I wasn’t looking forward to eating thesnooty bootyfood anyway.
Mae dips her fries into her pot of honey mustard, a sigh of contentment slipping past her lips. “This really hits the spot. How do places like this get their fries to taste so good?”
“Maybe they wipe their armpits with them.”
A laugh bubbles up her throat. “What’s with you and armpits? You got a fetish or something?”
I chuckle, shaking my head before taking a bite of my burger. “I can’t believe your mom, of all people, didn’t tell the restaurant you had an allergy when booking.”
“My mom? She told me Peter booked it.”
I cock my head. “Peter told us he left it up to Renee since she’s into fine dining.”
Betrayal flashes across Mae’s face, but it doesn’t last long. “Why am I not surprised? It’s just another way to spite me.”
“Even after your performance last night?” Dislike blooms in my chest. “She doesn’t appreciate you. It’s fucking wrong.”
Mae lifts her shoulders in a shrug. “It’s just her. There’s no changing it.” She looks at me. “Sorry you had to eat this instead of—”
“Mae, I don’t care. The food portions in that place wouldn’t feed a mouse. I would have ended up getting a burger afterwards, anyway.”
“Okay, good.” Her response is breathy, and it takes me right back to last night. We haven’t spoken about it, and I don’t know if we’re going to. But all I know is that I want to do it again.
I crave her underneath me. Desperate for me. Pussy throbbing as I swipe my finger over her clit. Her lips parting so I can slip my cock—
“Those women are checking you out.” Mae nods to the group of women a few booths away from us. They’re whispering to one another, giggling as they pretend to focus on their food. I doubt they’ve recognised me when they can only see a sliver of my face, but it’s apparent that they’ve had a bit to drink, eyes hazy and movements sloppy.
I turn my head away from them. “I don’t care.”
“One of them could be your future lover. You could miss your opportunity.” Mae’s teasing, but there’s a glint in her eyes that gets me—like she’s jealous. Envious. I love it.
“I haven’t had a girlfriend for seven years. I think I’ll survive.”
Her eyebrows fly up. “Seven years?”
I snatch up one of her fries, finished with mine. “Is that a surprise?”
“I mean… yeah. That's a long time without a woman. Unusual for someone who has the good looks and career.”
“So you think I’m good-looking?” I smirk, but she just rolls her eyes at me. “And I didn’t say it’s been seven years since I’ve been with a woman,” I clarify. “Just since I’ve had a girlfriend.”
If you could call her a girlfriend. It fizzled out pretty quickly. Partly because my father got in the way but mainly because she wasn’t fun. Snarky. Vivacious. Not like the woman sitting in front of me.
“Right.” Mae drops her gaze, and I realise how poorly my comment came across.
If I don’t want her thinking I’m some kind of manslut who used her last night, I need to be honest.
“It’s been three years.”
She peeks between long lashes.
“Three years since I’ve slept with anyone. Seven years since I’ve been in a relationship. Or something you could maybe call a relationship.” I’m not embarrassed about not having slept with anyone for so long. No shame comes with the admittance. It’s not like I haven't had the chance. Meaningless sex just doesn’t do anything for me anymore.
But the thought of doing it with Mae doesn’t seem so meaningless.
I grind my teeth together, attempting to pull my mind out of the gutter.
“That’s… I wasn’t expecting that.”
