18. Kat
18
KAT
“ S o, Kat,” Addie says. “You work with Blake?”
I take a sip of beer as I nod, forcing my mind to stay in the present instead of replaying that kiss in the back hallway. What was I thinking ?
“I’m a professor at Ardmore, too,” I answer. “I’m in the Biology department, though.”
“Oh, cool!” she says, lifting her cocktail. “What area? I teach math, but high school, not college. It must be so different.”
I smile. “I focus on Anatomy and Physiology. I love it, but I’m a huge science nerd.”
I shiver as I set my glass down. It’s still warm for early November, in the mid-forties, so I’m in a short-sleeved top. I’m regretting not wearing a sweater.
“Are you cold?” Addie asks, her eyes large. “You could go sit in the corner. Because it’s…ninety degrees.”
Her nose twitches before she bursts into laughter at the same time I do.
“Oh my God,” I say, still smiling. “You’re a math nerd. I love it.”
Addie raises her drink across the table, and we clink our glasses together as she dives into a story about a teenager who didn’t turn in his homework because, he claimed, his hamster ate it.
I snort when she tells me that the student then produced a nibbled-up worksheet and a textbook on which said hamster had relieved himself.
“At least my students don’t usually have family pets to worry about,” I say, helping myself to a handful of pretzels from the bowl in the center of the table. “The closest I’ve gotten is the emotional support dog one of my students has this year. But he’s pretty well behaved and just sleeps through class.”
Addie throws back her head with laughter. “I love that. What kind of dog?”
“Bassett hound. He drools a little, but he doesn’t make noise. His name is Biscuit.”
We trade stories about students while the guys have their own conversations around us. When Blake announces that it’s time for us to head out, Addie reaches across the table and grabs my arm.
“Hey. I have a great idea.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
We’ve only known one another for an hour or so, but Addie has wedged herself firmly into my heart. She’d get along so well with Angela and Naomi. I can’t wait to spend more time with her.
“Come to my bachelorette party. It’s next weekend.”
I bite my lip. “Which day? I’m supposed to hang out with my two friends on Saturday, but maybe I could come if it’s Sunday. It wouldn’t be weird?”
Addie shakes her head. “Not weird at all . The more the merrier. It’s Saturday, but bring them along. If they’re anything like you, I’ll love them.”
I waver. “I could ask them.”
Cam rolls his eyes, smiling. “She’s going to bug you until you say yes, you know.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Okay, then. I’ll check with my friends and let you know.”
Addie squeals. “I’ll text you the details! Can’t wait!”
“So what are we doing again?” Naomi asks from my passenger seat.
“Not sure. All I know is we’re going to Addie’s house. It should be right around…here,” I say, approaching a driveway full of cars. “She just said it would be fun and that I should bring you. I think you guys will like her.”
When Addie insisted on me bringing Naomi and Angela, I protested at first, but she insisted that the more people we had, the better it would be.
She refused to tell me what it was.
I park on the street and pick up my purse and the bottle of champagne that I brought for Addie, along with the gift that Angela, Naomi, and I went in on.
It’s a gift card for one of the stores she listed on her wedding registry. I figured that was safest. Angela thought we should buy her a vibrator, but I’ve only met the girl once. Naomi and I agreed that I should probably get to know her better before I buy her sex toys.
Addie’s house is a beautiful brick two-story with gabled windows and white trim on a quiet cul-de-sac not too far from my place.
“Do you think they’ll have a male stripper?” Angela asks as we walk up the driveway .
I elbow her. “This is a nice neighborhood. I think it’ll be classy.”
Holly opens the front door when we knock. “Come on in! Kat, it’s good to see you again.”
I hand her the champagne. “Thanks for having us. This is Angela and Naomi,” I say, gesturing.
Holly beams at them. “Glad to have you guys. Head on into the living room. Hope you’re ready for some fun.”
As we turn the corner to enter the living room, my jaw falls open.
“I told you we should have bought her a vibrator!” Angela whispers gleefully.
I don’t answer her.
What does one even say when you enter a room to find a large table covered with brightly colored silicone sex toys?
An unfamiliar woman is arranging a pile of dildos into what I imagine is supposed to be an artful display. She turns as we enter the room.
“Come in, come in!” she trills. “I’m Cleo. Grab a glass of wine. Addie, doll, are we waiting for anyone else?”
Addie waves to me from the couch, where she’s sitting with two unfamiliar women. “Hi, Kat! Thanks for coming. This must be Naomi and Angela. ”
I nod to confirm as she turns to Cleo.
“We’re just waiting for Annika, and then we’ll get started.” Addie lifts herself from the couch and comes toward us, her arms wrapping around me in a hug. “This is going to be so fun! Cleo is a friend of Holly’s former roommate. She does these parties. Like Tupperware parties, except with sex toys.”
I just blink as Angela claps and giggles.
“Anyway, Cleo is going to show us her products, and we get a chance to buy stuff. If people buy a certain amount, I get freebies.” Addie gestures toward the women on the couch. “That’s my sister Josie and her wife, Chris, and you know Holly. My best friend, Annika, will be here, too.”
I make eye contact with the two women and give them a smile as Angela hands me a glass of wine.
The dark-haired woman has her arm around the blonde woman.
“I’m Josie,” she says. “Nice to meet you guys. You ever been to something like this?”
At least I’m not the only one blindsided here.
“Let’s move on to dildos,” Cleo says, setting aside the last clit vibrator .
We’ve been listening to her explain the different settings available for the last fifteen minutes.
After the initial awkwardness, I’ve settled in, getting more comfortable with the products she’s been showing us.
Or maybe it’s the second glass of wine that’s hitting me now.
I’m no stranger to toys, but the idea of discussing them out in the open with people I don’t know well is a new experience.
“Show us the big ones!” Holly says, cackling.
Cleo holds up a silicone penis that looks pretty massive to me, although it’s smaller than Blake. “This one is one of our best sellers. It’s a moderate size, with a lifelike profile.”
That’s moderate ? I’m a little scared to see the largest ones. But then, I managed Blake, didn’t I? And it was fabulous.
My pussy clenches at the memory.
“I’ve been ruined for life,” Addie says dramatically. “That little thing isn’t going to do it for me.”
“Really?” Holly asks. “How big?”
It’s like a car wreck. I watch in morbid fascination as Addie peruses the table of faux cocks and finally picks up one that’s a little larger than the first one .
“He’s like this,” she announces, holding up the blue sparkly phallus for us to see.
Holly joins her at the table. “Maddox is more like…this.” She shows off a dark-pink dildo that’s about an inch shorter than Addie’s, and slightly thinner.
"Ugh.” Addie covers her eyes. “That’s my brother. Just… no.”
Holly giggles and ignores her. “How about you, Kat?”
I choke on my wine.
“How big is Blake?” Addie asks, clapping her hands with glee, disgust over the discussion of her brother’s cock forgotten. “I bet he’s big. Those broody types always are.”
I cough, trying to recover from inhaling the alcohol.
“Um. About like that,” I manage.
“Which one?” Addie asks, holding hers up next to Holly’s.
Oh God.
“I thought you said it was small,” Angela pipes up.
Naomi takes the opportunity to go to the table and selects her own dildo. “This is like my husband.”
I’m not going to be able to look her husband in the eye for quite a while.
Everyone looks at me as my cheeks burn. But then, does it even matter how big I tell them Blake is? We’re not really dating, but I have seen his equipment. And it’s not like anyone’s about to fact-check me here.
I take a large sip of wine and stand. The table is spread with more fake penises than I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know they came in such extensive…variety, I guess. I spot one that looks similar to the one I own already. Compared to Blake, it’s tiny.
After a minute or so, I pick up a jet-black cock and hold it up. “Like this.”
It’s heavy in my hand, solid, and thinking about Blake’s dick is doing funny things to my head.
“That’s a nice one,” Cleo says, taking over. “This one is larger than some of our others, but it’s also very popular.”
“Does it work with a strap-on harness?” Chris asks with interest.
Josie smacks her, but she’s smiling. “That is way too big.”
Cleo takes every comment in stride as she presents a variety of dildos, in all different sizes, shapes, and colors, and I do my best to sink into the couch.
I still have my eye on that black one. I can’t exactly admit that the only way I’ll have a Blake-sized cock inside me is by using this plastic one, though. Or that I’m craving the feel of him .
Considering my options, I look around at what the other women have bought so far.
Angela has purchased three items—two vibrators and a clit stimulator.
Naomi has purchased a vibrating cock ring. Now I have two reasons I can’t look Josh in the eye.
I get up from the couch and make my way to the side table to pour more wine.
While I’m there, I lean over to whisper in Addie’s ear, “What if we want to buy something but not in front of everyone?”
She giggles. “We’re practically like sisters here. But if you really don’t want to do it in front of everyone, you can have someone else buy it. Or she has order forms over there so you can write down what you want.”
She points to a stack of papers.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m all for the silent paper ordering.
Taking a sip from my refilled wineglass, I snag a paper from the stack and head back to my seat.
“Kat.”
A deep voice calls my name, seeming to come from far away.
I squeeze my eyes tighter shut, not wanting to leave my dream.
“Kat.” Again, insistent.
A hand settles on my shoulder. Large, warm, firm.
“Blake,” I mumble, because this dream is so vivid, I think I can smell him, that spicy, woodsy scent that I can’t get enough of.
The couch beneath me shifts. “Kat. Wake up.”
Finally, I force my eyes open, blinking against the light.
I’m still in Addie’s living room, but it’s quiet now. The table of dildos is empty other than a few boxes.
“Hey, girl,” Addie says, leaning over the back of the couch. “You good? You fell asleep, and we didn’t want to wake you.”
Oh my God. I am mortified. Who goes to a friend’s bachelorette party—a new friend, nonetheless—and falls asleep?
“Angela and Naomi got a ride home with Annika. Blake is going to take you home.” Addie nods toward something.
I turn toward the direction she’s indicating and realize why I can smell Blake.
He’s here .
Sitting on the couch next to me, his face a mask of concern.
“Let’s go home,” he says, holding a hand out.
How did he get roped into this? Obviously, I had enough to drink that I fell asleep, so I’m in no condition to drive, but he shouldn’t have to rescue me here.
“Addie called Cam, and Cam drove me over,” he says, answering my unasked question.
I place a hand over my eyes. This could not be going worse.
Blake reaches over and takes my hand, tugging me into a seated position. “Do you need to get any of your things?”
Addie heads to the table, grabs a box, and hands it to me. “Here you go. Your Blake-sized dildo.”
Yep, it just got worse.
Blake does his best to hold back his laughter, but he can’t hide the smirk on his face. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you and your dildo home.”