I shrugged. “Vaguely.” I remembered making that suggestion and then waking up in my dress and makeup. I didn’t recall anything in between.
“Well . . . you told meallabout you and Evan. How all he has to do is walk into a room to get you wet, how awesome the stubble on his face feels between your legs, how he’s the only man to make you come more than once in the same night—”
I put my hand over my eyes. “Okay, you can stop now.”
“Wait, what else did you say? Let me think. Oh yeah, howbighe is. How you always hated blow jobs butlovedsucking on his huge cock. Do you know how long it was before I could look Evan in the eye again? I still really can’t. Who would have thought Evan would be packing a boa constrictor between his legs?”
“Ahem, ladies. Is everything okay here?” Our baby-faced waiter turned three shades of red at the last thing Natalie said.
“Sure, hun. All good.” Natalie gave the waiter a smile and a wink. Poor kid.
“Well, that wasn’t humiliating at all. Why didn’t you shut me up that night?” Natalie choked on her water and cracked up again.
“Are you kidding? I was sorry you passed out when you did. You were just about to tell me how you love to bite Evan on his . . . and then you lost consciousness. Shame really. Anyway, even the couples on all those freaky sites would need some time to come back from what you guys went through. I’m sure the poor guy puts a lot of pressure on himself to not let Jack down with the business. And I’m not saying he’s not attracted to you like he was, but I would think seeing you so sick this past month took its toll on him. Give him a break. Kiss and hug, and I’ll take you to buy that Rabbit if you need it.”
“Thanks, I . . . think.”
“Always here for you, mama.” Natalie tapped the top of my hand. “Just relax.”
* * *
After I left Natalie,I took advantage of the sunny September day and went for a long walk. I guessed she was right and Evan and I needed a little recovery time. I noticed Evan’s car parked on the corner as I turned onto my block. It was early for him; lately he’d been walking through the door around eight o’clock.
“Hey! What are you doing home already?” Evan looked up from the living room floor as he fiddled with my TV stand.
“Aren’t you happy to see me, Daisy?” I giggled as he pouted at me.
“Of course I am! I’m not used to seeing you home so early.”
He stood from the floor. I gave him a quick peck on the lips as he wrapped his arm around my waist and cupped my cheek.
“I know and I’m so sorry. Jessica told me the numbers were down from last year and I panicked. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t wasting money anywhere. Last thing I want to do is let Jack down.”
“You arenotletting Jack down. You’re busier than you ever were.”
“But before he died, he told me to make sure work didn’t get in the way of my life. We’ve been sharing an apartment for weeks and I’ve hardly seen you.”
I kissed his cheek and shook my head. “Babe, I understand. It’s okay.” Truthfully, I’d been lonely and a little hurt for a while but I didn’t want Evan to feel any worse. “What were you doing with the TV?”
“I hooked up my stereo speakers, finally. Watch.” He took out his phone and tapped the screen a couple of times. Madonna’sCrazy for Youstarted to play.
Evan smirked as he set his phone on the end table. “Remember this song?”
I nodded. “Yes, this is my favorite classic Madonna song. Natalie had the DJ play it at our sixteenth birthday. How did you remember this song?”
Evan gave me a sideways glance. “I remembered guys making a line to dance with you during that song.”
“Oh right, I forgot about that. I can’t remember who started it.”
“Sean.” I laughed at the sour look on his face as he rolled his eyes.
“Really? Oh yeah, I guess he did. I think you were the only boy who didn’t get in line.”
Evan shook his head. “I didn’t want just a minute. I wanted a whole song with you. I didn’t want to just sway back and forth once and hand you off to another guy. When I asked you to dance after that, I had you all to myself. I think I said, ‘Dance with me, birthday girl.’ I put my hand on your back like this.” Evan placed his hand on my lower back and pulled me closer. “I held your hand, like this.” He laced our fingers together and pulled our joined hands to his chest. “And for almost three minutes—you were all mine.” The smoldering look on Evan’s face made my heart skip a beat.
“I should’ve never left your arms that night. Or ever.”
“You’re in my arms now. And I’ll never let you go again.” His lips found my forehead then inched down to my cheeks and over my lips. I nibbled on his bottom lip before he planted kisses down my neck then back up to behind my ear.
