“You must have rubbed off on me.”
Not so long ago, she wasn’t sure about committing to Cam. But she’s come so far since then.
“I’m proud of you, Jo.”
When she pulls me in for a real hug, her stomach growls.
“Want me to make something to eat?” I ask.
We burst into laughter because cooking is not my forte. Nor is it Joey’s. Unless Bagel Bites and Pillsbury cinnamon rolls count.
“Bubbe’s Nosh Pit?”
I fling my hand out, smacking her in the stomach. “Gimme my phone.”
Thirty minutes later, the owner of our favorite Jewish deli—who also happens to live in our building—hand delivers our takeout.
“I’m sure going to miss you,” Mark cries for the umpteenth time this week.
Joey hugs the teddy bear of a man. “You act like I’m dying. I’m just moving.”
“Can’t Cam move in here?” he teases.
Right. This is a one-bedroom, and our landlord has been generous enough to let Joey live here without a sublease. I doubt we could convince him to add one more, even if we had the space. And I really don’t want to be the third wheel in their lovefest.
“All right, I’m starving,” I announce, breaking up their sappy moment.
While we eat, Joey and I veg out on the sofa, which doubles as her bed, and listen to my latest audio recording before I submit it to LULU.
For the last few years, I’ve worked as a voice actor forLet Ur Love Unleash, an erotic stories audio app. Working for the female-owned company means I can record from home—or anywhere, really—and the hours are flexible. It’s ideal when I’m touring in a musical production. Plus, it’s like getting free sex advice. The things I’ve learned while recording would make my grandmother Ruth blush from her grave.May her memory be a blessing.
I click submit, then close the lid of my laptop. “If you and Cam can’t find a place right away, you can stay here while I’m gone.”
“When do you leave for rehearsals?” Joey asks.
“Next week. I head up to Syracuse right after Thanksgiving.”
“I can’t believe you landed the lead inMamma Mia. You’re a badass bitch.”
I don’t even try to fight the smile that spreads across my face. While I usually keep my strawberry-blond hair at shoulder length, I grew it out months prior to my audition and box-dyed it platinum the night before, which, in hindsight, could have been an epic disaster.
The casting director was a real stickler about appearances and made everyone cover their tattoos. Thankfully, I only have a small cluster of birds on the back of my arm, just above my tricep. Joey has them too.
After cleaning up and getting dressed, I leave to meet Sam for a quick drink before I’m due to help set up for the surprise. As I head for the pub, I shoot Cam a message to let him know that the coast is clear. He’s been texting me so incessantly that I had to silence my phone so Joey wouldn’t ask questions.
“How’ve you been?” I ask Sam as I approach the booth she’s chosen in the corner. I invited her to join us for the party, but she already had plans, so we agreed to meet beforehand instead.
She stands to greet me, planting a chaste kiss on one cheek. “Busy.”
“Yeah?”
Two drinks with cherry garnishes sit on the table. I don’t like when people assume my drink order. In fact, it’s a pet peeve of mine. Some nights, I want the strong buzz of a gin and tonic; others, I want the comfort of a full-bodied cab.
I swallow back my annoyance and focus on Sam. “What’s going on?”
Her cropped blond hair really makes her brown eyes shine. Tonight, she’s wearing a killer black corset top that lifts her small tits deliciously. A black leather skirt hugs her hips, and her toned legs are covered by tights and ankle boots. With a shrug, she slips back into her seat. “Not much. Just working a lot.”
This girl gives me whiplash. For the last six months, it’s been nothing but ups and downs with her. When I met her last spring at FrenchSHEs, the drag and cabaret club where I occasionally bartend, she was super flirty with me. I discovered quickly that she’s flirty with everyone, so I didn’t think much of it. Then, once she found out I’m bi, she’d come in with question after questionfor me.How did you know you were bi? How many girls have you been with?
