18. Nick Isn’t Purple, Silicone,Battery-Powered
Nick Isn’t Purple, Silicone, Or Battery-Powered
Missy
‘Hey, come in.’ Bree welcomes me into her cottage, and I follow her to the living room. Cara isn’t inside yet, but the knock on the door as my butt hits the sofa tells me she’s just arrived.
‘Hiya.’ She hugs us both and joins me on the sofa. Bree hands us both a glass of wine before sitting in the chair she loves so much. It’s huge and squishy, and everyone knows not to dare sit in Bree’s chair.
I look at the table for the iPad.
‘Are we not calling Zoe?’
‘No,’ she shakes her head, ‘she can’t dial in tonight.’
I’m disappointed. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow, and this is our last girls’ night of the year.
‘Oh no, why not?’
‘Because I’m right here, bitches. ’
Zoe jumps into view in the doorway, and Cara and I squeal as we rush to stand, put down our glasses, and hug our friend.
‘What are you doing here?’ Cara asks with a wide smile on her face.
‘We’re back for a few days. We leave the day after Christmas.’
‘I’m so happy to see you.’ I squeeze my friend. I have missed having her around.
‘I can’t wait to see your place, Miss.’ She beams as she sits in Bree’s chair — it’s big enough for both of them, and I know they must want to be as close to each other as possible after all this time apart.
‘Where are you staying?’
Zoe rented her house when she moved. She offered it to Jonah and me before Cara bought the apartment, but without a job here, I couldn’t make the move.
‘We’re staying in one of the cabins.’ She smiles widely. Zoe still owns the bar and the vacation cabins behind it. ‘Mama and Buck are both horrified that we’re not staying with them, but…’
‘Leo can’t make you scream in your parents’ houses,’ I say, raising my glass, and they all laugh.
‘Exactly.’ We all drink to that with smiles on our faces. ‘How are you settling into town, Miss?’
‘Good, really good.’ I sip my wine.
‘Is Nick still being an asshole?’
‘Um, no, it’s getting better.’
‘What was that look?’ Bree sits forward, Zoe right behind her, and Cara turns to me. I sip my wine again.
‘Marissa Morgan,’ Zoe grins. ‘Did you fuck him?’
‘No, god, of course not.’ I feel the heat rising up my cheeks. I’m not a shy girl, but he’s their friend.
‘Spill it, Morgan,’ Cara demands, and I turn to her, shocked at her tone, which makes her laugh.
‘I just made him apologize for being a dick to me.’
‘Apologize how?’ Bree presses, and I smirk as I sit up tall and prepare to tell my friends every last delicious detail.
‘How all good groveling is done — on his knees.’
‘Holy fuckin’ shit, Miss.’ Zoe claps her hands and has a smile so wide I know it must hurt.
‘That’s hot as fuck,’ Bree adds in her calm, steady tone.
‘So, what now?’ Cara asks, and I shrug.
‘I don’t know. I don’t want anything serious, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a little more. He’s a dark horse. He’s so quiet and nerdy, but goddam, the man has a mouth on him.’
They all giggle like little girls, and Zoe turns to Bree before they both turn their twin gazes on me.
‘You like him,’ Zoe says, lifting one eyebrow.
‘And he likes you,’ Bree adds, grinning, and I shake my head.
‘And you’re both so gorgeous,’ Cara says.
‘Well, obviously, hence him getting up close and open-mouthed with my kitty, but that doesn’t mean a thing.’
‘You’d say yes to sex?’ Bree asks, and I note once more how much I love her serious, no-nonsense tone.
‘Well, duh, I haven’t had sex with a human in a really long time. Nick isn’t purple, silicone, or battery-powered. Of course, I’d say yes.’
Zoe snickers.
‘Then lay it out for him. Tell him you want to get on that.’
‘Question,’ Cara says. ‘Nick is out with Doug, and I’m guessing Leo right now?’ Zoe nods yes. ‘So do we assume he’s telling them about what happened?’ I hadn’t considered that, but I guess it stands to reason he’d talk to his friends. ‘So, we all know, and the guys probably know, so how do we act when we see you together?’
I inhale deeply, considering it. ‘Like we’re all friends. Nick and I are adults. We can engage in casual, consensual hallway oral without it being a big thing.’
‘Oh, it’s a big thing, honey,’ Zoe drawls. ‘He put his tongue in your cooch. If he’s anything like Leo, I know he’ll be desperate for more.’
‘Eww.’ Bree shoves her twin’s shoulder, and Zo laughs.
‘ Zoe ,’ Cara sighs, and I giggle — she can still be a little prudish at times but in the cutest way.
‘I mean, yeah, sex he can have, but I have no interest in finding Jonah a new daddy.’
‘But he brought him little baby scrubs.’ Zoe pouts, and I roll my eyes.
‘And he noticed the little pumpkin loves sparkles,’ Bree adds.
‘ Jesus , really, Bree?’ I glare at her. I was relying on her. ‘Okay, maybe he’s not the jackass I thought he was, and yeah, I love that he seems to genuinely like Jonah, but it changes nothing. I don’t want a relationship. Sex, yes. Boyfriend, no.’
‘There’s something to be said for waking up next to someone you love,’ Cara says softly.
‘Mhmm,’ Zoe agrees, and I sip my wine.
‘Zoe.’ Bree holds my gaze for a moment before turning to her twin, and I know she saw my hesitation and discomfort. ‘Tell us about California.’
It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have what they have, but I’ve never had what they have. The only people I’ve ever loved are my grandpa, Roberta, Jonah, and the women in this room. I’m not good at picking men. I picked Frankland Moore to be my first kiss, and I almost choked on his tongue. I chose Teddy Fisher to be the first boy to put his hands in my panties, and I ended up with a friction burn on my labia. I chose Dean Black to be my first lay, and he came before he put it in, and after a few similarly disastrous sexual experiences, I chose Bax.
I swallow hard and raise my glass to my lips again. I have no idea what Zoe is saying. I see her smiling as she talks, and I see the girls laughing, but all I can think about is Bax, about me and Bax, and I can’t catch my breath.
I push up from my spot on the sofa, excusing myself to the bathroom as I put down my glass.
I can’t do it again. Sex yes. Boyfriend, hell fuckin’ no.
Nick
‘Damn, brother,’ Leo says, an impressed smirk on his face. ‘That’s hot. ’
Leo being back to join Doug and me at the bar was a surprise, a good one. It feels great being here with both of them.
I nod and raise my beer to my lips.
‘So, what now?’ Doug asks, and I shrug.
‘She’s not going to make it easy for me.’ I smirk. ‘But now I convince her to give me a shot.’
Simultaneously, my friends raise their smiles along with their bottles, and I do the same. I’m getting the girl.