“Or sex could just make everything clearer,” Lacey counters.
“I slept with JJ within a week of knowing him; everyone has their own timeline when it comes to being intimate withsomeone. I say go with the flow.” Ellie tags on. “I rarely do this on the topic of relationships, but I agree with Lacey. Sex might be the answer to all your worries. If it’s awkward you move on, if it’s life changing you cross another item off your list.”
“And if it’s neither awkward or life changing?” I ask. “Then what?”
“Then you have fun for the summer. Orgasms are orgasms, and we all know he can give you the O’s,” Lacey answers matter-of-factly.
“My money is on life changing,” Ellie says, finishing her drink as she waves over the waitress for the bills. “Either way, I know what our next stop is this afternoon.”
A short walk later, Ellie stops at the door to a sad looking store with blacked-out windows.
“Ellie, I love you, we love you, but you can’t possibly think we’re gonna go in there . . .” Lacey states for the both of us, and I can’t say I disagree with her.
“This is my—Lacey, block your ears for this second part—and JJ’s favorite store.” Turning to look at me, she says, “And Ian’s gonna love it.” Then turning to Lacey, she says, “And Levi is gonna love it too.”
Before Lacey can deny anything going on with her and Levi, Ellie opens the door. The smell of lavender and sage makes Lacey and I give each other a skeptical look. Stepping in, I take in the soft blush-pink walls and the thick cream curtains over every window. From the ceiling hangs beautiful chandeliers casting a soft glow around the room, which is filled with vintage, mix-and-matched, cream-colored tables scattered everywhere holding every type and color of lace possible.
The second we walk in, we’re greeted by a woman who looks to be around twenty-five wearing all black from the glasses that grace her nose to the tip of her pointy toe heel. “Ellie! You’re back so soon! And you brought friends, I see.” Turning to meand Lacey she extends a hand. “My name is Maya, and welcome to Blush.” Sweeping an arm to the right, she says, “To the right you’ll find your more basic, reserved pieces, and the more you move to the left, you’ll find more and more risque, tempting pieces of lingerie. And all the way in the back, on your way to the fitting rooms, you’ll find a small selection of bathing suits and toys. Let me know if any of you ladies need a hand with anything.”
Once she’s out of ear shot, both Lacey and I turn towards Ellie, and as I go to ask her why she brought us here, Lacey cuts me off and asks, “I can see why JJ—gag—and Ian would like this place, but why would Levi?”
“Oh sweetie, none of us are blind,” Ellie says, making her way to a table on the left side of the room as I try to hide my laugh in a cough.
I follow Lacey as she makes her way to the same table as Ellie, “What do you mean you’re not blind?”
“Lacey, are you seriously gonna stand there and tell us that you and Levi have not slept together? If not, fine, but you can’t stand there and tell me you don’t want to sleep with the guy.”
“She’s right, Lace. You guys both give off relationship-y vibes. If Levi isn’t at home or with the boys then he’s with you.”
Looking anywhere but at us, Lacey asks in a small voice, “Do you think he knows?”
“Does he know what?” I ask, faking confusion.
“Does Levi know I have a thing for him?”
“So you guys aren’t sneaking around? I thought for sure there was something going on there. I don’t think so. I think he would have made a move or asked you out if he did suspect something. The guy is halfway in love with you, trust me. He looks at you how JJ looks at Ellie,” I answer her.
“Or how Ian looks at Hannah, when he thinks no one is watching,” Ellie tags on.
“Damn, Ian looks at her like he wants to eat her up,” Lacey adds on.
“No he doesn’t, does he?” I ask, holding up a cute, white, see-through bra.
“He does, how does that make you feel?” Ellie inquires.
“If I’m being completely honest, he can eat me up whenever he wants. But don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Lacey. You should make a move on Levi. I guarantee you it won’t be for nothing.”
“Maybe when we’re in Florida.”
“Perfect idea!” Ellie says, making her way to a table filled with dark red lace that would go perfect with her skin tone and hair. “We’ll each go out with our respective man. Now, do you think JJ would prefer these?” she asks, holding up a deep red thong. “Or these?” as she holds up a bikini-cut pair in the same color.
“No, no, no, no!” Lacey says, making us laugh, before crossing into the right side of the store, leaving Ellie and I in the more risque section of the store.
Turning back to Ellie, I say, “Personally, I’m more of a thong person, but I think JJ would like either or, so you might as well get both.”
“I might as well get two new sets then,” she says with a wink, moving to something else that’s caught her eye and leaving me alone still holding on to the white lace bra I grabbed earlier.
Making my way back to the table where I grab the bra and the matching thong, excitement builds within me. There’s just something about wearing something sexy under the most mundane of clothing. I also can’t lie, part of my building excitement is from thinking of Ian as I pick out some sexy sets.
