“What the fuck?” I swear my balls shrink and crawl up my sack.
“Hear me out. What if you got her pregnant? Then you’re stuck with heranda baby.For life.Or at least eighteen years. I’m just saying that scenario is less frightening if you’re dating a woman who has your back.”
I follow his line of sight and see Miranda flirting with some guy in a polo.
“She’s free to do her thing. There’s no exclusivity clause in our situation.” Hell, we’re not even dating, technically. Not that I go around fucking other girls while she and I are doing… whatever this is.
“But you and Miranda have gone a few rounds, no? Freshman year and then again last year, and now. I’m just saying she gave Sherry some evil looks a little while ago when she was serving drinks.”
I rub the back of my neck and turn just in time to watch Jason escort Gabby out to the little dance floor in the back. He pulls her close, aligning their bodies together, and I swear to God, I want to knock him the fuck out.
Tilting his drink, Tank clinks it with mine. “Don’t shoot the messenger.” He glances at the dance floor. “Or anyone else, for that matter.”
Easier said than done.
6
GABBY
This is a bad idea.
“Sienna, we’re not even close to the same size.” I motion to my boobs and butt. ’Nuff said.
“I know. I’m so jealous of your bodacious bod.”
I wouldn’t describe myself as having a “bodacious bod.” More like someone who enjoys tacos with extra guac. Even though I forget to eat sometimes, the weight never seems to come off my hood or trunk.
I’m not sure when this happened, but Sienna has taken it upon herself to be my fairy godmother of makeovers. And while I can always use help with my makeup, this getup seems a little extreme.
It started when I had that date with Jason, which was a waste of good mascara and a nice dress, if you ask me. All he did was take me to the bar so he could talk football with his bros. I mean, I liked the one or two slow dances we did in the back, but he wanted to talk about the game the entire evening. Not that I expected some fancy restaurant or anything expensive, but trying to avoid getting beer spilled on me all night was not my idea of fun.
Of coursewe went to the same bar where the players were hanging out.Of courseRider was there. My first date in ages, and the very last person on the planet I wanted to see was a few feet away, which made my mood worse.
Miranda looked like she wanted to maul him right there on the table. It’d be funny if it didn’t still hurt to watch him date other women.
Rider and I will never happen. I wonder when my heart will get the memo.
Smoothing a hand over the silky baby-pink fabric, I sigh. The costume would be lovely… if there was more of it. “I don’t have a bra I can wear with this.”
“You don’t need a bra. This puppy will hold you up.”
Straps crisscross everywhere, so I’m not sure how to verify her claims, but it’s getting down to the wire. If I want a different costume, I need to figure that out in the next half-hour before Jason comes for our second date.
I groan.
She holds up a finger. “To quote Herodotus—except I’m changing pronouns—‘If a woman insisted always on being serious, and never allowed herself a bit of fun and relaxation, she would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.’”
I tilt my head. “What’s your major again?”
“A little of this and that.” She waves my question away. “But really, don’t you need a break?”
Do I want to go out and relax? Of course. Do I want to do it with Jason? That’s the question. I keep waiting for the butterflies to take flight, but so far, I only have nerves from hanging out with someone I barely know.
“What if I get arrested for public indecency? There’s a very good chance I might poke out someone’s eye with my nipples if it gets cold tonight.”
She cackles. “My old roommate used Band-Aids over her nipples for extra coverage.” With one arm, she holds it up to me. “You’ve been working your ass off since I moved in. I barely see you. What’s a few hours of letting your hair down?”
Ugh, she’s saying everything I want to hear. Where the hell’s Ramona? I need someone to talk some sense into me, and I can usually trust Ramona to give it to me straight. There’s nothing she loves more than raining on someone’s parade. But Sienna, the annoying little ray of sunshine that she is, seems convinced I’ll enjoy myself tonight. “Screw it. You only live once, right?”
