“Hey,” I pushed her shoulder, “did you steal that from my letter?”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not true, and it proves I’m not the only one who sees it. Fuck Brock and his racist family. If I ever find a guy and his family hates me, I might have to break up with him.”
I laughed at that until it sparked a memory that I wanted to talk to her about; why hadn’t she been boy crazy lately? I noticed it on the boat, but after we got back, I hadn’t thought of it with everything else going on. While Pen had been around to help me house hunt, she’d been working more than usual, even for her. That, along with not saying she wanted to hook up with just about every guy who crossed her path, was not like her, and now was the perfect time to find out what was going on with my friend.
Positioning myself on the couch, so I was facing her with one leg bent, I leaned back and examined her. “You know,” I smiled, knowing she was not going to like what I was about to say, “thinking back to when we were on that trip, I remember I wanted to talk to you about something when we got home, and I never did. It’s crazy you didn’t remind me.”
Pen threw her head back against the couch and moaned. “Because there’s nothing to talk about.”
“If there’s nothing to talk about, why have you been working so much?”
“Because the band I’m working with has amazing potential, but they needed a lot of guidance.” She looked away before she could finish her sentence, proving to me there was more.
“Why do I think there’s more you’re not telling me?” She shrugged, not looking at me. “Come on, Pen. You can tell me anything. You know I won’t judge you the same way I know you won’t judge me.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to say anything until I knew if it was anything to even say anything about, you know?”
“No, I don’t know because you haven’t told me anything.” Jumping up, I went to the kitchen and started to make a pitcher of margaritas. “Do we need alcohol for this?”
“You know I can’t turn down a good marg, but yeah, make it strong.” She bit her bottom lip as I started to pour the tequila into the blender. “While I know you won’t judge me, I guess I’m judging myself and haven’t wanted to admit it out loud.”
“Admit what, Pen?” I asked as I poured one of our frothy drinks in my lapis blue margarita cup.
Taking her drink from me, she took a long sip before she spoke. I was afraid she was going to get brain freeze before I ever got anything out of her. “You know the band I’m working with, Crimson Heat?”
“I know they’re a college band from Willow Bay University. What about them?”
“So, the lead singer is the youngest of the four as a junior, and I’ve kind of been having sex with him for the last six months.” Her cheeks pinked up, and then she downed the rest of her drink.
My mouth hung open as I digested her words. My best friend in the whole world had been keeping it a secret that she was having sex.
“Why are you ashamed? Is he bad in bed?”
Pen let out a peal of laughter. “If he was bad, I wouldn’t keep having sex with him. In fact, he’s the best fuck I’ve ever had. I’m ashamed because he’s barely legal to drink.”
“As long as he’s legal, who cares?”
“The world?” She laughed humorlessly. “My bosses will definitely care that I’m having sex with one of my clients who I’m supposed to be looking out for to make sure he and his fellow bandmates don’t get into trouble.”
I took a sip of my drink and tried to process what she’d told me. “It sounds like you’re doing a good job of keeping him out of trouble. If he’s in your bed or vice versa—since I don’t know your situation because you didn’t tell me—he’s not out doing drugs and getting all the ladies at his college pregnant.”
“Oh fuck off,” she swatted at me. “Why did I have to find a guy I’m interested in, and he’s practically a kid?”
“Are you really interested in him or just his dick and stamina?” I already knew the answer since she hadn’t told me about him. If it was only sex, she would have told me about it when it started.
“He’s smart. Smarter than any of the guys I’ve dated in the past, and he’s sweet with this bad boy vibe that I can’t resist.”
“Obviously. What will happen if Christiano finds out?”
“I’ll be fired from Titan Records, simple as that.”
“And he’s worth your dream job?”
Taking my drink out of my hand, she sucked down the rest. “I think he is.”
Smiling at her, I took my glass from her and picked up hers to refill them. “If that’s the case, I need to see a picture of him and for you to tell me his name.”
“What makes you think I have any pictures?” She giggled like a damn schoolgirl.
“Because I know you and how you like to take pictures. I bet if I opened your phone’s gallery, I’d find all kinds of things you don’t want me to see.”
“Oh no, that won’t be happening. I’ve got them hidden so only I can enjoy them. I’m not that stupid.”
“Of course, you’re not. You’ve had enough clients get in trouble because of pictures. Now,” I steepled my fingers under my chin. “If I don’t get to see a picture right now, at least tell me his name.”
“His name is Walker Pierce.” Pen practically swooned at saying his name, and I knew right then she was in trouble and more than likely in love with him even if she didn’t know it yet.
“That’s
