“You make it sound like we’re robbing a bank. It’s just sex, Charlie.”
But it wasn’t just sex. Not with Gavin. It was the basis of our relationship when we got together. I’m not sure I can separate it from how I feel about a person.
“You still there?” Mason asks.
“What? Yes. Yes, sorry. Still here. Just...thinking thoughts, I guess.”
“Charlie.” His voice deepens, and like magic, my worries melt.
“Yes?”
“Come over. I want to see you.”
“I—” I have to swallow as my pulse beats an excited rhythm in my throat. “I don’t know where you live.”
“I’ll send you the address. Are you free tomorrow?”
“I, uh—” I’ve got some pieces to write, including one for a new channel that wanted me to use SEO keywords likestepdaughterandamateurandturbo, and I don’t have a good feeling about those at all. “Do you think we’ll be...um...long?”
He laughs, once, short and dark. “You sure know how to make a guy feel special.”
“No!” I say quickly. “No, I just meant...I mean...With Athena. I can leave her here for a while, but she’s started to figure out how to get out of the bathroom and—”
“You can bring her here,” he says, which I suppose is better than him bugging me about the crate again. “She can hang out with my dogs. She and Dante will wear each other out.”
Oh god. The idea of Athena at Mason’s is something I can’t even begin to imagine. No doubt she’d find his priceless antique bureau and chew it into kindling before we’d even managed to get our clothes back on.
“It’s fine,” I say. “I’ll see if my friend Vann can keep her for a few hours. Pretty sure he’s off work tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bring anything you like.”
I pause just as my thumb slides toward the button to end the call. “What do you mean? Like snacks?”
He chuckles. I like his laugh.
“No, Charlie. Like toys. Ropes. Floggers. Whatever you have that you feel like playing with.”
Gavin took all of that with him. He said if I got to keep the apartment and the dog, he got to keep the toys. God knows he spent enough money on them over the years, I really couldn’t argue with him.
But I say, “Okay. Sure.” And once again my brain launches into static like a flock of seagulls trying to take flight. Because shit, what am I supposed to do? Bring the lime-green dildo that’s still sitting in the packaging under my bed? I haven’t even tried it yet, though it’s the same as the one Athena found and chewed into croutons this summer, so I assume I’ll like it. Other than that, my selection of toys is nonexistent. Up until this moment, it didn’t seem like a problem. But if Mason wants to really play, then I’m feeling ill-equipped.
In a panic, I head over to Vann’s earlier than planned when I drop off Athena the next day.
“Hey.” Vann greets me with a smile as I try to keep Athena from leaping into his arms.
“I’m screwed.” I push past him.
“I thought that wasn’t until later.” He seems unconcerned, dropping to his knees to say hi to Athena.
“You shouldn’t let her do that,” I say as she hops up to lick Vann’s lips.
“She’s just being friendly.”
“Well, yeah, but I had to pry goose poop out of her mouth on the walk over here, so personally, I wouldn’t let her stick her tongue in my mouth, but that’s just me.”
Vann makes a gagging sound as he yanks his head away, which of course Athena takes as an invitation to play, so he has to endure a little more licking before he manages to get clear of her.
“Thanks for taking her. You’re sure the others don’t mind?” I say.
