2. Blyss Monroe
Blyss Monroe
T he sun was shining through my window as I laid in my canopy bed, trying to block out the memories from last night, Kase Maddox’s grand opening of his second club.
From the moment I agreed to attend, I knew it was a terrible idea.
I had never even been to a club before. Not once.
And the first time I finally decided to go?
I get called out for being horny… just for dancing.
And not by some random stranger, no, by my crush.
I should’ve never gone, especially since that wasn’t even my kind of good time.
I didn’t drink. I didn’t dance. I barely liked loud music.
Yet there I was, standing in that velvet-rope chaos for one reason only, Kase.
Since high school, I’ve had a crush on him.
Back then, he never gave me the time of day.
And now? At twenty-six, that man still had me in a chokehold every time he walked into a room.
And why wouldn’t he? He had that smooth, honey-toned skin, those muscles that stayed flexed because he practically lived in the gym, and that cocky little smirk that made me want to risk all my common sense.
I let myself believe for one second that maybe, just maybe, he’d see me differently. Instead, I ended up humiliated.
I climbed out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom, still half-glaring at the sunlight like it personally invited me to that club.
A hot shower helped, barely. The steam cleared my skin, but not the embarrassment that clung to me like glitter on a carpet.
Once I was done, I towel-dried my curls and slipped into my outfit for the day: a pleated plaid skirt in deep maroon that hit right below the knee, paired with a cream-colored blouse with little pearl buttons and a Peter Pan collar.
I tucked it in neatly and threw on my favorite cardigan, the mustard yellow one with embroidered bees near the cuff.
To finish it off, I grabbed my round glasses, pulled on some maroon tights, and laced up my vintage oxfords. The look screamed honor roll librarian meets cottagecore nerd, but it was me. Safe and familiar. The complete opposite of anything Kase Maddox would ever be into.
Stepping into the kitchen, I was greeted by the smell of cinnamon and coffee. Tuesday stood at the stove, flipping pancakes like she belonged on a brunch cooking show. Not only were we cousins, but we were also roommates; her half of the apartment always smelled like body butter and ambition.
“Good morning, Sunshine,” she teased without looking up.
I smiled and headed toward the fridge to grab my smoothie ingredients: frozen mango, spinach, oat milk, and a scoop of matcha protein powder. But before I could even start, Tuesday slid a glass across the counter toward me.
“I already made it,” she said with a smirk, one eyebrow raised like she knew everything.
I looked down at the green smoothie, then back up at her. “You love me,” I mumbled, taking a sip.
She smirked. “Mmhm. And I know you probably been up since dawn overthinking everything that happened last night.”
I tried not to roll my eyes.
“I was so embarrassed, Tuesday,” I said, dropping my head onto the counter. “I can never face Kase again.”
“Why?” she asked, turning off the stove. “ He’s the cocky fool who called you out.”
“I know, but…” I groaned. “Now he knows that I get, you know… when I dance.”
Tuesday raised a brow. “And? You’re a woman. You have needs. I mean, you’ve never even had sex, so that’s natural.”
“God, Tuesday,” I whispered harshly, eyes wide. “Please don’t say that out loud.”
She laughed, loud and unbothered. “Girl, ain’t nobody in here but us and your virginity.”
I covered my face with both hands. “I hate it here.”
“No, you don’t,” she said, sipping her coffee. “You just hate that Kase Maddox had your coochie playing slow jams on the dance floor. Oh, and to apologize for his little stunt,” Tuesday said casually, like she was mentioning the weather, “You got flowers.”
I walked over slowly, heart thudding in my chest as I leaned down to read the little white card tucked between the stems.
“From someone who knows you deserved better last night. – J”
My eyes widen. “Wait… J ? As in Jace ?”
Tuesday didn’t even look up from her pancakes. “Yup. My man sent them. Said his brother was a damn fool and you ain’t deserve that mess.”
I stared at the flowers like they were ticking. “Why would he send me flowers?”
“Because he has manners. And a heart. And eyes that work. Unlike Kase.”
I gently touched one of the petals, still stunned. “I don’t even know what to say…”
“Say thank you,” Tuesday replied, licking syrup off her finger. “And maybe post a little soft-boiled thirst trap with them. Let Kase see what grace and poise look like when he fumbles it.”
“I am not doing that,” I muttered.
“You should. He had you out there looking like a horny librarian who snuck in through the back door.”
“Tuesday!”
She laughed. “Girl, I’m just saying. Kase don’t deserve your crush. But my man? He saw you. And that’s saying something.”
I looked back at the bouquet. “I still can’t believe Jace did that. I didn’t even know he noticed me like that.”
Tuesday gave me a look. “Please. Jace ain’t blind. He might be mine, but he know good people when he see 'em. And he knows when his brother’s being a dick.”
I glanced at her. “So now what?”
“Now you either ignore it, or you text him and say thank you like a decent human being. Either way, fix your face. He gave you roses, not a subpoena.”
After staring at the card a little longer than I should’ve, I finally grabbed my phone and sent Jace a quick text. He was really so kind. He didn’t have to send me flowers to apologize on behalf of his brother, but I’m glad he did, because that was so sweet.
Me:Thank you for the flowers. That was really sweet of you. I appreciate it more than you know.
He didn’t respond right away, but I felt better just saying it.
Tuesday and I sat down for breakfast. We both dug into her delicious pancakes.
They tasted so good, so full and rich. I always loved it when she cooked; she had a real gift in the kitchen.
Unlike me, who could barely boil water without messing something up
“Alright, hurry up and get dressed. We’re going to the mall.”
“For what?”
“For me, duh. The anniversary of the first time Jace kissed me is coming up. I need something cute.”
“You celebrate the first kiss ?”
“Yes. It was life-changing. And tongue-filled. Don’t hate.”
I laughed and threw on my shoes. We hit the mall together, walking arm in arm, talking about everything and nothing.
I forgot all about the club, the dance, and even Kase for a minute.
I was finally starting to feel like myself again.
As we were walking, I saw a store tucked near the corner of the second floor, with bright neon signs in the window and mannequins wearing barely-there lingerie.
The bold black letters above the door read: “Temptations.”
I slowed my steps. “Is that… a sex shop?”
Tuesday turned, eyebrows raised. “Yup. Wanna go in?”
I hesitated. “I mean… I’ve never been in one before. I’m just… curious.”
She grinned like she’d been waiting her whole life for me to say that. “Ohhh, this gon’ be fun. Come on, nerd.”
I hesitated in front of the store, shifting on my heels. “Hey,” I said, glancing at Tuesday. “You a nerd too, you know.”
“Yup,” she said proudly, popping her gum. “But the difference is, I got a man. So, my nerd comes with benefits.”
I rolled my eyes. “Wow. Not you flexing relationship perks in front of the sexually frustrated.”
She grinned and grabbed my arm. “Girl, come on. You about to get an education today.”
There were so many things in that sex shop I had never seen before.
Toys, gels, ropes, costumes, stuff I didn’t even know people used outside of movies.
And the dildos and vibrators? They had an entire wall for them.
Different shapes, colors, sizes… some with attachments I didn’t even want to ask about.
Tuesday was having the time of her life.
She bounced from section to section, smiling.
“Oh, this one’s cute,” she said, holding up something that looked like a pink bullet with sparkles. “Perfect for beginners.”
“Tuesday,” I hissed, trying to whisper. “Lower your voice!”
She cackled. “Girl, nobody cares. Half these people in here moaned in public last night.”
I rolled my eyes, but she kept pushing.
“You should get something,” she nudged. “You’re curious, right?”
I bit my lip, looked around nervously, then picked up one of the simpler ones. It wasn’t too flashy, didn’t have too many settings, just enough to say I wasn’t downright boring.
Tuesday grinned like I just passed a rite of passage. “Now we’re talkin’. Welcome to the dark side.”
Stepping up to the woman at the register,I paid in cash. No card. No receipt. No trail. I wasn’t ready to have Temptations Boutique showing up on my credit statement. As we walked out the store together, Tuesday linked her arm with mine and grinned.
“You look like you just bought evidence.”
I smiled back, holding my bag a little tighter.
“I feel like I just started a mission.”
After we got home, I really wanted to try it out. But the truth was, I had no idea what the hell I was doing. So, naturally, Tuesday took over and opened the box like she was unboxing an iPhone.
“Okay, so this is the power button,” she said, twisting it in her hand. “And this little curved part? That’s for?—”
“Tuesday!” I squeaked.
“What? You need to know what it does before you use it. Ain’t no shame in getting your joy properly.”
We were both bent over the box, examining this tiny yet terrifying piece of pink technology, when we suddenly heard the front door slam shut. The two of us froze because the only other person who had a key to the apartment was Jace.
Tuesday’s eyes went wide. “Shit, act natural!”