“You’ve been around the wrong people.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Her hand comes up to my cheek. “I want to try, Chaz, I do. I just don’t know if I can get there.”
“Let’s just focus on one step at a time, like kissing.” I bring my mouth to hers and talk against it, “and touching.” I slide my hands beneath her sweatshirt and skim my fingers along her sides. “How does that sound?”
On a shiver, she presses the softest and sweetest kiss to my lips. I don’t need to hear her answer—I feel it in the way her mouth moves against mine—a little unsure but willing to take this next step with me.
SISTAHS4EVER Video Chat
“Hi, Bea,” I coo at my goddaughter as I join the video call. Beatriz, which means “she who brings joy,” is already living up to her name. I watch as her brown eyes light up at the sound of my voice, and her little mouth stretches into what might be a gummy grin. “Is that a real smile or just gas?”
“Probably a bit of both.” Dee gazes adoringly at her miracle baby, cradled in her arms, and kisses the swirl of curly hair so much like her own. After the year of hell she and her husband, Mick, went through, I love seeing her glowing with happiness.
“Oh my God, you’re so precious,” Jordyn sing-songs to Bea. “It’s only been a week since I’ve seen her, and she’s already grown so much.”
“They change every day at this age,” Dee says. “Here comes Cayo.”
Mick appears on the screen holding Bea’s twin brother. The eleven-week-old, cute and pudgy like his sister, kicks his legs and gurgles at the camera, making his proud parents grin.
Jordyn’s voice pitches to another high squeak over her godson. Seeing this side of her is hilarious. “Look at you two! I still can’t believe you have twins.”
“Neither can I some days,” Dee chuckles. “It’s never a dull moment around here.”
Mick nods, then makes a face. “You’ll have to excuse us—little man’s got something explosive in his diaper. Wish me luck.” But before he leaves, he adds, “Seems Bayside is treating you well, Lexie.”
“It is. Thanks.” The tease in his voice tells me Dee’s already given him the scoop on Chaz. But my friends don’t know the latest.
“How was your movie date?” Jordyn asks.
“Nothing like planned, but it was a real turning point.”
Their eyebrows shoot up, and I spill everything—from Miranda’s call to the massage, my meltdown, and the aftermath. The intense night was an emotional rollercoaster that should have sent Chaz running. Instead, he stayed for the entire wild ride. Unshakeable. A man who told me I was the prize.
“He sounds so sweet and romantic,” Dee says.
“And hot,” Jordyn adds. “Sensitive men make the best lovers.”
That ticks up my panic meter. “What if I can’t ever finish? I’d hate to make him feel like it was his fault.”
“Lex.” Jordyn’s voice centers me. “Chaz doesn’t sound like the type whose manhood is going to be offended if you don’t orgasm. I think he’ll just keep trying by introducing you to all kinds of good stuff.”
“That’s just it. I don’t even know whatall the good stuffis. Maybe I can find a checklist online.”
“Please don’t,” Dee groans. “If you start researching, you’ll just overload yourself. Pleasure isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about feeling and experiencing. If you ask Chaz what he likes, it might open your eyes to things you’d like to try, too.”
“How am I supposed to ask him that?”
“Easy,” Jord says. “C, baby, how you want me to handle that big D of yours?”
“Oh my God.” I slap a hand over my mouth. “I think you missed the beginner lesson and went straight to advanced.”
“Really?” Jordyn frowns. “I thought that was tame.”
Dee shakes her head. “Lex, just be yourself. Chaz likes you for who you are.”
True enough. He texted this morning, like he does every day, asking me to stop by the café. I dropped in on my way to pick up a birthday gift for Sophia. He made me a French vanilla mocha topped with a foam heart. Beneath the mug was another note on a napkin with a drawing of two coffee beans kissing.
I rolled my eyes at his corniness as if my heart wasn’t flipping in my chest. The napkin is now tucked inside my panty drawer, next to the one from yesterday. Something tells me I’m going to have quite the collection before the time is up.
