“What am I to you, Paige?”
She tilts her head to the side, her long hair falling in waves.“You’re…” She looks away, nibbling on her bottom lip.Again.
“You don’t know, do you?And boyfriend doesn’t work.”I step in front of her, forcing her to look at me.“Think of me as your madly devoted Zachary.”
“What?”
“You heard me.Madly devoted Zach.”
10
Paige
“Holy shit, girl, I would switch sides for you.I never considered myself a vagina lover in the sexual sense but for you…”
“Who is this?”My voice comes out a croak, having just woken up.
“Pippa.”
“Hey, Pip.What are you talking about?”Brushing my hair from my face, I roll onto my back, squinting at the vibrant morning sun flooding through the crack in the curtains.
“I woke up to find this fucking fantastic pic of you inthatdress.”She’s gushing, and I search my memory for an inkling of what she’s talking about.“I mean, you told me about the dress, but Paige,youin the dress.Dynamite!I bet Mr.Rothwell couldn’t keep his hands off you.”
Then it dawns on me.When I got home, before taking off the dress last night, I snapped a picture and sent it to Pippa.I laugh and stretch.
“Aww, thanks, babe.It is a spectacular dress.”I glance to the red heap of silken fabric on my bedroom floor where I’d carelessly left it in my delirious desire to sleep.Thank goodness for dry cleaners.“Can we talk later?”
“Why are you ditching me?”Offended, her voice slides into a husky whisper.“Oh!Is Zach in bed with you?”
“No, he isn’t.”
“Argh.Why not?And if not, then why are you trying to get rid of me?”
“How much coffee have you had?You’re going a mile a minute and trying to keep up with you is hurting my head.”
Clutching my head, I groan and push into sitting, my legs now dangling over the side of the bed.
“I’m tired and you woke me up.I don’t care that it’s eight in the morning, I don’t have to work until two this afternoon.This morning is mine to sleep in.”
The thought of working on Saturday sucks.I don’t do it often but with my job, weekends are easier for some of my clients.
Today I’ve got an appointment with the Bergmans, newlyweds planning for their custom-built home.I’m walking them through three design boards for their kitchen.It’s the last room for them to decide on before we move to the upstairs.
Mom’s their interior decorator and I’ve only recently joined the team.My mother asked me to keep things moving while she’s away over the coming months.
I’m loving the project, so far, and creating the design boards is the best part.I always think of it as getting paid to put together Pinterest boards.This afternoon’s appointment should be fun although Mom has mentioned that the Bergmans can be indecisive.
“You can sleep when you’re dead.Talk.”Pippa yanks me from thoughts of how to lead the Bergmans to a swift decision.
“You’re mean.”I pout, slapping my feet against the wooden floor on my way to the bathroom.I’m up, so I might as well get coffee.
“No, I’m not.You love me.Now talk.Tell me all things Zachary.I’ve been more than patient waiting for you to tell me more.”
My stomach twists and I inwardly groan.“Pip?—”
I’m about to preface what I’ll say with “Please don’t tell Drew,” when I realize that’s not fair or possible.He’s her husband and I can’t ask her to keep things from him.
So, for the first time in my life, I don’t tell my best friend the whole truth.I don’t tell her about the arrangement I have with Zachary Rothwell.
