Book Club Night #2
She’d been out there cleaning up melted popsicles and spilled sunscreen-slick chaos with the faint sound of a Disney movie playing inside where all the kids were finally corralled, safe and occupied.
Diego showed up, and she decided to do the right thing and to tell Diego they couldn’t keep seeing each other, that it was wrong, reckless, and already halfway to disaster. But there he was, shirtless, sunlight turning his skin to gold, a half-smirk daring her to finish the sentence.
That ridiculous white swan floaty was supposed to be for the kids, bobbing on the surface.
Somehow, she ended up on it, trying to keep her balance while he held her. The teasing turned into touch, the water slicking everything, sound and reason melting away. Every small movement rocked the floaty.
By the time she stopped fighting it, the swan rocked.
Inside, the movie kept playing to blare out her cries of pleasure.
Ro chuckled. “Diego and Simone was nasty for doing that to the floaty. Damn thing deflated before they could fully finish.”
Cadence frowned. “I just don’t know why the author would make his penis 15 inches. That’s ridiculous.”
“What? You want the dick to be four inches? Hell no.” Ro waved her away. “Make my book boyfriend’s dick as big as possible. And make it vibrate too. Shit. Diego could have had two dicks, and I wouldn’t have even been mad.”
Ro and I exchanged glances and devilishly laughed.
Cadence shook her head. “You two are nasty.”
We settled into our chairs, the same way we'd done at each other's houses for years, except this time the chairs were velvet and the table could seat twelve.
"I'm so glad we finally get to do this book," Cadence pulled out her worn copy of Pool Boy with sticky tabs marking at least thirty pages. "Missing last month's meeting felt wrong."
"Our girl was a little busy," Ro pointed out. "Between Scott getting arrested, the divorce speedrun, and a whole-ass wedding, I think we can forgive each other for missing a book club meeting."
I laughed, but my chest tightened. "I still can't believe it all happened so fast. Like. . .is this real? Am I really sitting here married to Dominic with Scott in prison?"
"It’s real.” Cadence nodded. "And finally you got the justice you deserved."
"Fuck Scott," Ro raised her glass. "That man is exactly where he deserves to be. I hope his ass hurts from him constantly dropping the soap—”
“Ro!” Cadence blinked.
“I’ll never forgive that man for bringing cocaine into the house. Disgusting.” Ro took a sip of her dirty martini. “Anyway, Tey, you are exactly where you deserve to be. In a mansion. With a hot, young husband who worships you. Living your best life."
"Speaking of your husband," Cadence smiled. "Where is Dominic tonight?"
"Second floor. Theater room with J and Oliver. Some superhero movie marathon. I could hear the explosions from here earlier."
Ro grinned. "That man really said, 'I'm going to dick you down, marry you, adopt your kids, put you in luxury, and even watch Marvel movies until they love me. King behavior."
"He's been amazing with them," I admitted softly. "J asked Dominic if they could call him Dad last week."
Cadence widened her eyes. "What did Dominic say?"
"He cried. Like, full-on tears in the kitchen. Then he said J could call him whatever they felt comfortable with, but he'd be honored."
Silence fell, warm and thick.
"Damn," Ro whispered. "You bitches are about to have me crying in this fancy mansion. Y’all know I be trying to be classy."
We laughed.
Matilda returned with the poppers, arranged artfully on a slate board with cooling crema drizzled in a pattern that probably had a French name.
"Eat," I urged, desperate to change the subject before I started crying too. My hormones had been insane lately—I'd cried at a diaper commercial yesterday. "And tell me—are we team Diego or team 'Simone should've kept her legs closed'?"
Cadence bit into a popper, chewed thoughtfully. "Okay, here's my thing. Diego was nineteen. Still a baby. But. . ." She paused for effect. "That boy had skills that suggested either a very attentive previous partner or access to some grade-A sexual education materials."
"He watched porn," Ro picked up a popper. "Good porn. The kind that teaches technique, not just jackhammering."
I nearly choked on my fake champagne. "Ro!"
"What? I'm just saying. . .the way Diego used his hands in chapter eight? That's research. That's a man who studied."
"Speaking of studying. . ." Cadence turned to me, eyes sparkling. "Tell Ro your news. You said you would do it at the meeting."
“Oh yes. Ro, you’ve been so busy sending the kids off to college and moving, I didn’t want to bother you.” I set down my glass, suddenly nervous. "So. . .Dominic convinced me to take a leave of absence from the firm."
“Bitch!” Ro set her martini down. "Why?"
"So. . .I can go back to law school." The words tumbled out fast. "He said I've been talking about wanting to finish my law degree since he met me, and now that we have the money and the stability, there's no reason not to. So I. . .enrolled last week. I start in January."
Silence.
Then Ro screamed so loud I jumped. "BITCH! LAW SCHOOL? You're going back to law school?!"
"I'm terrified," I shivered a little. "I haven't been a law student in years. What if I can't keep up? What if—"
"Stop." Cadence reached across the table to grab my hand. "You've wanted this forever. You're brilliant. You're going to kill it."
"And Dominic's taking care of everything else," Ro snapped her fingers. "The man literally gave you a mansion with a butler and staff. Let him handle the logistics while you focus on becoming the badass lawyer you were always meant to be."
My throat tightened. "You really think I can do it?"
"I know you can," Cadence bobbed her head. "And we'll be here the whole time. Study sessions. Coffee runs. Whatever you need."
"Damn right," Ro snapped her fingers again. "Though I draw the line at learning actual law. That shit looks boring as hell."
We laughed, and the tension in my chest eased.
"Okay, enough sappy shit." Ro wiped her eyes. "Let's talk about the real scandal of this book—the scene with the garden hose."
"Oh my God," Cadence shrieked. "Why would the author write that? Who thinks of that?"
I shrugged. "Someone who's been through a hot summer and wanted to cool off in a very specific way."
We all screamed with laughter.
Matilda reappeared with a silver tray balanced on one hand, the movement so smooth it looked choreographed. Crystal bowls shimmered, each filled with a pale green gazpacho so silken it resembled liquid jade.
A crown of mint foam floated on top, dusted with edible gold and a single swan crystal drifting on the side.
The chilled bowls had the nerve to be resting on plates rimmed in gold.
“Course Two—The Floaty Incident,” Matilda announced, her accent smooth as cream. “Cucumber gazpacho with mint foam and truffles, for those moments when cool relief is not enough.”
She set each bowl down. The faint perfume of cucumber, mint, and truffle rippled through the air.
Ro actually sighed. “Rich people soup. I love it.”
Matilda gave a half bow. “I may not have 15 inches, but I hope you enjoy this moment as much as Simone enjoyed hers.”
"Matilda," Ro chuckled, "if Tey ever divorces Dominic—which she won't—I'm marrying you."
"Noted, Miss Rochelle." Matilda's mouth twitched. "I'll prepare the prenup."
Smiling, I tried my dish.
After she left, Cadence leaned back in her chair, carefully sipping her martini. "So. . .updates. Ro first, since you're basically vibrating with news."
Ro grinned so wide I could count all her teeth.
"The condo is flawless. I mean, yes, I'm surrounded by young millionaire tech bros who wear Patagonia vests indoors, but my place has a balcony overlooking the river and a bathtub big enough to host a small orgy. And. . .my neighbor. . .Korean. . .muscular. . .granted. . .he’s 22, but.
. .oh my God. . .I would totally be his Bad Mommy for a day! "
"Ro!" Cadence gasped.
"What? I'm just saying, the tub has jets and fits two comfortably, so I’m thinking about inviting my neighbor over.
" She winked. "But more importantly my birthday party, 50 Shades of Ro is officially happening.
February fourteenth. Downtown venue. Open bar.
Theme is 'Age Ain't Nothing But A Number, But This Ass Is Timeless. '"
I choked on my fake champagne. "That's the actual theme?"
"That's the actual theme. Invites will go out next week. Dress code is slutty formal. I’m talking silk, lace, leather. Be nasty, but posh." She pointed at both of us. "You're both coming. No excuses. I want to see you in something that makes people nervous."
"I'll be there," I promised. "Dominic too, if you'll have him."
"Girl, bring that fine man. He can stand in the corner and look expensive." Ro turned to Cadence. "What about you? Are you bringing the biker or is he going to kill you because you won’t let him check out any books?"
“Bring the biker?” Cadence went still. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Bullshit." Ro leaned forward. "You've mentioned him at least ten times in the last two weeks. 'The biker did this.' 'The biker said that.' 'The biker looked at me like—'"
"He paid his fines," Cadence interrupted, her voice prim but her cheeks pink.
"All thirty-two dollars and seventy-five cents.
Plus additional late fees. This was after I had firmly told him he could not check out any books.
His little biker friends with him looked shocked and a few appeared scared, but he just winked and paid. "
I grinned. "And?"
"And. . ." Cadence picked at her napkin. "He asked if I wanted to get some coffee. To discuss children's literacy programs. For his niece."
Ro screamed. "COFFEE? Girl, that man doesn't want to discuss literacy! He wants to discuss you bent over his bike and his cock slamming into—"