Page 68 of Entwined

“Right? But he never believed my love was real. He thinks I had Stockholm Syndrome.”

“Did you?”

“No. I loved both sides of him. The good and the evil. The light and the dark. He’s my Heathcliff and I won’t date someone else when I love him. Being with him in Paris confirmed the truth: my heart loves him irrevocably. My body craves him. The sex is beyond amazing.”

“What happened?”

“He left me again. He chose himself over me for the second time.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. What sucks is I truly believe he thinks he’s doing right by me by not allowing us to be together. But I’m angry, Jecca. I should have a say if that’s the case. He can’t just unilaterally decide what’s good for me.”

“No. No, he can’t.” She gets up and starts pacing. “We need to teach him a bloody lesson. He can’t fuck with your heart and head like this.”

“How do we do that? He doesn’t care. He’s in Africa or Italy or…god knows where.”

“Oh, he cares. It was stamped all over him. The way he looked at you… had me burning. But he knows Jessie. He knows you’re here waiting. Let him think you’re not or better yet—move on with someone else. Have a little fun.”

“I won’t do that to Ben.”

“No. You shouldn’t.”

“There’s a charity polo match this weekend. We’re going… and we will be photographed. I’ll book us hair and nail appointments.”

“Is this about me or running into Phillip?”

“Both. I forgot to mention… I ran into Daddy on my way out of the party. Phillip and I were leaving the next day at the same time he exited a bedroom. His face turned purple. He was so shocked and embarrassment it didn’t even occur to him I was doing the same with Phillip that he was with his whore. Well…not until hours later but by then we had left Paris. Anyway, he reinstated my funds.”

“Gee, thanks for slumming it with me,” I joke, pleased we’re staying put in our cozy flat.

“You’re welcome. Besides, those ninnies were never my real friends. You’re a real friend Jessie.”

I get up to give her a hug, “Thanks for being the first and only best friend, I’ve ever had.”

“Right.” She swipes away tears. “Let’s make them both squirm. We our joining the rowing team, going out to galas and events looking fit and fabulous and will not stay in another night thinking about them.”

“I’d drink to that if I had one.”

“Shall we?”

“We shall,” I respond, taking her arm as we walk down to the kitchen. The wine fridge has been stocked more than usual. And now I know why. Jecca’s money is flowing freely. I just need to make sure she’s not spending herself into debt.

“You need to take an accounting class.”

“Why?”

“To learn how to account for your money. Be smart, Jecs. Make it last.”

“Jecs? I like it.”

I smile, raising my glass, “To us. To strong women who don’t need DOM’s with big dicks!”

“I still need them.”

“So, do I,” I sigh, downing my drink. “But Jecs, there’s one problem with your plan. You are too petite to row on the crew team.”

“I know. But I’m great at giving orders. I’m going to be in the boat behind, yelling through the megaphone.”

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