Page 174 of Devil’s Disciples

“It’s okay.” She meandered to the far display, picked up a strapless sandal, and massaged the sole with her thumbs. “I miss him. It sucks.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Tisha. I’m sure you’ll meet someone that will appreciate you for who you are.”

She looked up. “Thanks. Why did you ask about him? Trent?”

“Oh.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. I was just wondering.”

“Is something bothering you?”

“No. I was just. I started seeing a guy. Kind of seeing a guy. This guy was riding…” I cleared my throat. “I’m screwing a guy that rides a motorcycle, and I was wondering if you had any advice about men on motorcycles, that’s all.”

Her face lit up. “That’s awesome!”

“What’s awesome?”

Her eyebrows raised. “That you’re getting laid.”

I wondered how she knew I hadn’t been getting laid but feared asking. I fought the urge to grin, but only partially succeeded. “Yeah, it’s been pretty fun, so far.”

“How long have you been, you know?” She wagged her eyebrows. “Seeing him?”

“I met him thirty-five days ago. We had sex the first time thirteen days after that. We’ve been steadily going at it ever since.”

She smiled. “Excited much?”

“Huh?”

“It’s cute that you’re counting the days. He must be pretty cool.”

He was much more than pretty cool. It seemed he shared my beliefs on many things that so many others didn’t. He was completely contrary to the man I would have seen myself with as a young woman, but now that I was older, he seemed to suit me very well.

I wondered what changed. Why accepting a man like Cash came so easily now yet seemed so out of place when I was younger?

Marvin was a finance major and a nerd. At the time, I was convinced he was exactly what I needed. I decided it was the failed marriage of a man who wore a suit to work every day that caused me to seek a relationship in someone who was the polar opposite of him.

“He is.” I looked at her and grinned. “He’s way cool.”

It was nice to talk about him to someone other than Jennifer. I realized I was fondling a wedge and set it aside as if it were on fire.

“Sorry,” I said. “I can’t stand those things.”

Her eyes knitted together. “What?”

“Wedges. I want them to out of style. They did once. It needs to happen again.” I glared at the display. “I wish I could change things.”

“There’s so much I wish I could change,” she said. “Don’t even get me started.”

“With style?” I asked.

“With everything. This guy I’m seeing, for one. He’s so…he cries. All. The. Time. What happened to men being men? I want a man who makes me feel like he can smash the face of all the creeps that creep on me. James wouldn’t smash a grape, let alone a guy’s face. I want a man who makes me feel like I’m a woman. Trent did that. James makes me feel like I need to be ready to protect him.”

I chuckled. “I think Cash would smash anyone’s face who looked at me cock-eyed.”

“His name’s Cash?”

“Uh huh.”

“That’s awesome.” She pulled a sandal from the display and studied it. “Does he have any friends?”