Page 28 of Enticed

“After everything I just said, that’s what you got out of it? A nickname I gave him back in high school because he used to be so scrawny?”

“Oh, girl—that boy is far from scrawny now….” She trails off and I can see her picturing Cooper as her gaze lingers over her yard.

“Believe me, I know.”

“And if what you just said is true, then I think you owe it to yourself to find out what’s there, Clara. Age ain’t nothin’ but a number, girl, and three years isn’t that big of a deal. And Cooper obviously cares for you if he picks your drunk ass up every time you get wasted at Tony’s… and he checked on you those first few weeks after the attack.”

She’s right. For weeks after everything happened, Cooper would drop by unannounced with food or while he was on shift, just to make sure I was alright—even bandaged up after he got shot—I’m sorry,grazedby the bullet Anthony fired at him. Then our encounters shifted to pickups at Tony’s after I had too much to drink. But he showed up every time.

And then there’s his confession I can still hear in my ears at night—the deep rumble of his voice full of lust and self-restraint, telling me all the filthy things he wants to do to me.

“What if things don’t work out, Penny? What if it ends in an ugly hurricane of unrequited feelings that ruins my relationship with Liv and her family?”

“I think you’re moving ahead of yourself, Clara. Go on this date first—feel him out, see what he’s thinking before you already have you two broken up,” she urges.

I’m torn still, but I do feel like I’m leaning slightly more to the side of figuring this situation out—that’s the side I was fully committed to last night, before I got ready for this dinner today and rolled right back over enemy lines. I’m getting on my own damn nerves with how indecisive I am about Cooper.

“Fine. I’ll try to talk to him tonight. I can do that,” I fake confidence while Penny pulls me in for a hug.

“Hey, before I forget, I got you something. Wait right here.” She puts her finger up in warning before teetering back to her house and returning just as quickly. She places a fuchsia-colored box in my hand with a wicked smile on her face.

“What’s this?” I ask, even though I can completely tell what is inside the box thanks to the see-through plastic on the front.

“It’s a Womanizer,” her mouth curls into a devious smile, and I can’t help it—I’m actually a little afraid.

“Is this my gift from your sex toy party?”

She nods slowly, her smile growing even bigger. “Oh, yes. It. Is. This thing will replace any vibrator you own, lady. It doesn’t vibrate.. it sucks,” she whispers and points at the box, and I arch an eyebrow at her, clearly intrigued.

“Go on…”

“See this little suction cup here,” she points at the rubber piece that looks like the mouth of a sucker fish. “Place this over your clit and let it work its magic. You push the plus sign to increase speed and believe me… this thing will have you squirting in no time.”

I choke on my saliva before shaking my head at Penny. “You are a dirty, old bird, Penny.”

“Yes, I am… and I own it. But I’m telling you, Clara… one round with this toy, and you’ll never want to touch a vibrator again.”

I concede and throw it in my car, landing in my purse that doubles as a piece of luggage. I’ve never been one of those women who can carry around a small purse. Mine acts like another part of my body, housing all of my secrets and my survival kit in case of an apocalypse or zombie takeover.

“I’ll give you my full report soon,” I salute her as she turns to walk away. And even though I’m joking, Penny will want a report from me, in explicit detail.

“I like this version of you,” she says as the distance between us increases.

“And what version would that be?”

Spinning to face me again, she teases, “A woman who finally found a man worth opening up for,” she winks and then disappears into her house, leaving me exposed and restless again.

“Fucking, Penny,” I mutter to myself as I make the drive to the Walsh’s, arriving a little later than I planned.

“Hey, girl,” Olivia greets me when she opens the door, pulling me in for a hug.

“Hey, momma. How’s my favorite niece cooking along today?” I rub her belly before making my way around her and hanging up my gigantic purse on a hook by the door.

I love walking into this house and feeling like I’m home. Olivia’s parents, Stacy and Dan, have been married for over thirty years and still look at each other like their worlds would stop spinning if their better half wasn’t there. The photos that line the cream-colored walls and cover the surfaces of dark oak furniture display a life built by two people that support each other and love one another unconditionally—an idea I never imagined for myself.

“She’s good, fighting for room in there, but perfect as ever. I was actually just talking to my mom about nursery ideas before you got here. Come on, dinner’s almost ready,” she motions for me to follow her and I oblige, the scent of garlic and lemon luring me towards the kitchen.

“Clara, honey, how are you?” Liv’s mom pulls me in for a hug as she whisks the sauce I was smelling.

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