“You should date again. When was the last time you had sex, Leo? You need to have sex again.”
I think about a certain cock in my hand and wonder exactly what it looks like. I bet his looks nice, like the rest of him, of that I am sure.
I feel the surge of lust between my legs and crush my teeth into my lip.
“Like I’ve said a million times?—”
“I don’t need a man to survive.” She finishes my sentence with an eye roll. “Yeah, yeah. Who’s talking about surviving. I’m just suggesting you climb on a cock every now and again and have a little fun.”
I laugh. “Is that what you’ve been doing tonight?”
She smiles mischievously. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Oh my God, yes, you do. I’ve heard a thousand kiss and tells from you.”
She climbs onto the couch. “Yeah, but this one is different.”
The way she says it has a tight knot in my stomach.
“You think all of them are different,” I throw back at her, and I immediately know I’ve said the wrong thing in the way her face drops. But she doesn’t argue with me as she walks off. “Good night, Nessa.” Suddenly I feel like a shit friend.
“She isn’t here,”Soph says when I take the seat at her bar where I usually wait for Nessa. I glance over my shoulder to the area where the incident happened. The carpet has been cut out and replaced with a new square patch.
“As in, she didn’t show up, or wasn’t on?” I ask, glancing away and back to her.
“She called in sick,” Soph says, looking at me, confused.
Which is weird, because I went to her apartment before I came here. Larissa was asleep, and the nanny told me Nessa was at work.
If I had guessed, I would have told you that Nessa is the one person I could trust, the one person I would not expect to lie to me. Now I think I was being delusional. It’s especially unlike her to take shifts off. Then again, who am I to judge someone who actually has a life outside their job?
“Can I get you a drink? I’ve been practicing making this fruity cocktail, well, a few different ones. Could you try it?”
I’m not much of a drinker. Nessa always liked to drink, and I usually drove. But every now and then, I would drink with her. Tonight, however, seems like it’s a party for one. Fuck it.
“Sure,” I say and throw my purse up on the counter. I texted Nessa last night. She never answered. I figured maybe she needed a day to cool down. And now that I am here, I have even more questions.
“Oh my God, thank you.” She clasps her hands together gratefully and immediately starts making a drink. I watch her put some pink stuff in it and cringe. I can almost taste the sweetness of it already; I much prefer my liquors brown. But I say nothing as she happily slides one over to me, super excited as she pokes an umbrella into it triumphantly.
“Give me your honest opinion.” She beams at me. No pressure.
I take the drink and sip it. At first, I want to scrunch my nose up at the immediate sweetness, but then it dials back into a more tropical, muted tone.
Glancing up at her, surprised, I say, “It’s really good, Soph.” She claps her hands excitedly.
“Good, good, I have a blue one as well. I haven’t thought of names yet, but let me make you that one too.” I go to say no, but she is already reaching for a new glass and has started pouring. Well, why not? I don’t have any hot dates, and my evening seems free since Nessa isn’t here.
I’m surprised when I finish the first drink with ease, while she caters to other customers, seemingly annoyed as she’s interrupted while making the second drink.
But when she puts the other in front of me, she’s quick to say, “Oh, I forgot to mention you won’t be able to drive, but I get off in an hour if you need me to take you home.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Oh, these are full of alcohol. Max said make them as strong as possible so the customer spends money.” She laughs. “I made them strong.” I lean forward and try the blue one. It’s just as good.
“I’ll drive her home,” someone says next to me, and a cold shiver runs down my spine.
“Fuck me,” I curse around a cold mouthful, almost spilling it from shock. It’s like he just appears out of thin air, with no presence whatsoever unless he wants to be seen.
