“Would you go out with him?”
I shook my head firmly. “No way. Nothing good could come from that.”
“You never know until you try,” Lily said with a maddeningly cheerful tone. She took a sip of water. “If he made me waffles like that, I’d be tempted.”
“I’m sure he would. He’s probably got a waffle iron in every woman’s kitchen across Manhattan.”
“I’m serious. Sebastian might surprise you.Sometimes, dwelling on the past costs you your present.”
I snorted. “I’ll learn to make my own damn waffles. I still can’t believe Dad gave him the recipe and not me. He wouldn’t even share it with my mom.”
At the mention of my mother, the air shifted. I always avoided the subject of Moira—I’d stopped calling her Mom the day she walked out on us. The emotional distance she put between us that day was exponential to the geographical distance. I had no idea where she was or even if she was still alive, and I didn’t care.
Lily dabbed at her lips with a paper napkin. “Do you miss her?” she asked gently.
“Nope.” The word was automatic, flat. “Never.”
She let it go. That was Lily’s gift—knowing when to lean in, and when to back off.
I sighed. “Okay, enough with the therapy session. Tell me about you. When did you decide to sneak—I mean, move—in here?”
She laughed, clearly relieved by the shift in tone. “Last month, when my landlord hiked up my rent again. That place was already stupid expensive, but apparently greed has no ceiling.”
“So when Sue told you she was moving out…”
“I jumped at the chance. Closer to the office, closer to you—what more could I want?”
“A decent AC unit.” I pointed at mine. “Sue’s old one sucks. But if you want one of these, I’ll help you install it.”
“That would be amazing. My folks are coming by tomorrow to help with the move. Which means Mom will hover and direct traffic, while I try to stop Dad from lifting anything heavier than a pillow.”
I smiled. I looked forward to seeing Lily’s parents again. She’d been adopted when she was only a few weeks old and had never known her real origins. Her adoptive parents were amazing, had showered her with love, and had given her a wonderful upbringing. No one could ask for better parents.
“I’d love to see them again,” I said. “We can tag team—one of us distracts Mom, the other babysits Dad.”
“It’s a plan.” She glanced at her slim watch. “Speaking of plans, did I totally interrupt yours?”
“Not really. I just need to do laundry. Want to come? I’ll give you the full tour.”
I gathered my pile of laundry, and we headed downstairs. I was glad Lily was with me. Last time I’d come down alone, Clarence from 1B had lurked way too close for comfort. Sue always said he was harmless, but anyone who cared for reptiles at the zoo and looked like he might smuggle them home in his pants made me uneasy.
I pushed open the laundry room door and made a beeline for the first machine. But when I opened the lid, I froze.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
Lily leaned in. “What is it?”
“Just… look.”
She stepped closer and peered inside. “What the hell… Is that—are those rubber toys? Did someone wash their dog’s stuff?”
“Take a closer look,” I said, trying not to laugh.
Lily reached in and pulled out a bright pink rubber cock. She yelped and dropped it like it bit her. “Jesus Christ!”
She gaped into the washer. “There’s dozens in here. Every size, every color. It’s like the Rainbow Coalition of dildos.”
I was wheezing with laughter, barely able to speak. “Definitely not dog toys.”
