Chapter 7 #2
“I agree. If you’re avoiding heartbreak, stay away from him,” Lily says.
“Well…” Celeste prolongs the vowel in a way that suggests she might have a different opinion. “Maybe you hooked up with the wrong men before, so I wouldn’t discount the idea of getting back on the horse.” She makes quotation marks with her fingers.
“My last hookup…” I cringe. “The morning after was awkward as hell, and negated the mediocre night completely. I just stopped trying, I guess.”
“Oh my God, one shitty experience can’t guide your orgasm quest.” All animated, Saar pushes to all fours like she could make her point only if she leans closer.
“An orgasm quest?” Lily giggles.
“I can take care of my own orgasms, thank you very much,” I protest.
The three women look at me with various levels of skepticism.
“It’s not the same.” Lily voices what they are probably thinking. Lily, the least experienced one.
“Was Ethan your first?” Celeste asks.
“No,” I admit so quickly, and they all snicker. “I enjoyed my slutty early twenties.”
“So then you have no problems with hookups.” Saar props herself on her forearms on the coffee table between us, her interviewer nature shining through.
I shrug. “I was with Ethan for five years, and he was the one. He kind of erased the guys before him.”
“So perhaps the hookups after him were tainted by your grief?” Lily squeezes my shoulder. “You didn’t allow anyone close enough.”
“When did you become so perceptive?” I tease. Lily is fourteen years younger than I am.
“Older man.” She shrugs, referring to Declan.
Saar groans, and I laugh.
“Wait a minute,” Celeste says. “When was that?”
All three women look at me with expectations. “When was what?” I pretend not to understand her question, because, for some outlandish reason, I’m embarrassed.
“When did you last fuck someone?” Celeste clarifies, frowning in concern.
Heat swallows my cheeks. “A year or so ago?”
The silence after my sad engagement story was filled with compassion. This pause is just plain shock.
Lily leans back, as if looking at me from a different angle would help her understand the words.
Saar seems to have a blinking seizure, and Celeste just gapes.
“Jesus, as I said, I can take care of my own orgasms.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Merde,” Celeste utters. The French dancer has never stopped swearing in her native language. “We’re definitely finding you a man.”
“Unless you want to be celibate. We won’t judge you.” Saar gives me a reassuring smile, and the other two women agree vigorously.
I roll my eyes. “I know you won’t judge me, but it feels like you’re pitying me.”
“It’s more like I can’t imagine…” Saar takes a gulp of her wine.
“I had no sex for five years before Declan.” Lily shrugs. “I didn’t have time to even think about it. I understand, but I’m glad my dry spell is over.”
“Say the word, and I will have all Caleb’s friends line up to wine and dine you,” Celeste says.
“Corm would help, too.” Saar perks up. “If that’s what you want.”
“I don’t think Declan has friends.” Lily shrugs, biting her lip, and we all burst out laughing.
“Okay, okay, I think I’m ready to date,” I declare, raising my glass, and we all drink to my declaration. “Though I can’t imagine when I would have time to do so.”
“Maybe you can close for a week, and we will set you up on fourteen dates. Then you have a pool to choose from.” Saar stands up, bouncing with excitement.
I snort. “Fourteen dates in one week?”
“Sure.” Saar shimmies her hips. “Two per day. It will require careful coordination, but it’s doable.”
I laugh. “You’re serious?”
“I think it’s a great idea. A matinee and an encore,” Celeste says, and Lily nods.
“I can’t afford to close for a week.” I shake my head, chuckling.
“We will cover the lost revenue,” Saar offers with such determination, and I stop laughing when I realize my other two friends are equally on board.
“You’ve lost your minds. Or you’re all drunk.”
“That may be.” Saar takes a generous sip. “But I’m serious. We will cover the cost. It’s our birthday gift to you.”
They look at me expectantly. The three of them are serious about this. I’m so overwhelmed by the prospect, I don’t even know what to say.
It’s such a ridiculous idea, I’m tempted to agree just for the fun of it. It’s also disturbing how my friends can throw money around like that while I live from one day to another, often worrying if my electricity can stay on.
“You already gave me gifts.” I point to the gift bags in the corner.
“Let us treat you to this,” Saar pleads. She walks around the coffee table and sits on it, taking my hands into hers.
I look from one woman to the other, finding love and determination in their eyes. Would it be so bad to be reckless for once in my life?
I take a deep breath. “I can’t take money from you like that.” I guess my reckless streak lasted exactly two seconds.
“You took money from Xander,” Celeste points out. Not helping.
“Yeah, and I shouldn’t have. That doesn’t mean I’m accepting full-time charity-case status.” I bounce my leg, the reckless streak fighting its way back while my pride fights it with vigor.
“You’re not a charity case, Cora. And sorry if I offended you with the idea. Okay, no money, but you’re closed every Monday, so let us set you up on two dates every Monday. And if you take one more evening off, it could be three dates a week.” Saar is all business.
I let out the air through pursed lips. “I could use an evening off occasionally.”
“Yes.” Celeste claps.
“What the hell—let’s do it.” I shake my head, grinning. Maybe we’ll sober up tomorrow and realize how silly the idea is.
“Do you want Xander on the list?” Saar asks.
Yes. “That’s not a good idea.” My ovaries scream in protest.
“That’s probably for the best.” Lily stands up. “I have to go. Declan probably wore a hole in the carpet, pacing and waiting for me.”
Celeste gathers her things. “Have I ever told you that the first time I met Xander was when he walked in on me and Caleb fucking on the st—”
“For the love of God,” Saar cries. “How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t want to hear about you doing any of that with my brother?”
Lily bursts into giggles, and I join her.
“Stop laughing.” Saar shakes her head, but her lips curve.
We say goodbye, and I consider tidying up, but the leftover chips win me over. Munching on the salty drug, I grin. It turned out to be a wonderful birthday, after all.
Knock. Knock.
I frown, checking my watch. I open the door. “What did you forget?”
But it’s not any of my friends I find on the other side. My eyes collide with the tousled, sandy hair, gray eyes, mischievous grin… and for the love of my ovaries, the man is clad in tight jeans and a leather jacket.
Xander Stone in a suit is a feast for the eyes. This bad-boy casual version of him is devastating.
I swallow.
He is NOT on the fucking list.