Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“SEE YOU IN A BIT?” Alex shuts the door to his SUV, eyeing the storefront of Come As You Are. I love LA is spelled out in condom packets along the floor-to-ceiling window pane.
“Sure, just text me when you’re done.” I say. “I can’t wait for you to meet Gail. She’s the best.” Alex and I decided to divide and conquer to cover more ground, so he disappears around the corner to go to the health department, and I head into the sex shop.
When I open the door, instead of chimes, I’m greeted by a recording of a sexy moan.
Ha. That’s new. The front of the store houses the tamer items: dozens of varieties of lube, glass fishbowls of loose condoms, novelty bachelorette tchotchkes with dicks galore.
I’m the only patron here, but it’s not surprising for a weekday afternoon.
Besides, it will give me and Gail time to catch up.
I stride past strap-ons and whips, and when I get to the counter, I tap the bell shaped like spread ass cheeks—also new. A striking blond woman in her late twenties appears from behind a velvet curtain. She’s definitely new. And a much different vibe than Gail.
“Can I help you?” she asks sweetly.
“Is Gail here?” Because from the looks of things, there’s no sign of her.
The woman frowns. “Gail sold the shop two months ago. She retired so she could spend more time with her grandkids.”
“Gail’s gone?” I didn’t even know she had kids. I thought this shop was her baby.
After a beat, the associate blinks her large, blue eyes. Then with a warm smile, she says, “I’m sure I can help you. I’m Savannah.” She extends a perfectly manicured hand to me.
“June.”
“What can I interest you in, June?” She gestures around the shop. “We just got an exclusive shipment from Lelo. Would you like to see some products?”
An exclusive shipment? That does sound tempting. A quick peek wouldn’t hurt. Oh, god, what if Alex strolled in while I was looking at a vibe?
I shake my head. “No, I’m not looking for anything for myself.”
“Oh.” She leans forward, lowering her voice. “Let me guess, you’re buying something for a friend?” At least she has the decency not to wink.
“Actually,” I say with a forced smile, “I teach human sexuality at Barrett. Gail used to come to my classes every semester. She’d bring goodie bags with condoms and lube for all the students.” I’m about to tell her about Sextival when she squeals.
“I can do that!” she boasts. “I’m a pleasure consultant and host parties all the time.”
Pleasure parties? Not quite what I had in mind.
“Um, that’s not really—”
“Don’t worry, it’s educational, too,” she assures me. “I’ve presented in college classes before.”
“Really?” I can’t hide the surprise in my tone.
“Yes.” She shrugs. “Not at Barrett, but at some community colleges.”
Wow. Color me impressed.
The tension dissipates from my shoulders and a genuine smile lifts my cheeks. “That would be great.”
She claps her hands, then pulls out her phone as we exchange information and discuss some possible dates. Maybe Alex and I can combine our classes so his students can attend, too.
“I’m really excited, June.” She reaches into the bin of small novelty vibrators on the counter and pulls out a pink Pocket Rocket. “This one’s my favorite. On the house.”
Awww.It’s so cute. I pick it up just as the X-rated moan comes from the entrance. I fumble the toy, heat engulfing me at the thought of someone seeing me with it, especially one of my students. My biggest nightmare is becoming a viral meme.
I try to give the tiny vibrator back to Savannah, but she’s completely mesmerized by something behind me. As I turn, I see it’s not something; it’s someone. Alex.
I drop the toy back in the bin and clear my throat, attempting to get her attention. “We’re also hosting an event in Novem—”
“One sec,” she says, not even glancing in my direction.
Wow.
I concede, setting my sights on Alex. He’s scanning the BDSM shelf, his brow furrowing as if he’s studying the items intently.
And now, just like Savannah, my interest is piqued.
Is he looking to replace something he already has?
Or is this all new to him? I nibble my lip just as Savannah says, “Be right back.”
But before she can round the counter, Alex looks up, locking eyes with me, and strides toward us.
Savannah smooths her hands down her curvy hips and licks her lips. In the sultriest of sultry voices, she says, “Can I help you?”
Even I can’t stop staring at her.
Alex glances at me, then back to Savannah. Tentatively, he says, “Are you Gail?”
Savannah’s eyes widen in horror, but then she laughs. A forced, cringy sound. “Oh, goodness no!” She waves her hand, then parks it on her hip. “I ought to have you arrested for that.”
Alex grins sheepishly. “Sorry, June’s been talking up Gail for the past twenty minutes.”
“It’s okay, I forgive you.” Savannah rests her hand on top of Alex’s on the counter, and my stomach drops.
“Anyhoo,” I say way too loudly, causing them both to flinch. “As I was saying, we’re having an event on campus in November, and we were wondering if Come As You Are would be interested in sponsoring it.”
“Oh.” She blinks as if she’s coming out of a daze. “That would be fantastic.” She gestures around the empty shop. “As you can see, business has been a little slow. It would be great to connect with the university and get some students in here.”
A surge of warmth rushes through me. We did it.
Alex smiles at me, and my heart kicks up. But then it falters when he gives the same smile to Savannah and lifts his fist for her to bump it. “Awesome,” he says, then goes into the logistics of the event.
For the next few minutes, I don’t hear a word he says. All I can focus on is the way Savannah is devouring him. The way her tongue darts over her lip, her teeth skimming the pillowy flesh. The excruciating fake little laugh. Alex grinning in response.
He taps the counter. “Sounds like a plan.”
Savannah giggles, then says, “Sure does.”
Alex nudges me with his shoulder and my cheeks flush. “Great,” I blurt, having no idea what I just agreed to.
“I’ll bring some discount codes when I present to your class,” Savannah says. “I can’t wait,” she adds with a wink.
Barf.
“Great,” I say again. We head toward the exit, and as Alex pushes the glass door open, the highly suggestive moan bids us farewell.
He huffs a laugh. “You were right, I’m glad I stopped by.”
A strangled, “Mm-hmm” is all I can manage.
“What happened to Gail?” he asks.
She was replaced by a Fembot.
Nice, June. Be sure to pick up your award at the Women Supporting Women conference.
I suck in a breath, keeping my eyes fixed on the sidewalk littered with old gum. “Retired.”
Alex chuckles, unlocking his car with the fob. “Makes sense. The way you talked about Gail, I was expecting an old lady. When I saw Savannah, my brain short-circuited for a minute.”
I almost ask him if that’s the only thing that short-circuited, but I quell the urge and force a laugh. Oh, god. That was just as cringy as Savannah’s. I open the door and slide into the passenger side, yelping as my thighs come in contact with the searing hot seat.
“Sorry, it’ll cool down in a sec,” Alex says, starting the engine and lowering both windows. As he settles in behind the wheel, his phone buzzes and he shakes his head at the screen, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Pinpricks of jealousy poke at my insides. Is that Savannah? Did she somehow get his number without me noticing? Wow, she’s slick.
I run my hand down my face. Get a grip, June. Even if it is Savannah, I have no right to be jealous.
I clear my throat, trying to regain an ounce of my dignity. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just work.”
Relief floods me, and I sink down in the seat. But then I play back his words. “Wait, you have another job?”
He nods, merging onto the freeway. “Trying to bulk up my experience. I applied to a director position at the CDC, and I’m hoping I’ll have a leg up on the other candidates.”
“The CDC?” Wow. Talk about the big leagues.
He looks over his shoulder before changing lanes. “It’s been a pipe dream for a long time. Now that I’m done with my PhD, it’s actually within reach.”
I hope you get it, I attempt to say, but something in my chest screams the opposite, and the words die in my throat. The CDC will take him all the way to Atlanta. What about his classes? What about—
I gasp, jolting in the seat. “What about Sextival?”
“The job doesn’t close for another month.” He glances at me for a beat before focusing back on the road. “Don’t worry, April. I wouldn’t leave you high and dry like that.”
My breath skitters out, and I relax against the backrest. We’ll get through Sextival together, just like he promised. Thank god. There’s no way I could pull off the event alone. “Well, they’d be stupid not to hire you.”
There’s that smile again. And right on cue, my heart cartwheels in my chest. But it shrivels again almost instantly. Alex may be here for Sextival, but in a few months, he could be three thousand miles away. And unlike his summer medical missions, this time it won’t be temporary.