Page 28 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
Emma rolls her eyes. “We don’t have to tell you everything, Jade.”
“Tessa likes a post-orgasm discussion,” Jade argues. It’s true, though usually, I’m the one listening to Jade dissect her nocturnal—or diurnal, depending—activities with people. We’ve always swapped stories or advice since, usually, we’re the only two of the group having sex, but in the back of my mind, there’s always the drive to normalize healthy, responsible sex for everyone—Sara, Emma, and their grown kids.
I rub Emma’s back in sympathy. “Well, I did some things I’ve never done before,” I say.
Jade leans in, eyes wide and ready to listen to everything. “Oh, oh, oh. Did he tie you up? Or, or... gah, my brain is too hungover to think of other kinky shit.”
“Well, we all know what Jade likes now.” Sara smirks.
“It was light butt stuff,” I say, shrugging a shoulder. Certainly not as adventurous or kinky as some of the stuff Jade has done over the years that I’ve known her, but way more daring than I’d done in any previous relationship, never mind a relationship that only lasted a weekend.
But maybe that’s the point. Luc and I both knew we would not see each other again; our fake relationship was over, and we could just enjoy the night.
“What are we talking about? Fucking? Fingering? Licking? Smacking?”
“Jade,” Emma hisses at her, glancing at the nearby tables.
“The last two,” I say.
“Did you like it?” Jade asks, cocking her head. It’s completely free of judgment, and I want to talk to Jade about it more. But I know Emma would rather not discuss things like that in public, and I’m only moderately comfortable with it because we’re in a quiet corner booth.
“I did.” I pick up my menu and change the subject. “Let’s talk about it later, though. We should discuss our next weekend together.”
They let the conversation change, and between ordering brunch and its arrival, we decide to meet again in Rome in five weeks. Emma’s going to live with Jade in Madrid until her business school program starts, so they’ll travel together to Rome, where we’ll spend a weekend before she moves into student housing.
Jade bemoans the fact that she has to go back to work tomorrow. “I wish I could take time off to show you around Madrid, Emma.”
“It’s fine,” Emma says, shaking her head. “It’ll be good for me to explore a city by myself.”
“You’ll love the museums,” I say. “Be sure to check out the Prado. Oh, and they do this ultra-thick hot chocolate that is to die for. I know it’s still hot out, but it’s worth it, anyway.”
By now, we’re done eating, and Sara checks her watch. They’ve got trains to catch, and I need to get to the airport.
We walk back to the hotel, and Jade loops her arm through mine. “Are you going to see Luc again?”
I sigh. “No. It was just one night.”
One amazing night.
14
Luc
I wake up,and the bed is cold, the heels and discarded dress have disappeared, and my grandmother’s ring is on the bedside table. I’m up earlier than normal, and I wonder if she had just left, but then shake my head. It’s after noon, and I know she was meeting with the rest of the women for brunch, and then her flight is in the late afternoon.
There’s a message from Tessa, so formal and final. But I haven’t gotten to say my piece.
I call, but it goes straight to voicemail.
The more time I spend with her, the more sure I am that we have something special, something that’s so much more than the engagement we’ve been pretending.
I jump out of bed, tangle my feet in the duvet on the floor, but manage to right myself before I fall. I throw on clothes. Not my tour uniform, not clothes worth more than I make all week, but pants, a T-shirt, and my favorite pair of shoes.
Where are my keys? I look around my crummy apartment, trying to locate them. I try to ignore the voice in the back of my head telling me that in the light of day, my flat looks worse than last night. Did Tessa look around this morning in the bright daylight and see how rough it is?
It’s not that she made me feel bad about my place. She took it in stride, but I think about the hotel they were staying in and that Tessa stayed the night with me.
I hope she thought the sex was worth it. I sure did.
