I bite back a grin, flopping onto my back again and staring at the ceiling.
“It’s... so fucking good,” I say dreamily. “I’ve never came so hard in my fucking life, he puts all my exes to shame. And the mouth on him alone makes me come. I’ve literally blacked out from the multiple orgasms.
Their squeals sync in perfect harmony.
“Is he big?” Layla asks with zero shame, her tone pure curiosity.
“LAYLA,” I gasp, clutching my chest.
I choose not to answer, letting the silence speak for itself. The mood shifts slightly when Amelia speaks, her voice a little softer, more serious.
“What are you going to do about your dad?”
I freeze, the question cutting through all the laughter. My chest seizing, a flutter sensation rippling through my stomach.
I don’t know. I don’t fucking know.
“I-” I start, but Layla, sensing the change, jumps in fast, saving me.
“Don’t think about that right now,” she says quickly. “How are you doing? Like, really? Are you still planning to come back to Los Angeles when your six months are over? It’s been damn near three months already and I fucking miss you.”
I glance down at my laptop, at the scribbled notes scattered across my bed, at the little dreams and plans I never would’ve even dared to think about if I were still under my father’s thumb. In L.A., he would have called it stupid. A waste of time. He would have shut it down before it even had a chance to breathe.
“I miss you, too. But, actually…” I swallow hard, a slow smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “I think I have a plan.”
“Oh shit,” Amelia whispers dramatically. “She has a fucking plan.”
Layla gasps. “Well? WHAT IS IT?”
“I want to open a romance-only bookstore out here,” I say, voice steady but bubbling with excitement I can barely contain.
Another wave of silence.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” They scream in unison.
“THAT’S PERFECT!” Layla yells. “That’s so fucking you!”
“You love books so much, babe,” Amelia says, her voice warm and genuine. “I’m so proud of you.”
There’s a beat of quiet, and then Layla’s voice drops low.
“Remember your555tattoo?” she whispers, “the one Amelia gave you years ago? Bitch, it’s fate. You fucking manifested this. It’s all coming full circle.”
I blink up at the ceiling, realization hitting me like a wave. It’s the change, the transformation, the second chance I was so desperate for.
For the first time in a long time, I let myself believe it: a new beginning is finally here.
Daddy
Time’s almost up. I’m quite impressed you haven’t come crawling back to me, begging me for a second chance.
The nerve he has,I haven’t made the effort to update him anymore, and he chooses to message me shit like this, antagonizing me.
Whatever, ignoring his response, I stretch out on the couch, a book propped against my knees, but I’m not really reading. I push the feelings aside that my father always seems to bring up. He can’t ruin the happiness blooming in my chest, swelling with excitement.
I’m waiting forhim.
Every few seconds, my eyes flick toward the window, watching the long dirt driveway, waiting. I’m itching to go to the bookstore. It’s been gnawing at me all afternoon. I could’ve easily ordered an Uber, but I want Carter to take me.
