“You work too hard,” my mom chided me.
“Yeah, it’s hard to lie around in your bikini all day,” Grenadine whispered.
Cursed studio apartments.
“You show them that you’re the best gosh-darn communicator out there.” My dad swung his fist. “You’ll be running the Richmond Electric PR department in no time.”
“We love you!”
“So much! You’re our pride and joy.”
“Give Gizzy a hug from us.” My mom blew me a kiss.
“Enjoy the oranges. They’re a little taste of home.” My parents waved happily.
I kept the smile plastered on my face as I hung up, then slumped over dejectedly.
“I’m a terrible person.”
“You’re a woman on the edge.” McKenna patted my arm.
“You should have just shucked off the swimsuit and told that boss of yours to lick your taint.” Grenadine hooted.
“Grenadine, how much of that wine did you drink?” I frowned.
“Also, where did you get that? We don’t have money for you to be hitting up the wine shop. This is expensive wine. Anthym had Lexi buy this as a gift for the Christmas baskets Richmond Electric sent out.” McKenna clicked her tongue.
“I took a page out of Lexi’s book,” Grenadine cackled. “Paid a bunch of compliments to a guy—really stroked his ego, and he offered to take me shopping.”
“That’s not …” I sighed and shook my head.
“The power of compliments, I guess,” McKenna remarked. “Maybe I need to start being more friendly.”
“Also I gave him a blow job, so your mileage may vary.” Grenadine shrugged.
“Lordy.”
I used a pair of scissors to open up the box, revealing a crate of lovingly packed oranges. Plump and round, they smelled like sunshine, citrus, and home.
Grayson might never have had a home.
I felt awful.
He needed some oranges to brighten his day. There was nothing like a fruit basket to bring a smile to someone’s face.
I climbed up on the counter to fish a wicker basket off from on top of the cabinets then grabbed a rag to dust it off.
“Don’t give him all of them. I wanted to make sangria. I have all this red wine,” Grenadine complained.
“How much wine did this guy give you?” I asked as I packed the basket with oranges and colorful pink tissue paper then tied a big gingham bow on it.
“Several bottles. He said it was the first blow job he’d had in a decade, and he was really impressed I could take out my teeth and give him the full effect.”
McKenna slowly poured herself wine.
“Maybe Grayson will fall in love with you and let you move into his penthouse and bring a friend?” she said weakly.
“Oooh! I want to live in a penthouse!” Grenadine perked up.
