AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Can we talk about something other than my lackluster sex life?” I ask her. “Anything fun going on at the store?”
She launches into a story about a Bridezilla who scheduled a bachelorette party at the store and is now being a bitch about how she can’t bring outside food and drink—something she knew from the beginning, and it’s included in the contract she signed. Henley has a caterer who she uses and is exceptional, though the bride will have to pay. Add on that the crazy bride doesn’t like the mandatory spend that Henley requires. Considering what most people spend for a night out, her price of $500 isn’t bad at all. I don’t envy her when it comes to trying to get payments out of people. Thankfully, we have an accounting department that manages the finances for my office.
Chicago may be a big city, but nothing is really a secret there. Plus, I only live about two hours from her store, so I really have no excuses. She’s considering opening a second location, and I can’t believe there are so many people who want to buy sex toys and sexy lingerie in person. It’s the exact opposite of where I live. A town of 1,500 means no one wants to go into an adult store and buy anything because the town preacher or a neighbor may see them.
“When was the last time we had a girls’ weekend together?” she asks with no segue from her rant.
“Five years,” I say without a second thought. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen her in the last five years, but never just for us to chill and be together. No obligations, no kids (her not me), and as much candy as we want. I suppose this is what happens when one of you falls in love, gets married, and starts a family and the other . . . well, is me.
“Seriously, KJ? I knew it had been a while, but that’s way too long. I’m going to plan something for us.”
I stare out into the landscape and give myself a pep talk. A quiet weekend will allow me to practice self-care because after working almost 24/7 for the last nine months, I can feel a breakdown coming if I don’t step away.
“That sounds amazing. Just tell me when and where. I have a couple of weeks before I need to deep dive into the next case.”
She groans and bitches about how much I work. It’s the pot calling the kettle black because she works just as many hours as I do. But she sells sexy things to people while I spend my nights locked in my office, trying to manage a workload for three attorneys, not just one. It’s a necessary evil if I want to make partner by the time I turn thirty-five. Long hours and personal life sacrifices to have the word “partner” next to my name on the letterhead.
“I love you, Hen, but I’m going to start my mental health weekend with a bubble bath and a glass of wine. Bye.”
Her voice fades as I pull the phone from my ear and end the call. It isn’t like I’ll get a word in while she’s on a tangent, and if I stay on the line, I’ll never get to relax.
“Your new clit stick should be on the porch when you get home today,” Henley says as soon as I answer the phone.
“Well, hello to you too,” I quip, holding my desk phone up to my ear with my shoulder. “It’s a good thing I took my phone off forward. Marilyn would have gotten an earful.” We both chuckle because it wouldn’t be the first or the last time Henley gave poor Marilyn more than she bargained for.
“By now, I’m willing to bet that she lives for my snark. You guys are always so serious there.” She isn’t wrong. I make it a point to be in control and not act like a teenage girl in the office. There is a time and place for fun and games, but this isn’t it, in my opinion.
“I’ll let you take that up with her. I have seven minutes before I need to be at my next meeting. Did you call just to tell me I will have a present when I get home? Or for something else.”
“Both. But the other thing I called to talk to you about is you coming to Chicago next weekend.”
My fingers are flying over the keyboard, finishing an email while Henley keeps talking.
“I booked us a suite at the White Wind Hotel & Spa for the weekend. All you have to do is pack a bag, and we will have an amazing weekend. All the food, drinks, and laughs we can manage.”
“Ooh, I like that idea.” Quickly, I make a note to see if my neighbor will be around so she can check on Mr. Big.
“What are you going to do with the kids?” I ask her. Henley and Nik have four-year-old twins, and they are a handful. Not only are they super cute, but they’re smart. That combination makes them hell on wheels. They already outsmart their parents.
“They have two parents. Nik can stay home with them and try to wrangle the crazies like I do every day,” she informs me.
Ironically, Henley took them to work with her until they were old enough to walk, and then she hired a nanny. Between the hours she and Nik worked, they needed full-time help. I remember asking Hen if she was going to quit when she found out she was having twins. She commented that she wasn’t quitting just because she was spitting out two babies instead of one.
Someone walks by my office with their lunch, and my stomach lurches. Fish. The smell will permeate the office, and I despise the seafood.
“Ugh,” I groan.
“What’s wrong?” Henley asks.
“Someone brought fish in for lunch. Now the whole place is going to stink,” I moan. My fingers clasp onto the handle of my desk junk drawer, and I grab a travel candle and my lighter. It may be against the rules, but I only leave it burning for a few minutes to eliminate foul smells.
The first time a client came into the office smelling so strongly of cologne that it burned my nose, I left at lunch to buy a candle. My nose has often been referred to as “bionic nose” because once I smell something offensive, I can’t stop talking about it. Yes, we all have quirks. This is one of mine.
“Oh lord. We all know how you feel about that. Have you already lit your candle?” she asks.
“You know me so well. Do you have any particular plans for us next weekend?”
When we were in college, Henley would make plans and drag me along without telling me the whole truth about what would happen. One time she begged me to go with her to a midnight movie, telling me she’d been wanting to see it for so long and that I’d love it. What she actually took me to was a theatre that a bunch of guys had rented to watch a porno because they wanted to see it on the “big” screen.
