Chapter Eighteen
Waverly’s workshop was wildly successful. Even some of the janitorial staff hung around at the back, not even bothering to pretend to clean. Afterward, the Good Vibes Only pop-up shop was busier than the cafeteria on onion ring Tuesday.
Waverly talked about sex toy safety, but also different types of sex (like mutual masturbation) and even came with mobility aids and various forms of lube to demonstrate how sex can be accessible for anyone.
I was shocked to find it rather . . . empowering.
At least when I didn’t find it mortifying.
The success of the event put a bounce in my step as I stacked the extra folding chairs we ended up needing. “We could have filled an overflow room,” I told Waverly. “You’ve got to come back some time.”
“I’d love that,” she said, “and your residents certainly cleared out my stock. I had planned on leaving you a toy or two for yourself.”
My hands flailed as I waved her off. “Oh, I couldn’t let you do that.”
“The lady doth protest too much,” she said with a chuckle.
I choked on a laugh and blurted, “I-promise-I’ve-had-an-orgasm-before.” Because I had. I just . . . didn’t want to have public discourse about it. But fucking hell, did I really just say that?
There was a knock on the doorframe. Eli stood at the threshold, one brow arched curiously.
Yeah, he’d heard that. His expression was too smug and he took up too much of the doorway.
Who gave him permission to be so broad? He scratched his chin thoughtfully.
And the scruff! The scruff made him look suddenly laid-back, but he wasn’t fooling me.
I remembered his tightly trimmed hair and clean shave and obsession over every class and every grade.
And how anything that didn’t serve his purpose was just taking up space.
“Waverly, I’m Eli Buckley,” he said, “the physician on staff here. I just wanted to say that was one of our most well-received programs ever. And truly very much needed.” He turned to me. “Good work, Vera.”
“Thanks,” I said on a breath, my chest feeling tight. Was I really about to move my shit and my dog into his apartment later today?
He set off down the hallway and I drifted over to the comment box near the door, definitely not watching him go.
“Something going on between you two?” Waverly asked. She was intuitive like Tess, which was a great trait when you didn’t know what you needed or how to ask for it, but it was total shit when you just wanted to avoid reality like a big girl.
“Oh, no. Not at all. Eli is—he and I—we’re just coworkers.”
She grinned. “Well, whatever you two are, you’ve got a serious case of sex flush.”
I touched the back of my hand to my cheek and shook my head. “Just warm from moving all those chairs.” Opening the comment box, I dared a peek inside to find it completely empty. “They never tell you when you’re doing a good job, do they?” I said.
Waverly smiled. “Hot Doc certainly thought you did a very good job.”
EXT. FARMERS MARKET—SATURDAY
He steals a strawberry from a table.
She swats his hand and then pays.
ARLO
You’re my moral compass with great calves.
February 14, 2020
Vera S.
Two glasses of wine in, but this line still does it for me.