Page 145 of Paint the Town, Dove
Zayla looked between us two until recognition hit her and I almost jumped right out of the fucking car.
Sometimes, only sometimes, I wished that my friends were a little stupid.
“You… andRYDEN?” She squealed, hopping on top of me.
“Seatbelt on, Edwards!” Caralee scolded.
“Sorry, sorry, ma’am” – Zay strapped in – “You’re trolling ME right now –”
“You can’t be serious,” Polly gaped. “You gave me shit for Dean when you werefuckingRyden? Yourbest friendRyden? YourclientRyden? Your –”
“First of all,” I scolded, “I didn’t give youshitfor Dean, I asked you a question. Second of all, I’m notfuckinghim. We just…”
“SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUTUP!”
“Zayla, will you come the fuck down?” I let out an exasperated sigh, palming my forehead. Without a doubt, Caralee was processing the information, contemplating if Tav needed to be looped in; conflict of interest, workplace drama, yada, yada, yada. “Caralee…”
“I won’t say a word,” she responded. “Not my business.”
“Thank you,” I exhaled, turning to admire the view of snow-capped mountains and dusted evergreen trees.
I felt both their breaths on my neck without having to turn around. “What now?”
“Was it… good?” Polly asked.
“IstheRyden Spectre as big as everyone –”
“Do NOT finish that sentence Zayla or so help me GOD I’ll throw you down that slope myself.” I faced them, glancing once again at Caralee who shoved an AirPod in her ear.
Dear God Tav, give this woman a raise.
“Here’s the deal,” I said, “you have two minutes to ask whatever you want and then we go back to pretending this never happened because it’sneverhappening again, capiche?”
“Why not?” Zayla crooned.
“Yeah, why not?” Polly added.
Iglanced at my Piaget. “Ninety-five seconds.”
They peppered me with questions so fast I couldn’t tell who was talking anymore.
“Was it good?”Very.
“How big was he?”We didn’t fuck.
“So he went down on you?”Mhm.
“Just that?”Unfortunately.Yes.
“Rate him on a scale of one-to-ten?”Eleven.
“When did this happen?”Three days ago.
“Where?”In a photobooth behind the club.
“Behind the club?”Yes.
“In a photobooth?”Yes.
