“Are you freaking kidding me? I can’t believe he said that.” Miles lifted his hand and called over the bartender. He hadn’t gone home yet, so we’d met after my first day of work for drinks.
“Another round?”
I’d already had one dirty martini, so a second was not a good idea. I looked at Miles. “I think I’m going to switch to merlot.”
He nodded like he was in agreement and turned back to the bartender. “We’ll have two more dirty martinis.”
The bartender looked to me. I rolled my eyes, but nodded to tell him it was okay.
After he walked away, I lifted the toothpick from my empty glass and used my teeth to scrape an olive off. “I have to work tomorrow. You know I’m a lightweight.”
“I have to work tomorrow, too. And I’m taking the redeye back in a few hours. But wine isn’t going to cut it to discuss your new boss. You need something stronger.”
“I’m pretty sure what I need is complete sobriety when it comes to Jagger Langston. The man makes me feel drunk when I’m anywhere near him. I’m not joking. I get lightheaded and woozy.”
“God, I’m so damn jealous. It’s been ages since I felt that kind of excitement about boinking a guy.”
“I’m not boinking Jagger Langston.”
Miles took the toothpick from my hand and stole the last olive. “Yes, you are, honey. And I’m so glad your first time is going to be someone with experience. My first was withEvan Redman. His mother called while we were fooling around, and the idiot answered. My engine was already running, and I couldn’t stop it even thoughwe’dstopped. I finished before he hung up. I wasn’t even touching myself. I just ejaculated.”
I chuckled. “A week ago, I might’ve thought you were exaggerating. But I can totally see how it could be possible to finish just by being around Jagger Langston. If I keep him as my mentor, I’m going to need to bring a change of panties with me.”
“What do you meanif? You’re definitely keeping him.”
I shook my head. “It’s a really bad idea.”
He grinned. “I know. But think of all the interesting stories you’re going to have when we FaceTime in the evenings. You owe me this much, leaving me alone in California for the entire summer.”
I did feel bad about that. Years ago, Miles had picked up and moved across the country to be roomies with me when I’d needed him most, and now I was spending three months back in New York. “I’m sorry I’m deserting you.”
The bartender delivered our second dirty martinis. Miles picked up the toothpick skewered with olives and held it to my mouth. I slipped off the repayment with my teeth.
“It’s okay,” he said. “Although when I get arrested for breaking and entering at two in the morning because the woman you sublet your room to calls the cops after I stumble into your bed naked instead of mine, you better come bail my ass out.”
I laughed. I’d started sleeping in Miles’s room a few months ago after finding spiders in my room on four different occasions. We couldn’t figure out where they were coming from, but after two weeks Miles just started sleeping in my bed. He said he liked it better, so we’d ended up switching rooms. But sometimes after a night of clubbing, he got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and wandered back into his old room naked.
“Maybe if you sleep with underwear on, she’ll go easy on you.”
He scrunched up his nose. “You know that’s not happening.”
We chatted a while longer as we finished our martinis and then headed outside to wait for Miles’s Uber to JFK.
“Good luck with your photoshoot this week,” I said.
“Forget wishing me luck. I’m a genius when I’m behind the camera. Wish me a boss who looks like yours.”
A white car pulled up, and Miles opened the door without even checking the plate. I shook my head. “How do you know that’s your car?”
“I have a sixth sense.”
The driver leaned back. “Miles? JFK?”
“See?” He winked and pulled me into a hug, then held out a curled pinky. “Promise me something.”
We’d been pinky swearing since we were kids. “What?”
“You willnotcome home from New York a virgin.”
