Kayden: Humor me, please.
“You’re a genius, Suzy.” I jumped up from my lounge chair and headed for the clubhouse.
Kayden: Come on, just do it. For me, please.
Me: Gimme a minute. Stop begging.
I stared into the glass, checking my reflection, and realized Suzy was a fucking genius. The image was muddy and dark, but it would give him what he wanted while not giving him too much. I snapped a couple of them, picking just the right one before hitting send. I had the biggest smile on my face as I walked back to my chair, feeling mighty proud of myself. I could almost hear the curse words from here.
Kayden: Damn. It’s blurry. Can you take another one?
Me: Are you zooming in?
Kayden: Hell yes, but it’s hard to see. You did that on purpose!
Me: You asked for a picture, and I gave it to you.
I smirked, knowing how frustrated I’d just made him. I loved teasing him and the playfulness of our conversations.
Kayden: I’m not going to get another one, am I?
Me: Nope, that’s all you’re going to get.
Kayden: Why?
Me: I don’t want you seeing everything. Pictures aren’t always kind and can’t be erased.
Kayden: Oh, come on, Sophia. You’re perfect.
That statement right there was why I didn’t want to send him one. Me in a swimsuit wasn’t perfect. My body was flawed, and after lying in the sun for the last few hours, I was also verging on hot mess status.
Me: Where’s my picture of you? Fair’s fair.
I wanted to see naked. I almost salivated at the thought. I had a fantasy of him without clothes, moving over my body, in my body.
Kayden: I’m working and can’t take one now. I’m all sweaty too.
Me: I want something, anything.
Kayden: Bossy… One second.
A picture of him in his work uniform, covered in sweat, standing near a lush garden of tropical plants filled my screen.
I was enthralled by his eyes—the green flecks of his irises matched the color of the leaves behind him. He was so freaking hot.
Kayden: Come see me. It’s summer and you’re off. Come here. Have some fun. Live a little!
Could I? I wanted to hop in the car right then and drive straight to New Orleans, but I didn’t want to be another fuck—meaningless and disposable. But I was also done being navy blue.
Me: Feel like adding another notch to your bedpost?
My phone began to ring right after I hit send, and my heart leapt in my chest.
“Hey,” I said, trying to play it cool.
“Sophia, you aren’t a cheap whore. I’ve never thought of you in that way…ever.”
I sighed, still unconvinced. “Kayden, I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
