Page 86 of Start With A Slap

“Something happen?”

“No, no.” She hadn’t wanted to tell him about Kara, but it was the lesser confession. “It’s juvenile. I ran into Kara this morning and she was super condescending, so I vented to Mal about it. We’ve been texting back and forth about it all day.” She did still wonder if anything happened, especially now that she knew how easy it was to give in to temptation, but that wasn’t the point.

“What did she say to you?”

“She’s just doing the supportive BFF thing... Oh, you mean Kara.” He nodded. “Well, first, she implied that I was nothing better than a Gal Friday. Then she called me a ‘good little wife’ and told me to tell you that the offer was still open, wink wink, you would know what that means.”

He frowned, and then started laughing. “Wow. Yeah. She’s talking about a job offer.”

“What?”

“Ellison Cole has an opening for a junior partner.”

That bitch was trying to lure him to the dark side? She reallywasjust like Sever! “Are you interested?”

“You’re kidding me, right? That place is the first circle of Hell! I’m pretty sure they sacrifice babies.”

“Oh thank god.” Then she qualified, “Not about the babies.”

“Come on, Ivy, you know me better than that. I’m not about money or prestige or a fuckin’ corner office; I’m about helping people who reallyneedhelp. You seriously think I would switch teams for a few extra perks?”

“No.” Ivy gazed at him lovingly. “You’re too good for that.”

And you’re too good forme.

“Babe, you did it again,”Jason said with concern, touching her face.

“Mm?” She let him fall out of her mouth.

“You didn’t stop. When you keep going like that, I’m gonna come.”

She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry forme, I’m fine, it’s just—what about you?”

“You’ve had a long day,” Ivy said. “Why can’t I take care of you sometimes?”

“Hold on. Weren’t you a feminist, like a week ago?”

“I still am.” She crawled up to his side. “Tomorrow you can service me.”

“I can service you now.”

“Honey, I love you but when you fall asleep midway, it’s not so much.”

He yawned and stretched on the bed. “I’m wide awake. Honest.”

“Uh huh.” She circled a finger on his chest, the little cluster of fine hair there. Did Sever wax or something? He had barely any hair anywhere other than his head, come to think of it. It was unnatural.

Huey appeared at the edge of the bed and whined. Eyes closed, Jason pointed at him. “Don’t be acting like I didn’t walk you tonight.”

“He’s still miffed at me for leaving,” she said. “I told you, he’s been guilt-tripping me every chance he gets.” Actually, she was convinced that the dog could smell her unfaithfulness. “It was only one weekend, Huey. I’m back now.”

Huey jumped up and plopped down beside them.

“You still haven’t talked about it,” Jason said. “Paris.”

She attempted to regulate her heartbeat. Why couldn’t he just fall asleep? “I know you have, you know, issues with it... so I didn’t want to bring anything up for you.”

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