1
Millie
IFIWERE A VIBRATOR,I’d bethisone.
“Aren’t you going to put it back in the box?” the salesperson asks.
“Nobody puts Baby in a box.” Winking, I carefully place the curved silicone vibrator directly into my purse.Designed for internal A-spot stimulation?Sold.
It’s not until I get home that I discover it has eleven vibration speeds.
Unable to keep this beauty to myself, I FaceTime Joey. When my cousin spies the rose-gold disco ball on one end, she gasps. “That vibe is your doppelgänger. It’s sparkly and complex, but it looks eager to please.”
“You bitch.” I throw my head back and cackle. “You’re not wrong.” When we’ve both calmed ourselves, I wipe the tears from my eyes and take in a cleansing breath. “Are you coming home soon? I washed your sheets.”
“For someone who doesn’t like to be domesticated, you sure enjoy doing laundry.”
“Do not confuse liking clean things with domestication, darling.” I preen, pulling my shoulders back.
Joey rolls her eyes, but there’s no hiding her smile. “I’m just waiting for Cam to get out of the shower, then I’ll head over.”
Three hours later, she waltzes in the front door.
“That was one long shower,” I call from my bedroom.
She plops herself onto my bed, cheeks flushed. “I doubt there’s any hot water left on this side of Manhattan.”
With a chuckle, I pull a plum sweater dress from my closet, then shuffle over to the floor-length mirror and hold it up to my body.
“Is that what you’re wearing on your date with Sam?” she asks.
Sucking my lips in to keep myself from grinning, I nod. The date is a ruse, my alibi. While Joey thinks I’m out with Sam, I’ll actually be setting up for a surprise party being held in her honor. Her boyfriend and I have been planning a private get-together to celebrate the publication of her debut novel.
By the way she’s acting, she doesn’t suspect a thing.
“That color looks amazing on you. It makes your green eyes pop.”
“Thanks, boo,” I reply, hanging it on the back of my door.
She sticks her lower lip out in a mock pout. “How come you got all the great features in the family while I’m stuck with these poop-brown eyes?”
“What are you talking about? I’d kill to have your thick, dark hair. And those eyebrows? You could stop traffic with those puppies.”
She giggles. “You’re right about that. Cam said they were one of the features that drew him in.”
“Of course they were.”
Joey scoots up to the top of my bed and makes herselfcomfortable with my two hundred throw pillows. “How are things going with you and Sam, anyway?”
My chest pangs at the question, but I collapse onto the mattress and go with the truth. “Not much better than the last time we talked.”
Early on, I wasn’t sure Sam was into me. Then she wastotallyinto me. Then she wasn’t so sure. I backed off and let things cool down for a while, but when she flew out to Vegas to see me on tour inFunny Girl, I couldn’t help but read into it.
“I thought things would come together now that I’m back in the city, but she’s been distant lately, and I don’t know what to make of it.”
Joey loops an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “Hopefully your date tonight will give you clarity.”
My chest tightens at the sincerity in her tone. “Since when are you the one doing the comforting in this relationship?”
