“Not everything is about money, though,” I say, getting a little frustrated that she can’t see things from my perspective. “You could paint your nails at home or run a bubble bath.”
“Thank you for suggesting things I never would have thought of myself. How can I ever repay your wisdom?” she deadpans. “You say everything isn’t about money, but it kinda is. Hear me out,” she says, putting her hand up to stop the stream of works that were about to roll off my tongue. “I’m saying your confidence comes from the safety net that’s always been a barrier between you and the ground. Sometimes it’s money, yeah, but sometimes it’s your family or the fact that any day-to-day mistakes you make are probably not going to dramatically affect the trajectory of your life.”
“Okay,” I concede, because the trajectory of my life is already set and though it’s not the future I’d pick for myself, it’s a pretty nice one, so I have no business complaining. “I see where you’re going with this. My folks and their bank account can get me out of any jam I find myself in, and yeah, you’re probably right. But that’s not the only way to support someone. Hell, if we’re counting friends, you’ve got more support on this team than I do. I get along with everyone, but any one of the guys would go to bat for you if you needed it.”
“The guys are the best,” she agrees, and I ignore the twinge in my chest that’s a little perturbed she didn’t include me in that group.
“I’ve made great friends through the hockey team, and even in my classes,” Liza continues. “If my car broke down, Fallon or Bridgette would drive me around, yeah. But it would definitely cause my day-to-day life to be harder. All I’m saying is my safety net’s a little thinner than yours. So when I put up my defenses, there’s a reason for it. The sky has fallen a couple times, so pardon me if I’m always looking up, checking to see if it’s about to tumble down on me again.”
“It won’t,” I vow. “Not when I’m around.” Liza opens her mouth to protest and I wish like hell that I could leap across our two sofas and press my finger to her lips. I want Liza to know that she doesn’t just have the guys on the team or her girl crew. She has me. “And if the sky does fall, I’ll buy you an umbrella and whisk you off to the safety of my much thicker net. You said my net was thick, right? Like, the thickest. Probably the biggest, too, right? You like my net. I know you do.”
I’m wagging my brows at her again, and she’s laughing at my antics. This is much safer territory. I hate to see her so stressed, and if I can alleviate that with my ridiculous comments, then I’m sure as hell going to do it.
“Oh my god. Is sex always on your mind?” she asks, still giggling.
“Pretty much,” I admit. “Especially when I’m in close proximity to a very sexy equipment manager.”
Liza swats me playfully as she takes a seat on the arm of my recliner. “If you ever refer to your cock as a safety net or comment on its thickness again, I’m going to my room, getting that damned reindeer vibrator out of my closet, and taking care of business myself.”
I smile at her. “That’s not the threat you think it is.”
She swats me again, but this time, I catch her hand and hold onto it. “I’ve got a brilliant idea. You have the day off, and I will lose my damn mind if I stay in this house for much longer. So grab your shoes, Tiger. We’re going on a field trip.”
“Where?” she asks skeptically as I strap my foot into my air cast and reach for my lone sneaker.
“Like I said before, that reindeer vibe has got to go. So, that means we’re going shopping. There’s a place downtown that sells?—”
“I’m not going vibrator shopping with you,” Liza says, like I haven’t had my lips wrapped around her pussy. “And if I were to go,” she continues, “it wouldn’t be at a shop downtown. I could run into someone from class. Or one of my professors. Or a parent of the kids I babysit in the summer. Or a regular from the restaurant.”
“Fine,” I agree, scrolling through my phone and tapping when I find what I’m looking for. “I found a place that’s a little over an hour away. Think that’s safe?”
Liza shrugs. “I guess, but?—”
“Great,” I say, hoisting myself up off the couch. “We ride in five. And you’re driving, obviously,” I say, pointing to my right foot in all its air cast glory.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Liza says, sighing. “Not everyone can just take off on a road trip with no thought for gas money and go one the hunt for something they don’t actually need. Vibrators aren’t cheap.”
“I know,” I say, even though I’ve never given a second's thought to the price of sex toys. “And I know I’ve got more privilege than most,” I tell her, reaching into the bowl on the side table and fishing for my keys. I toss them to Liza and smile as she catches them. “But today, so do you. Now come on, we need to hit the road. What if we get there late and all the good ones are gone?”
22
Liza
This place is not what I expected.
I’ve haven’t spent a lot of time imagining sex toy shops, but if my mind ever did conjure one up, I don't think it would look like this. Or be this clean. Or well lit. And it wouldn’t have leather couches or reading chairs. This place looks like the sign on the door should read Public Library and not Sex Store. No, it doesn’t really say that. It’s called The Top Drawer and it’s a lot classier than I would have guessed.
There’s no sexy music being pumped in through speakers, and I’m not sure why I thought there'd be beaded curtains hanging in all the doorways, but there aren’t. There are just doors, though most of the space is pretty open. It’s dotted with alcoves here and there, complete with cosy chairs and end tables. I feel the urge to curl up in one and read the the day away, but do they even have books here? If they do, they’re probably sex books. Hmmm…I wonder if they’re illustrated?
“You doing okay?” Blue asks, catching my attention and making me realize I must resemble a deer in headlights.
“Yep,” I say, my voice sounding way more chipper than it ever has before. “I just…this place doesn’t look like a sex toy shop,” I say, keeping my volume just above a whisper.
“Doesn’t it?” Blue asks, pointing to a display of dildos about two feet away. There must be about twenty-five of them, all standing at attention in an ornately carved wooden bookcase. “Because I am not confused at all about where I am right now,” he says, smiling as pauses to peer into a glass cabinet.
“Are those?—”
“Handcuffs? They are, but we have a larger selection if you’re looking for something in a different material. These are effective, but that metal can pinch just a smidge. Although, sometimes that’s part of the fun. Would you like me to open the case for you?”
