Chapter 20
TWENTY
SAVANNAH
Calliope’s Column
It’s Not Him, It’s You (Kind Of)
Rule Number 4: Don’t Talk About Your Past Sexual Partners…or Compare Him to Them…(Or do and Pay the Price.)
When Josie reads the tagline of this week’s article out loud, there’s no holding back the fit of giggles that takes over.
“Wait, what price did you pay?” Addie holds up a red sweater dress, eyeing it, then us, in silent question.
“Go sluttier,” Josie says from her spot beside me on Addie’s bed.
“Your body is literally what dreams are made of. Wet ones. Give the guys a little preview of what they’re missing.
” She drops her phone onto the bed, thankfully pausing her reading of my article, and darts up and disappears into Addie’s closet.
“I’m not trying to give them a preview of anything. I’ll be their coach next year. Professional, remember? That’s what we’re keeping this.” She widens her eyes at me, looking for backup.
All she’ll get from me is a shrug. “I’ve recently discovered that I get off on being spanked, so I’m the wrong person to look to for moral support.”
Addie’s mouth falls open and a garbled noise escapes her. “Wait—” She shakes her head. “Did you just say he spanks you? As in Camden I’m Old Enough to be Your Father Snow spanks you?”
I snort. If I told them he likes it when I call him Daddy, they’d lose their minds. Something is definitely wrong with me, and I can’t say I even care.
“Yup,” Josie says, her voice muffled from inside the closet. “He told her to tell him the name of every man and woman she’s ever slept with, and then he spanked her for every one.”
Clearly, the girl has already read the entire article.
It’s a good thing Calliope is anonymous, or I might be embarrassed. I’m not even remotely shy about my sex life, but I’d prefer it if my friends’ family members—who also happen to be Camden’s friends and coworkers—didn’t know about my escapades.
And I don’t even want to think of how Camden would react if he knew about the articles.
Or maybe I would. He’d definitely punish me.
But seriously, would he be upset? I hope not.
I’m an open book, and my job is to share my life with the world, so if I’m not giving away our identities, then I’m not causing any harm.
Right?
Still, a little crumb of guilt lodges itself in my brain.
Can’t do anything about it now, though. That’s a problem for future Savannah, and I’m definitely the type of girl who lives in the present.
And presently, I’m too excited to be stressed, because while I haven’t seen Camden since last weekend, I plan to surprise him in a matter of hours.
Langfield Corp is putting on a holiday party for its employees and players.
For decades, the Langfields have hosted a winter festival with rides and ice skating and all sorts of fun activities.
Showing up to a man’s work party without being invited is a definite red flag.
I guess we’ll see if this is the thing that sends Camden Snow running.
I can’t decide whether I want to prove Sutton right or wrong.
Can I be a man’s exception? Normally, I wouldn’t even consider the thought, but yeah, I’d like to be Camden’s.
Especially after the way he opened up to me this past weekend.
I want him to see that I’ll keep showing up.
And I will. So long as he doesn’t push me away.
“What about this?” Josie wanders out of the closet with a pair of distressed skintight jeans in one hand and a red top in the other. “Your boobs will look phenomenal.”
Addie glances down at her chest and then back at Josie. “These?”
I giggle. “Your boobs are adorable.”
“Oh great,” she moans. “Did you hear that, Jose? My boobs are adorable. Should I dress them up with pink bows?”
Josie smirks. “Don’t knock a nipple tassel until you try it.”
“Okay, but as a reminder, my entire family, including my very overprotective father, will be there tonight. Still think I should go with the slutty shirt?”
Blanching, Josie tosses the red top over her shoulder. “Sorry, Beckett is literally one of my favorite humans. I can’t dress his daughter in slutty clothing.”
Addie grins. “So the red dress?”
Josie rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, the red dress is fine.”
“Back to overprotective men,” Addie says as she disappears into the closet with the dress.
I fall back on her extremely comfortable bed and sigh. “What about them?”
She peers out at me from the closet, holding the dress to her chest. “I think Sutton might have been right.”
She disappears again without finishing the thought, and when she comes out, she’s fully dressed.
“Tada.” She spins slowly while we tell her how pretty she looks.
“Sutton was right?” I prod. A complete glutton for punishment.
Addie nods. “Yup. All the ‘wrong’ things you do with this guy only seem to make him want you more.”
I shrug, tamping down on the hope trying to unfurl in my chest. I’m not supposed to like this man. I don’t believe in relationships, and my life is far too messy to be conducive to one. “Only time will tell.”
Josie nudges me. “Tell Addie the plan for tonight.”
Our friend’s eyes go wide, and she darts closer. “Wait, you’re going to do something tonight?”
“I promised Sutton I’d follow through, and I’m not a quitter. So tonight I’m going to flip the switch. A little brighter and in public. It’s one thing for him to ignore the red flags I’m waving when I’m naked, but I highly doubt he’ll go with the flow when I push him in public.”
Josie’s smile goes manic. “Have I told you how much I love this project?”
I pick up a pillow and toss it at her head. “You’re evil.”
“You’re both diabolical,” Addie says, plopping down beside me. “But I want to know every detail of your plan, because I’ll be taking notes of that man’s reaction.”
My stomach twists with nerves, but I force a smile to my face. Then I break down my completely batshit plans.