Eliza
“Okay, it’s killing me. What’s the sex curse update?” Jules asked while grabbing a sour gummy worm.
“Wait! I wanna hear, too!” Lily called from the kitchen.
“First she doesn’t believe me, and now she wants all the updates,” I grumbled lovingly, to which Jules giggled. I’d texted the girls the same night Leo and I had slept together, letting them know I had an update and needed their advice but it’d have to wait until we were in person.
It was now Sunday afternoon, and we were at Lily’s house getting ready to watch a movie.
Jules and I were curled up on the couch, each with a blanket and cat on our lap.
Jules had Bandit—Lily’s orange tabby—and I had Beans—Gabe’s elderly tuxedo cat.
Sylvie—Lily’s calico—kept a close eye on us from the cat tree, like we were her peasants and she needed to ensure we were behaving ourselves.
I loved all three of these cats, but secretly, Sylvie, with her sassy attitude, was my favorite.
Typically, we each brought something when we got together. Tonight, I’d brought a margarita mix I’d made, Jules brought sour gummy worms and popcorn, and Lily baked a raspberry almond crumb cake. Our drink, snacks, and dessert for the afternoon were all covered.
“No, but give me a hint,” Jules whispered as she flipped through the TV, searching for what we’d watch.
“Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “Let’s just say I don’t kiss and tell.”
Jules let out a squeal before growing serious. “But you’re going to tell us, right?”
I grinned. “Of course.”
Jules landed on He’s Just Not That Into You right as Lily came over with a dessert that smelled as good as it looked. She’d cut the crumb cake into eight slices and dusted powdered sugar on it.
“I think I’m going to serve this at the café this month, but I made a couple of tweaks from the recipe since I made it last, so I wanted to test it out with you two,” Lily said while setting down the plate.
She picked up two smaller plates and two forks, serving Jules and me.
“You two can’t move because of the cats, obviously.
” She looked at both of us before breaking into a smile.
Lily’s baking was already phenomenal, but she’d started baking classes last month to improve on her technique and make more complicated desserts.
She’d claim this was one of the easy recipes, but I believed it still took skill and precision to ensure it turned out perfect every time.
Since starting her classes, her baking got even better—which I didn’t think was possible.
“This looks amazing, Lil,” I said as I inhaled the almond and raspberry scent.
Lily grabbed her own plate and got comfortable next to me. Beans opened one eye, noticing Lily was on the couch, and immediately got up, stretched, and curled up on Lily’s lap.
“Wow, buddy. I don’t think you could’ve made it any more obvious that I was second choice.” I shook my head with mock-disappointment.
Lily scratched behind Beans’s ear with her free hand.
“I’ll take it, because I’m usually second choice when Gabe is around.
” She then turned to me with a mischievous smile.
“When are you adopting your cat?” my best friend asked.
“It’s not like I’ve been trying to convince you for years.
It worked on Jules within a few months!”
A few months after Jules permanently moved to Golden Falls, she and Wes had adopted Maple, a brown tabby who had been one of the cats at Lily’s café that summer.
“I’m the fun cat aunt who gives all the pettings and cuddles,” I reminded Lily before taking a bite of my crumb cake. “Besides, I can’t part with my plants.”
“I do love your apartment,” Jules said with a content sigh. “It’s a relaxing greenhouse oasis in there.”
“Thank you,” I said with a grin. That was exactly the vision I’d been going for.
“But, okay, we can’t get distracted.” Jules adjusted her position slightly so she was sitting facing me, ensuring not to disturb Bandit in the process. “Tell us everything about this magical man who broke your curse.”
My stomach fluttered—both at the mention of Leo and at the slight nerves that washed over me. I always told my friends all about the guys I slept with, and talking about sex wasn’t anything taboo for me, but something about this felt different.
Maybe because Leo, for now, lived in town.
Or that saying how good the sex was would lead me to admitting that I wanted it to be more than a one-time thing.
Maybe a two- or three-time thing. Nothing to commit to but…
another chance to experience mind-blowing sex.
I mean, it would almost be irresponsible of me to not sleep with him again as long as he’s here.
Maybe I also felt nervous telling Lily and Jules because I wasn’t quite convinced that what I’d done had been a good idea considering Leo and I worked together.
Then there was the fact that he was Colin’s older brother, and I worried it would further strain their already tense relationship.
Even though Leo and Colin weren’t necessarily close, I knew how important family was to Leo, and I didn’t want to create more trouble for them.
“So, the sex curse is officially broken,” I started, both Lily and Jules watching me intently, “after I had sex with Leo.”
“Oh my god!” Lily exclaimed, eyes wide as she leaned forward.
Jules gasped, covering her mouth. “Tell us everything!”
In the commotion, both cats woke up, looking very displeased, and ran away to find a quieter spot. Lily and Jules watched me expectantly, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Even though it was just the three of us, Jules lowered her voice, asking, “Are you going to sleep with him again?”
“We said it would be a one-time thing…but it was so good.” I groaned, tipping my head back and running my hands over my face.
Using the word good to describe my night with Leo didn’t do it justice.
Our chemistry was explosive and mind-blowing, unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
I didn’t have to tell him what I liked or wanted—he just knew.
He watched for my reaction and took control to make me feel good.
Every movement from him felt deliberate and electric. Even now, my body buzzed from where his hands and mouth had been.
“There’s been this tension between us ever since he got into town—”
My best friends both interjected with, “Oh, we know,” and, “Yeah, we’re well aware.”
“—and it just snapped.” And now I couldn’t stop thinking about him. And how much I wanted a repeat of that night. That had never happened before, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Uh, yeah,” Lily said matter-of-factly, “because you’re both freaking hot.”
“You two don’t think that it’s weird I dated his brother?
” I asked warily, looking between my best friends for any signs that maybe I’d done something wrong.
I hadn’t felt any guilt or shame after sleeping with Leo, but in the days that followed, I wondered if maybe I should have.
I also wondered if Leo had any regret, because after all, Colin was his brother.
They both shook their heads, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. There were a handful of people whose opinion meant the world to me—Lily and Jules were near the top of that list.
“Not at all. You and Colin broke up, and if for whatever reason he has a problem with it, that’s on him. You don’t owe him anything,” Jules said.
“No, not at all,” Lily agreed. “If you and Leo decide to sleep together again, there wouldn’t be anything wrong with that, either.”
I looked over at her, my brows creasing. “You think that’s a good idea?”
Lily let out a gentle laugh. “I’m not answering that, but I think that’s up to you to decide. It might be good to talk to him about some of your concerns and get on the same page.”
I groaned. “But I hate talking. That’s why casual is good—there’s very limited talking.”
“Has Leo said anything?” Jules asked.
I shrugged. “We haven’t really had time to talk that hasn’t been at work. He didn’t give off any vibes that he regretted it. If anything, I think he’d be open to sleeping together again.”
I thought back to the electricity and tension from Friday’s shift that I hadn’t been able to shake. The brief encounter in the walk-in fridge, followed by what he’d said while we were eating tacos.
My issue is that I want you moaning.
Immediately after he’d said that, my body buzzed with desire.
“I don’t regret anything, but I also know it’s different for him,” I said.
“He and Colin don’t have the best relationship, and this might drive them further apart.
Colin was always weird about Leo and I talking, but I never crossed any lines when I was with Colin.
Leo has always been easy to talk to, and we had a handful of conversations, but when I was with Colin, he was my focus. ”
“We know,” Lily assured gently. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re single. Leo’s single.” She paused before speaking again. “You and Colin have talked here and there. Do you have any interest in getting back together with him?”
“Not at all.” I leaned forward, setting my half-eaten crumb cake on the table and pouring us each a margarita. I got comfortable on the couch again and took a healthy sip from my glass.
“My relationship with Colin was fine, but it’s honestly part of the reason why I’ve stuck to casual since then,” I admitted.
Lily had heard bits and pieces of my relationship with Colin while we’d been dating, but I hadn’t ever told her the full story.
I wasn’t sure why—I normally told her everything.
Maybe part of it was that I was embarrassed over some of the things I put up with.
“What happened?” Jules asked softly.