She simply stares at me in disbelief, her jaw gaping open.
I continue, “If it makes you feel any better about being the other woman, you’re nothing special. According to his profile, he’s met up with thirty other girls before stumbling across you.”
She swallows hard, grabs her purse, and stands to leave. “You’re a fucking loser, Jackson. I can’t believe I slept with you.” Then turning to me, not meeting my eyes, she whispers, “I’m sorry.”
“Kat! Wait. Come back. Katrina.” He hollers after her.
“We’re done, Jackson. Don’t come to the house tonight.” My voice is low and controlled. I mean business. “I had a security system installed today, and I won’t hesitate to call the cops.”
“I was done a long time ago,” he scoffs. “What, do you think I don’t have enough money to pay for a hotel room?”
“Sounds like a you problem, not a me problem.”
Jackson continues to pick mint off his face as he glares at me. Silence fills the space between us, but not for long. Roxy is walking over, and she has her middle finger in the air. Her face screamsyou just fucked with the wrong person,and I’m pretty sure this isn’t going to end well.
“Let’s go, babe. You don’t need this scumbag. Your ex is such a loser. His profile says:Jackson. Investments are my love language. I want to invest my time in the right woman. Looking for a woman who wants to be wifed up and given the princess treatment.”
“Wow!” I shout, clapping my hands together loudly. “And to think you’ve been living in my dead dad’s house rent-free, not paying for shit all this time. Is that what you call the princess treatment? To think, I actually wanted you to propose to me.”
Roxy reaches for me, pulling me against her as she wraps me in a side hug. Once I’m steady, we stroll away in a classic runway walk. We’ve practiced this since the second grade, and we absolutely nail it tonight.
“Don’t worry, babe,” Roxy whispers in my ear, “I tipped them a hundred. I think that covers the scene we caused.”
I think it over for a second. “Yeah, I think that’s fair.”
“You okay?” she asks, bumping my hip once we’re on the sidewalk and walking a half block to the parking garage.
“I will be. I think,” I answer honestly.
Chapter two
“Remind me why I let you talk me into going with you to this concert tonight?” I grumble, sliding the smooth vegan leather skirt over my lace fishnets.
“Because, girl, you need a rebound hookup,” Roxy answers.
I sigh. She’s right. It’s been a few months since my breakup. “You’re right, I need to be dicked down. It’s been way too long.”
Aarika and Roxy snicker.
“We can’t all be married to Mr. Wonderful like you, Aarika,” I tease.
Roxy laughs so hard she snorts. “It’s true, babe. You’re so fucking lucky.”
Turning to face my bestie, I say, “Roxy, I just can’t be a swinger like you. My sex life is tragically doomed to be nonexistent.”
But before I can finish, she interrupts me. “Not a swinger, boo. I just live life and enjoy all types of adventures.”
“I don’t want to know. I don’t have the capacity to discuss your insane sex life if I’m going to hype myself up enough to get laid tonight.” My tone shifts until it’s one hundred percent serious.
“Don’t think about it. Vi, you’re hot. You’re sexy. I promise there’s no way you aren’t going to get dicked down tonight,” Roxy replies encouragingly.
I glance at my reflection in the mirror. Big, warm brown eyes stare back. My dirty blonde hair falls past my shoulders in voluminous, wavy curls. The mini skirt hugs my hips in all the right places. Fuck Aarika and her ability to put together the cutest outfits. I pull the crop top tee Roxy ordered on. She got us matching band tees, then had Aarika add some character. She cropped the shirts, added a peekaboo shoulder, and bedazzled the band name with glow-in-the-dark sparkles.
Roxy squeals in the dressing room next to mine. “O-M-G! This outfit is amazing. Aarika, you’re a serious fashion genius.”
“Aw, you guys are too nice. I hope you have a blast at the concert tonight. Don’t forget I texted you the door code if you want to come over and pee.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I complain. “I still don’t understand why you aren’t required to come with us.”
