Chapter 20 #2
“Read it in a client’s book. Before she was my client. And then, when she became my client, I couldn’t not ask her about it. She had heavily researched it.” I shake my head. “Why are we talking about how long a bull can last?”
Ironically, unloading my secret to Elisa has taken a weight off my shoulders. I actually feel better about life now, if that makes any kind of sense.
“I love your job. Want to hook me up with some clients?”
“Um, no. You hate to read, and you suck at graphics. What exactly could you offer them?”
She ponders my question for a minute, as if she truly has an answer. “You’re right. As usual. Guess I’ll have to keep mooching off Mom and Dad for a while.”
“Don’t you have a degree? In fashion or something?”
Her cheeks tint red. “I’m six courses short of the degree.”
“Oh, Lissy. Do the parental units know?”
“Yes. I was forced to tell them.”
“Too much drinking and partying instead of class and studying?”
“Too many vacations. Too many men on those vacations keeping my attention away from my studies.”
I try not to react, but an unsolicited gasp escapes anyway. Not for her sake, but because of the similarity of why I’m in this predicament. The whole vacation fling.
“What’s your plan?”
“Still working on it. I wasn’t ready to take classes this summer, and unless I take a full course load plus an extra class, I won’t graduate in December. If I have to put in another year, might as well take three each semester.”
Her logic isn’t the worst idea in the world, though in her situation, I’d rather get it over with and be done. It’s probably a good thing Cameron and I didn’t start anything so many years ago. I probably would have flunked out of college, too, if we were as explosive as this past week.
“How did you lose touch with Cameron?”
Her question catches me off guard. “Huh?”
“After your less than stellar romp in the pool house. What happened? Why did you not see him for so many years?”
“Um, I don’t have a good answer. Despite the act itself, we parted on good terms. It was one of those things that kinda happened. I went back to my life, and he went back to his. I didn’t have his number, and I wasn’t asking Preston for it. Guess he thought the same way.”
“Speaking of big bro, does he know about last week?”
“I didn’t tell him. Not sure if Cameron did.”
“Did you ask him?”
“No. Why would I ask Preston that?”
Her head moves erratically from side to side. “Cameron. Have you asked him if he said anything to Preston?”
“Again, no.”
“Why not?”
“Not sure.”
“What happened last week? Did things end badly? Is that why you’re living in filth?”
Leave it to Elisa to overexaggerate my situation.
“No,” I whisper, tears beginning to form. I was done crying. Damn you, Elisa.
“Okayyyyy, so are you going to try long distance?” I can’t make my mouth form the word, so a head shake it is. “Because he doesn’t want to?” A one-shoulder shrug. “Because you don’t want to?”
“It’s not like that with him. We’re friends.” I choke on the word. I wish it could be more. But he’s probably right. It wouldn’t ever work between us. I hate that we don’t get to try.
Elisa has more to say, but for once in her life, she keeps her thoughts to herself, wrapping me in an embrace instead. “You’ll find someone for you, Juli. He’s out there.”
It’s hard to hear, even if it’s true.
Years ago, sex was horrible, but the kiss we shared was astounding. Never in all my life have I found someone to be a better kisser than Cameron. Last week solidified that. Add to it the amazing sex and everything else about our connection . . . sigh.
“You need a distraction. Want to hit the bar tonight?”
“The exact opposite of what I want to do.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m not accepting it.
You need closure, a romp in the hay with another man who will boot Cameron out of your headspace for good.
You can’t pine over a man you had lousy sex with, even if he more than made up for it.
There are so many more fish in the sea. Let’s go fishing.
” She’s overly excited about the prospect of this.
“I’ll be your wingwoman tonight. Give me some parameters, and I’ll cast the net. ”
“Taking these fishing metaphors to the extreme, are you not?”
“Do you want to get over Cameron?”
“I’d very much like to get under him.” Oops. Didn’t mean to say that aloud.
Elisa’s face illuminates, and before she speaks, I know I won’t like the idea, no matter what it is.
“Scratch the whole ‘let’s find you a new man’ thing. I have a better idea.” She stands up, her hands clapping excitedly. “Yes, this is way better.” She gathers up her garbage and disappears for a minute, reappearing with a twinkle in her eye. “I’m going to go.”
Her nonchalance startles me. As much as I don’t want to be dragged out to the bar, I’m not ready to be alone tonight. Her company is as good as anyone else’s.
“Why? You could stay. We could watch a movie.” I’m not above pleading or bribery. Though it would have to be good. “I’ll clean up the mess.”
“Forget the mess. I’ll be back on Sunday. Have your bags packed. We’re going on a road trip.”
Only Elisa Langley would decide a trip is the answer to life’s woes.
“I just returned from vacation. I can’t leave again.”
She stares pointedly at me. “Consider it a work trip. For research.”
“Research?”
“Yep.” She pops the p, then leans over, hugging me again. “Be ready early Sunday morning. Leave all the details to me.”
“Elisa! This is not a solution.”
She’s already halfway out the door, but turns back around. “On the contrary.” With nothing else, she skedaddles through the open door, leaving me not knowing what the hell to think.
Why does she always leave things more unsettled than when she arrived?