Page 73 of Home in the Country
“Focus, ladies.” Marlee snaps her fingers and all eyes land on me again.
“Isn’t this weird for y’all? Talkin’ about your family?”
“I’m more concerned about your lack of orgasms,” Isla says.
My finger traces around the rim of my glass, and I suck a piece of salt off the edge as I figure out how much to tell them.
“I wanted to keep it casual and he ultimately…didn’t. It’s just hard, you know? I obviously care about him, but Ijustgot out of a marriage, and while Tanner and I are in the best possible scenario, it’s stilla lot.Plus Tanner isn’t totally on board with Otto—not because of Otto but because of Briggs.”
“Do we get to ask about Tanner?” Cheyenne looks at me with an eyebrow raised, and I shake my head.
“Not tonight.” She knows a lot of it but she doesn’t knowthe reasonwe officially ended things, only that we were better as friends.
“Okay, but everyone knows that my brother loves that little boy. He’d never hurt him,” Rhea says defensively.
“I know, and I’m just trying to balance everything and everyone.”
“Orgasms.”It’s a loud whisper from Isla as she props her head in her hand.
“You have a one-track mind,” Marlee says.
“Listen, if Hank stopped giving me orgasms after knowing what he can do to me—well, girl, I’d be cranky too.”
My head drops to the island on a groan.
“It was so good.”
And itwas.Things with Tanner had been fine—nice even. We both were physically satisfied, but it was nothing like being with Otto. He extracted pleasure from me in a way I never knew was possible.
He was rough with me but tender in all the right ways, and I craved that feeling of being ravaged while still feeling cherished.
“So what happened?” Marlee asks gently.
“He wants to date me. Like get to know me and Briggs, be a friend and build a foundation. I agreed. But guys, I don’t want tobe his friend.I want to be naked.”
“So you’re dating?” Cheyenne asks.
“Yes.”
“And not having sex,” Isla asks.
“Also yes.”
“Have you told him that? The naked part, I mean,” Rhea asks and I squint at her through the alcohol-induced fog, because she looks like she knows something.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure he knows, but we’re waiting untilhe’s ready.”
“Umm…” Cheyenne tilts her head to the side, and I feel bad that I haven’t been a better friend to her. She’s my best friend, and I haven’t confided in her about anything related to Otto.
“We’re taking it slow, like I wanted, but this is like glacial and I’mdying.”
“So…why don’t you test the waters? You know, find ahappymedium.” Isla places the emphasis on happy and the girls all giggle.
“I’m afraid that if I try something he’s going to think that I don’t think he’s serious about bein’ with me.”
Marlee studies her glass with concern before lookin’ at Cheyenne.
“Am I drunk or was that foggier than bug spray in a truck bed?”
