His fingers go still on the ivory bone. His dark gaze drops. First to my Doc Martens, then climbs to the fishnet tights and black pleather shorts, and up to my baggy off-the-shoulder sweater. He lingers on the image. A Black woman in profile takes up the front, her thick, coiled afro large. The inscription in her gold hoop earring readsI love kink.
His grin spreads, catching the double meaning. I lift an eyebrow. Let him think what he wants.
Truth is, I can’t wait to ride that fine-ass man and discover all his turn-ons. But we need to set some ground rules first.
Rayne and I join the women. Funny how those invisible lines form. Guys on one side, girls on the other. Socialization, I suppose. Lexie is still new to me, but I like her. She seems good for C. A former corporate exec from Chicago, she left that behind to settle in Bayside, help C run the café, and focus on photography. Her shots of the town are dope. Rayne had bought some for the tourism website and brochures.
Lexie hugs me. I tense, then force my body to relax.
“Hey, Amazon,” I say, my nickname for her. Nearly six feet, gorgeous, and quietly tough, she reminds me of Xena: Warrior Princess.
“Hi, Lot. Love the outfit.”
“Ya know. Breaking out the fishnets.”
“You pull it off well. How’s your father recovering?”
“Complaining, so back to his usual.”
She gives me a knowing smile. Her family drama runs darker than mine, but she’s been accepted here like one of our own.
Lexie hands me a glass of chilled wine, and I leave her and Rayne chatting as I make my way over to Sophia and her tribe. I remember them all as kids. Now they’re in their early twenties.
Soph flashes her signature dimples, identical to her brother’s. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Wouldn’t miss your send-off.” I tap my glass to hers. “Excited?”
“Yeah.” She bounces on the balls of her feet.
She looks pretty in a soft pink sweater, her sandy twists falling to her waist. Sophia is pure rainbows and sunshine, a burst of energy in human form. It’s good to see her vibrant spirit back.
“Chloe got me an interview at her company for a brand assistant role,” she starts chattering, open as ever. “We wouldn’t be in the same department, which is good. Living and working together might be too much. Plus, you know, the other stuff. I just want to respect her boundaries. Be a good friend and not expect anything more.”
I nod, familiar with their history.
“Chloe still worries that I’mcurious.” She air quotes. “Doesn’t want to be an experiment. I get it, but I don’t think it’s just curiosity. I’ve been attracted to girls before, nothing as intense as I’ve felt with Chloe. But I also like dating guys. Does that make me bi?”
“I don’t know, Soph. Sounds like you’re still exploring and figuring it out. Try not to put pressure on yourself to fit into a box. You might just vibe with who you vibe with, no matter the gender.”
“Yeah, maybe,” she says.
“You’re young,” I add, stepping out of my comfort zone to offer advice, but I can see she’s struggling. “It’s your first time on your own as an adult. Live it. Experience it. Get to know yourself. That’s what I did when I went to New York. You’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks, Lot. Who says you’re not sensitive?”
“Me.”
“Well, you’re wrong.” She laughs. “So, what about you and Dice?”
“What about us?”
“You tell me.”
“Nothing to tell. We’re back on friendly terms again.”
She jerks her chin toward the card table. “He hasn’t taken hiseyes off you since you got here. Looks more than friendly to me.” She bumps my hip and grins.
I just sip my wine and sneak a peek to find him still watching me.
