Page 36 of Hate You Later
I could also use something to distract myself with. I may as well finish last week’s episode of theLit Lovers’podcast.
I cue up the episode to where I last left off and curl up in the arm chair.
“I don’t know, I don’t get the whole hate sex thing. It just seems so negative attention seeking to me,” says Chelsea, one of the female hosts.
“That’s because you’re such a goody-goody, Chels. But whatever. I don’t need to know what YOU’RE into, sis …”
“It’s your podcast, Jackson. You’re the one who invited me on here.”
“I don’t think it’s really about HATE hate,” says another woman. “It’s that forbidden fruit thing though. The more we deny ourselves, the more we start to obsess—”
“And by we, Alexis, do you mean you?” asks Jackson.
The four podcast hosts go on to discuss one-night stands and pontificate about which Disney villains they would and wouldn’t sleep with. I laugh and shudder when the hosts unanimously decide that Jafar fromAladdinand Ursula the Sea Witch fromThe Little Mermaidare probably two of the most unfuckable characters ever, which is why they’d make the perfect couple.
“Can you imagine if they were your parents? And you caught them having sex?”
I die a little. How do they come up with this stuff?
I’m so caught up in the episode that I don’t even notice at first when Emily shows up. She taps the glass door to get my attention, and I jump up and rush to let her in.
“Oh my God. So sorry!” I hastily unlock the door. “I was just listening to this podcast …”
It’s still playing, actually. I hadn’t turned it off in my mad dash to the door. Emily smiles sympathetically and steps into the shop, looking all around.
“I’d have to say, Maleficent is on the table.”
“You wish you could have Maleficent on a table, you perv.”
“I guess I’d consider Gaston if I was desperate enough,” Chelsea says.
“No one thrusts like Gaston,” Alexis sings.
“Gross! That’s my sister you’re singing about. Stop that immediately,” groans Jackson.
Two of the hosts, Jackson and Chelsea, are siblings. This makes it awkward for them when the show inevitably turns to the topic of sex. Which is often. I scramble to the speaker and hit the off button.
“So,Lit Lovers?” Emily raises one brow and bites back a smile.
“Do you listen to it too?”
“Actually, I try not to. I can’t stand hearing myself.”
“What?” I look at her, then back at the now-silent speaker. “I mean … you … you’re one of the …?”
Emily unwraps a big, beautiful, paisley pashmina from her shoulders and sets her oversize bag down on the counter. She’s blushing a bit. “It’s primarily Jackson’s podcast, but I got roped in by a mutual friend who works with him. Long story. But yes, I’m one of the four hosts.”
“I’m probably going to have to interviewyounow,” I say. No joke. Xander is going to freak out when he hears about this.
Emily is a little older than me, but not by much. Early thirties, I’d guess. She’s average height and unapologetically curvy. Her long, brown hair is worn loose, curly, and cascading. It frames her expressive hazel eyes. The cabled sweater she’s wearing appears to be hand-knit. There’s something slightly old-fashioned, natural, and wholesome about her. She seems genuine and unpretentious.
Emily’s eyes crinkle when she smiles. “You can interview me about the podcast after I interview you about the store, but I’ll go ahead and apologize in advance. I’m pretty boring. I’m the resident square on the podcast. I wasn’t even down to have a one-night stand with Gaston, let alone let Scar be my sugar daddy.”
“That’s a really good call.” I bite back my own smile now.
Emily nods gravely. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
I like her immediately. Aside from being thrilled to get this interview, I am suddenly and unexpectedly delighted to be making a new friend. It’s the last thing I expected today.
