Chapter 14
Sydney
“Girl…you look all sorts of glowy tonight,” Jane says with a look of amusement on her face when she opens the door.
I stride in and hold up two bottles of a sweet red and she grins.
“I come bearing booze.” Searching for sight of Ava, I see that I’ve arrived first.
“Garrett’s out back in his man cave. It’ll just be us girls. Once Ava gets here, you can tell us all aboutthis.”She waves her hand up and down in front of me.
I follow her into the kitchen. Its rich, deep tones warm me from the inside out. It’s comfy. I sink into the leather of her banquette while she grabs three stemless wine glasses.
“I’m here! You better have a glass ready for me!” Ava comes running into the kitchen, out of breath, looking like she does indeed need a drink.
“What in the world has you in such a tizzy?” Jane pours our glasses, looking up at Ava with sudden worry.
“I ran into him,” Ava spouts with her lips pursed.
“Who?” Jane and I both ask at the same time.
“Eric.” Ava puts her face in her hands as Jane sets the wine bottle down with a thud.
“What’d that motherfucker have to say for himself?” Jane’s eyes light with a malicious gleam, and I know the story behind this one is a sore spot for everyone involved.
“He smiled and acted like I never walked in on him in our bed with that Blaire chick. He had the gall to try and make small talk.”
“You kidding me? That fucking slimeball. If he thinks for one minute he’s going to just waltz back into your life and be in everyone’s good graces…” Jane shakes her head. “I’ll sic Garrett on his ass.”
Ava looks up from her hands, and I push her glass toward her. She looks at me with thanks.
“Eric is my ex-fiancè. About three years ago, I got home early from work. He was supposed to still be out of town on a business trip. When I walked in, I found clothes scattered all along the hallway leading to our bedroom. They didn’t even hear me come in. I swung open the door to find a chick I’d never seen before riding his face. Apparently, they’d been fucking for months.”
“Holy crap, Ava. I am so, so sorry.” I reach out and grab her hand in support, one hand covering my mouth in shock. I would’ve been devastated.
“I kicked his ass out. He told me what a prude I was, and he strayed because he wanted something more interesting in his life. I tossed some of his clothes out on the front lawn, but Jane and I had a bonfire with the rest.” I high-fived my friend, and we all took healthy gulps of our wine. “Enough about my shitty exwho has obviously impacted my love life for long enough. We’re gonna find me a man soon, and I’m going to ride his face and put that bitch to shame. Prude, my ass.”
Jane claps a hand over her mouth to keep her wine from spewing. I giggle into my glass. I love when her fire comes out to play.
“Why do you look so amazing and glowy? Right, Jane? I’m not just seeing things?”
Jane agrees, nodding her head, happy to move on from ass-face Eric.
“Well…” I begin, but am cut off by their squeals of delight.
“It happened!!!! Hallelujah! I can see it written all over your face! How’d it go? Tell me that hunky man came at you like a man starved,” Jane rambles, and my face feels like straight fire.
“It was a freaking amazing weekend. I’m still sore.”
The girls howl with laughter and joy on my behalf.
“You still didn’t answer,” Jane taunts, sipping with amusement glittering in her eyes. She pops a piece of chocolate from the candy dish in the middle of the table into her mouth, the bliss of the taste melting with the wine evident on her face. Ava is just taking it all in with a smile.
“Starved?” Jane quirks a brow, reminding me of the question.
“Ravenous.” My smile threatens to split my cheeks. “He’s fricking perfect, ladies. And that body?... Even better than I imagined…” I bite my lip, remembering him stretching in my bathroom doorway in all his masculine glory. What a sight. Jane looks up at the ceiling in a “thank the heavens” fashion, tapping her glee out on the table with her hand. She wants deets, but isn’t going to pry. I chuckle to myself.
“I’m so happy for you two. You look really happy,” Ava states, taking in my smile and sending a genuine one right back at me.
