“Maeve O’Martin, are you telling me you’re happy to fall asleep in our sticky sex clothes?” I tease.
“I just don’t want this high to end,” she says, and my eyes have adjusted so much to the low light in the room that I can see her gaze up at me. And I know then that even if she’s not saying it, she agrees. What we did was making love.
“Who says it’s going to end?” I say and my optimism surprises even me.
“I have to fly home tomorrow,” she says and I see her eyes close. I really should get up and change now the wet patch in my briefs has grown cold and seeped through to my slip, which is frankly no respectful way to treat vintage silk.
“We said we would try,” I say simply.
“We said wecouldtry,” she reminds me.
“How about, wewilltry. I think I like that best.”
“I think I like that best too,” she says and she kisses me on my chest, right in the middle of my pectorals. The warmth her lips leave stays for a long, long time as I move my hands around her body and start to stroke her back.
“We will try,” I say.
“We will try,” she repeats and it’s the last thing we both say before we let sleep come and take us, sticky sex mess and all.
Chapter Forty-Two
Maeve
“Merry fucking Christmas, Maeve!” Jake says as I take the phone from Jenna. “I know it’s only been a few months since I saw you but it’s far too long and I would like to amend this state of affairs going forward.”
“I’m not the one about to go on a world tour with their DJ boyfriend!” I declare.
“Ooooh, say that again. DJ boyfriend. Twenty-year-old Jake would be so proud.”
“How is Rami? Is he there?” I ask.
“Currently helping Carol with the nut roast. He will insist on eating bird food for Christmas dinner.” Jake rolls his eyes and it hits me how much I miss him. I’ve been so busy missing Loncey I didn’t know I had the capacity to miss anyone else.
“Is it going okay? With your dad?” I lower my voice.
Jake’s eyes ping to look away from the camera but then he’s back. “Better than expected,” he says with a smile. “But maybe that’s just because we opened the sherry at ten-thirty this morning.” He raises his glass so I can see. “How are you all? Jenna says Marty and Cynthia are busy in the kitchen. How many desserts has your mum made this year?”
“Only three. She’s been very restrained.”
“I wish I was there, you know,” he says. “I mean, I’m glad I’m here and I’m especially glad I’m with Rami now, but last year was fun being with you in Dublin. And Jenna tells me we have alotto catch up on.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes before pinning them on Jenna who is sitting next to me on the couch rubbing her very pregnant stomach and holding a glass of orange juice in her hand. Her face is the picture of innocence as she looks up at the ceiling.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say, my tone both stubborn and teasing.
“You know exactly what I mean. I want to hearallabout them!”
I lean over and push Jenna lightly.
“What?” she protests. “You told me I could tell Jake.”
I chew on my lip as I recall that I did say she could. Frankly, I want everyone to know about me and Loncey. Well, everyone but my three million social media followers. Loncey and I haven’t discussed going that kind of public yet and I’m not even sure they want to. And I kind of like it being offline. I kind of like it being just for me, for them, for us.
And apparently also for Jake. “A porn star, Maeve!” he hisses, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Ethical porn star,” I correct him.
“Whatever. That actually beats a world-famous DJ by miles!”
