Page 47 of Reckless Love
She grinned. “You’ve got it.”
“I can’t get over you two,” Hope gushed. “Maybe I need a signature style. I don’t think I ever thought about what I’d like. Too busy fitting the corporatemodel or relaxing in sweats.”
Oh, this could be fun helping Hope find her personal fashion. “We’d be happy to help, right Mary?”
She nodded quickly. “I think this calls for Wine Wednesday at Esme and Leo’s.”
“I can do Wednesday,” Hope said.
“Then Wednesday it is.” I glanced at my friends and realized this was the first time I’d ever had friends that weren’t colleaguesor boyfriends. All two of my friends in college were dating me. All my grad school friends were fellow students just trying to survive the semesters. I enjoyed hanging out with the people I worked with but they weren’t my friends.
How sad was it to realize I was just now finding my people?
Or maybe it wasn’t sad. I needed to reframe that thinking. This was satisfying because it wasa long time coming. Because I waited and worked for these friendships they were sweeter and I understood just how hard they were to find.
Yeah. I liked thinking of it that way.
“How’s William?” Mary batted her long, fake eyelashes at me.
So. Gross.I visibly shivered just to let her know how I felt. “He’s fine. Please don’t date him.”
“Why?” Hope asked. “And who’s William?”
Mary bounced on her toes. “He’s Esme’s brother and he ishot.All tall, broad, and manly.” Then she clawed at the air.
I seriously thought I might be sick. “I cannot and will not think of him that way.”
But Hope got a twinkle in her eyes and decided to torture me. “Maybe he’s one of those guys whose all strong and commanding in the board room all day and wants a feisty ladyto take care of him when he gets home at night.” She winked at thetake care of himpart, as if we wouldn’t understand her secret meaning.
Whatever. I hated them both for this.
I stuck my fingers in my ears and hummed but I could still hear them.
“I could be down with that. But mostly I think he’s a tiger in the bedroom. I just hope he likes role play.” She waved at her clothing.
And now I knew what she liked in bed.
And that she wanted to try it out with my big brother.
It was a good thing we weren’t that close. If we’d been best friends growing up I’d probably be crying in a bathtub at the very thought of Mary prancing around in heels and pigtails with William chasing after her.
“I hate you both so much right now.”
Hope giggled. “It’smy birthday and I get what I want. Besides, if Mary does bag your brother we’ll hear about it, so you might as well get used to it now.”
“Nope. Noooooope. If youbag my brotherI don’t want any details. You two can gossip all you want.”
“Oh,” Hope whispered, “do you wear the furry ears and plug with the tails?”
Mary nodded quickly, giggling with glee as I ran away as fastas I could. If William wanted to date Mary that was his business. If he got off on dress-up and role play, again, I was happy for him. I understood. I had my kinks. In fact, I was looking forward to having my kind satisfied for the first time inyearslater tonight. I wasn’t judging either of them.
I just didn’t want to know about it in any detailed kind of way.
