“Come on. Spill.”
“Things went pretty fast with Blythe.” Abby paused. “I mean she and I reached, uh, satisfaction, uh…”
“Had an orgasm,” Madeline said.
Abby looked away and nodded. “But Ricki, uh, she hadn’t finished.”
“Okay?”
“So Blythe said it was my department to take care of it. Uh, you know, because they weren’t touching each other.” Abby cleared her throat. “Then Blythe fell asleep, so I, uh, I took care of it.”
“And?”
“It didn’t take long. I mean, she was ready.”
Madeline cocked her head. “If Blythe told you to go for it, where’s the problem?”
Abby picked up her coffee cup. Instead of taking a drink, she swirled the liquid around. “She told me to take care of her the first time. I’m not sure what she’d think of the fifth or sixth time.”
Madeline stared at Abby for several beats before Abby saw the realization dawn. “Holy fuck. You banged each other five or six more times? With Blythe sleeping beside you? Even bolder.”
“What is wrong with me? I’m a horrible person.” No longer able to sit still, Abby stood and paced the porch. “What was I thinking? No wonder Ricki didn’t want to look at me…touch me this morning.”
“Whoa! Both of you were doing the deed. This isn’t all on you.”
Abby knew it, but she could only find the blame within herself. “I’ve destroyed everything.”
Madeline shook her head. “Tell me more about what happened.”
Abby bit her bottom lip. She’d revealed this much, so she might as well finish. “With Blythe, it’s always good—satisfying.”
“But?”
“I remember lying in bed, wondering why it wasn’t like a romance novel. Where we’d stay in bed for hours, but Blythe is a one and done.” Abby waved her hand. “Don’t get me wrong. She always makes sure I’m taken care of, but then she’s out. Sleeps like the dead, as she says.”
“But you and Ricki went at it like rabbits.”
Abby shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. We were lying there talking, and then we’d start touching each other again. After we’d finished, I thought we were spent, but then we’d talk some more, and it’d happen again.” Abby stopped pacing and clasped her hands in front of her. “It was the best I’ve ever had—by far.”
“What do you suppose Ricki thought?”
Abby sighed. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
“And your conclusion?”
“She hadn’t had sex in a while, so she was probably just horny.” Abby shrugged. “I’m making too much of it.” Abby collapsed onto her rocking chair. She’d said it. What she’d feared since Ricki raced out of there like Abby had the plague.
Madeline surprised Abby by laughing. “And I have some oceanfront property in Harveston to sell you.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It all makes sense now. Here I thought she was like, hell no, I’m not getting caught up with a straight girl who’s toying with bisexuality. But it was you.”
Abby bristled. “I didn’t say anything to her. Didn’t dissuade her.”
“No.” Madeline grinned. “She wanted nothing to do with me because she’s so into you. I saw it, but I missed it. She hung on to every word you said. Finished your sentences. Knew all your favorites.”
Abby’s cheeks heated. It was true. It always made her feel special when Ricki remembered the things Abby had told her.
