My smile pushes my cheeks up. I don’t have time to play now with Shane picking me up in thirty minutes.
I will later. I’m running out of time now.
I want you to wear it while you’re out.
Despite three layers of product, my cheeks glow a deep shade of red. He can’t be serious? Fuck.
You want me to insert the egg and go out with it in?
You’re a clever girl.
I’m going to play pool and maybe dance. I can’t possibly wear it.
Why not?
I chew on my lip, glancing at the egg on my bed. It wasn’t until I opened it, I noticed the remote control and instructions to connect to an app were missing from the packaging.
It can’t be any worse than my sister’s fanny weights she used after having Harry. I’ve used eggs before, just not out in public.
All right.
Climbinginto Shane’s Mitsubishi Shogun isn’t easy in my heels.
He reaches over and grabs my hand, helping me into the car. “You good?”
I click the seatbelt into place and exhale. “Yep. Thank you for picking me up.”
He drives off my kerb onto the road. The bump reminds me of the toy inside me. “You looked like you could use a night out.”
I hold my black clutch bag on my knees, my black dress riding up, revealing the lily tattoos on my thigh.
Shane’s eyes drift from the road to my legs and back again.
“How was Mum?” I press my lips together, trying not to think about the toy between my legs. Talking about Mum will definitely take my mind off it, especially after I got upset today. The fact that she recognises Shane, who she hasn’t seen in a long time, but doesn’t recognise her own daughter, who goes almost everyday, hurts like a knife to the heart. She has no problem recognising Fern either. She has no clue who Harry is, though, bless his heart.
Shane reaches over the console and squeezes my hand. “She was fine.”
I relax into the seat a little. Shane’s thumb slides along the back of my hand, sending tingles up my arm.
“She was asking where the pretty nurse went.”
“Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
He grins as he glances my way and then back at the road. His hand lets go of mine to indicate, and I’m sad at the loss of his warmth on my skin.
“She does remember you. She was telling me all about you.”
I pinch my eyebrows together. “What?”
“She was telling me how proud she was of you wearing your braces at comprehensive school.” He reaches for my hand again, and I interlock my fingers with his, needing the comfort right now. “She remembers you as a little bratty twelve-year-old with spots and braces.” His thumb strokes in soothing circles on the back of my hand. “So when she sees a gorgeous woman dressed in a nurse’s outfit, she doesn’t see her daughter.”
I can’t contain my smile. “Gorgeous?”
“Well. Pretty nurse is what she said.”
“You think I’m gorgeous?” I can’t help but gloat after years of him making fun of me like a big brother.
“Don’t put words into my mouth. I was just repeating what your mama said.”
