you put my girlfriend on the phone, Mindy, I can ask if it’s all right with her.”
“What?” she cried in her normal voice. “How could you tell it was me?”
“Because I can hear Silvia laughing in the background. Even though she’s trying not to. Put her on.”
“Fine! You’re no fun.”
“Hey, babe,” Omar said once the phone was handed to her. “You’ve got me all riled up. If you want, I can sneak a couple of costumes out for our next date night. I wanna be your Pizza Panda.”
“I’ll pass,” she said. “Although I do like a man in uniform. Including pizza boys.”
“We don’t usually deliver… But I could make an exception for you.”
“That sounds good. Just not tonight.”
“You’ve got my number. Are you guys having fun?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome. Do you love me?”
“You know I do.”
“Let me hear you say it.”
Silvia felt self-conscious, since Mindy was still peering at her, trying to listen in. Oh well. She had brought this upon herself when assigning a dare.
“I love you, Omar,” she declared dramatically. “More than any other man on this planet!”
“Did Mindy roll her eyes?”
“Yes, actually.”
“Perfect. I love you too. I gotta get back to work, but you just made my night. Talk to you later.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“You guys are so gross,” Mindy moaned once the phone was hung up.
“You’re just jealous. Now it’s my turn.”
Mindy grinned. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“But you said I already know all your secrets!”
“Exactly.” Silvia stuck out her tongue.
Mindy narrowed her eyes. “Okay then. What do you like least about Omar?”
“That’s not nice.”
“You’re the one who made me have phone sex with him!”
“That particular angle was your idea.”
Mindy looked mortified. “Oh my god. You’re right! Don’t tell him and I won’t make you answer the question. Although there has to be something you don’t like about him… right?”
Silvia nibbled her bottom lip.
“There is!” Mindy said. “I take it back. Tell him the phone sex was all me. I’ve got to know!”
“You’d have to keep it a secret,” Silvia warned.
Mindy traced an X over her heart. “I promise.”
“Sex is kind of a disappointment.”
Mindy gasped. “He’s bad in bed?”
Silvia thought about it before shaking her head. “No. It was great when I was doing things to him, or he was doing things to me. But now that we’re actually doing it, like, together…” She shrugged helplessly.
Mindy cocked her head. “I don’t get it.”
Silvia sighed. “Messing around and going down on each other felt really nice. He got me off plenty of times. Having actual sex isn’t nearly as good.”
Mindy looked surprised. “Weird! Is his thingy too small or something?”
“I don’t think so. In fact, the first few times, it felt too big.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah. So maybe it’s just me?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s him,” Mindy said dismissively.
Silvia had good reason to doubt that. But she needed to compare notes. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can try,” Mindy said with a grin. “But I might be feeling daring.”
“Okay. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Silvia felt her face flush. “When you’re by yourself… I mean sexually. Do you ever use a finger?”
Mindy blinked. “Of course!”
Silvia’s stomach sank.
“Oh wait… Are you asking if I put a finger inside myself when masturbating? Almost never. I mean, I’ve tried before but…” She shook her head briskly.
“You don’t like it either?”
“Not really. At least, it doesn’t give me much pleasure. Wait, is that what having sex is like? I always figured there was something magical about a boy’s wiener that would actually make it feel good.”
“So did I,” Silvia said with a shrug.
“Does that mean women have been faking it for the entirety of human history?”
“Possibly. Unless I’m missing something. I need a second opinion.”
“I might find out soon,” Mindy said before clamping a hand over her mouth.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Mindy shook her head. “I choose a dare.”
“It’s your turn to ask me.”
“Oh. Good! Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Can you keep a secret?”
Silvia laughed. “Yes! Just tell me.”
Mindy rushed to her bedroom door to check the hall. Then she put on music. If you could even call it that.
“Michael Bolton?” Silvia said with a wince.
“Forget about him,” Mindy said, plopping down on the bed again. “I’ve been messing around with Keisha’s older brother.”
“Vonn?”
“You’ve met him?”
Silvia nodded. “When I volunteered during Christmas. I thought you were with Galen?”
“I’m dating Galen. Vonn is the reason we aren’t committed.”
“What exactly have you done?”
Mindy told her. Silvia struggled to understand the appeal. Sure, Vonn was handsome, and in theory, more mature than most guys at their school. But… “It doesn’t sound like much of a relationship.”
“Of course not! Oh my gosh, you’re so old-fashioned. You don’t have to be in a relationship to give someone a blowjob. Which was weird but kind of fun. Do you ever swallow? Vonn made a mess on his sweater.”
Silvia stared. “Who are you?”
“Don’t judge!”
Silvia held up her palms. “I’m not. This is just so different from the girl who was always reading romance novels while dreaming about her future husband.”
“If you’d actually read any of the books I’ve recommended, you’d realize that they’re not all sugary sweet.”
“Fair enough but…” Silvia pressed her lips together.
“What?”
“Wouldn’t you rather explore this sort of thing with someone you love?”
“Sure. If that was an option.” She huffed in frustration. “Do you think guys give each other lectures like this when they mess around with girls they don’t love?”
“Maybe they should.”
“I think it’s silly,” Mindy retorted. “I mean, you ended up with someone you don’t even like sleeping with.”
“That’s not fair!”
“Well it’s true!”
They scowled at each other before guilt set in.
“I’m sorry!” Mindy said, reaching over to take her hand.
“No, you’re right. I was coming across as judgmental. I didn’t mean to be. I only want you to be happy.”
“And I want you to be happy!”
They laughed, releasing some of the tension.
“I’m just trying to figure it all out,” Mindy explained. “Galen is sweet, but Vonn is forbidden. Do you know what I mean? He’s confident and cool. It’s really exciting!”
Silvia thought of Keisha, who had quite a bit in common with her brother, from the sound of things. “I do know what you mean.”
“I’m jealous of you and Omar,” Mindy confided. “For real! I wish I had a boyfriend I was so crazy about.”