Eli and Bobby exchange glances. Bobby’s hand slides onto January’s leg. “You don’t need to stress out about this right now, baby. You’re tired and you’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“But…” January looks from him to me. “You can’t want to share me all the time, I mean, what would that even look like?”
Bobby, Morelli and I hold eye contact for a moment. It’s not going to be easy, winning January over. But if anyone can do it, I can. And these other assholes too, I guess.
“It would look like you being the obedient little girl you are,” Morelli says. “Beyond that, we would make our plans as we go along.”
“But what about you wanting a wife?” January asks Morelli. “What about having kids and me not being good enough and—”
Morelli takes her hand. “I was a fool,bella. I dearly regret ever saying—”
I whistle. “Hey. Monologue on your own time. This is the group audition.”
Morelli shoots me a dirty look but drops January’s hand. “Bella,I’ll take you to dinner tonight and we’ll discuss this further.”
He looks at me, daring me to contradict him, but I don’t. I’m glad he’s taking January out first. She’s so tired and traumatized all she’ll do is cry into her linguini.
“Okay,” January says shyly. “Will it be like… a date?”
“Of sorts.” Morelli’s phone rings. He pulls it out and makes a face. “I need to go.” He kisses January’s cheek. “I’ll see you tonight, Miss Whitehall. Dress beautifully.”
January, Bobby and I watch as he pulls his legs from the pool, grabs his shoes and answers the call. “Good morning, Patricio, yes, I read your amendments, and I think…”
He walks away, leaving the pool door ajar.
“There he goes,” I tell January. “First rule of being our girl, Tits? Prepare to be ditched for business calls on an extremely regular basis.”
January frowns. “But you can’t really… I mean we’re not actually all going to date are we?”
“Sure,” I say. “We’ll date you.”
She looks even more shocked. “Youwant to take me on a date?”
No. I wanted her crying in chains and Parker’s brains all over the Vegas floor show. But if I’ve learned anything against my will it’s that you have to compromise in this life.
“I want your virginity. If I have to buy you a few ice cream cones and let my friends watch, that’s a price I can pay.”
Bobby makes a face like he’s going to yak and I mentally give him the finger.
“I don’t think…” January begins.
“What, baby?” Bobby says in his simpiest tone. “Whatever you want to tell me you can.”
“Well, um… I think that while we’re dating… um, you guys know how I’m still a virgin?”
I grin. “We sure do.”
“Okay, then I think that I shouldn’t sleep with any of you, while we’re getting to know each other. Or whatever this is.”
Bobby’s face falls.
“Okay, but can we fuck you when we’re all together?” I ask. “Like a time-out?”
January looks at Bobby as though expecting him to tell me off. He raises his eyebrows. “Can we?”
“No!”
“Goddammit.” I swipe the water.
