Page 128 of The Plus One Pact

Maybe it's better.

In a certain way.

Fuck. I must be in too deep if I'd rather make the woman laugh than come. But then again, I'm far better at making women come. It's not a challenge these days.

"Does it matter?" I ask.

Cynthia looks at me funny. "Does it matter, if your girlfriend thinks you're a terrible lay?"

"Does it matter why she's laughing?"

She steps away from the door. "Don't you want to know who she's talking to?"

I do. And I don't, too. I like the image of her laughing with a friend. Especially if it's about me.

But I don't want to hear every word, exactly. I like not knowing. I like the freedom to imagine whatever I want.

"Mystery is what keeps passion alive." It's an automatic response. A cliche. But the second the words fill the air, I know they're true.

"Isn't that what people say when they can't be honest with each other?" Cynthia asks.

"You live with Daniel," I say.

She nods obviously.

"Do you feel more passionate, seeing his laundry?" I ask.

"Sorta, but actually… can I talk to you about something?" she asks. "About us, actually."

Is there an us? "Sure." I play cool. "Is it a big deal?"

"No, I just… I never apologized for when we were kids and I, and we…" She clears her throat. "I didn't realize it then, but I was using you, to try something out. I knew I only had eyes for Danny, and I… I'm sorry. That was fucked of me."

"It's cool. It was good for my ego to deal with a little rejection."

She smiles. "You ever tell him?"

I shake my head.

"Would you mind if I did?"

"No." I don't know if she should, but I trust her instincts. I wonder what Ivy suggested. If this came from her. Which parts of it did. But I trust Ivy too. She wants the best for Cynthia. "If you think it will bring you together."

She nods. "How is everything with Ivy?"

"What did she say to you?"

"Not much. She's secretive."

She is that. "I like her. A lot. But I'm not sure if she's ready for all this."

Cynthia nods. "She did say the sex is good."

"And…"

Cynthia moves away from the hall, releasing her interest in Ivy, shifting it to me. "We used to talk about this kind of stuff, you know."

Yeah. Before we kissed. Before she stated dating my brother. "I'm not sure I want reciprocal information. I don't need details on my brother's skills."