She just closed her eyes and drank deeply from her glass. “You’re doing too much, Camilo.”
“Tom and I are fine, babe. I promise. I’m one hundred percent real with Tom at all times. It’s incredible really, because he’s totally into it,” I said unable to hide my genuine bafflement.
“Fuck, you’re straight up disgustingly in love.” She stuck her tongue out me.
I waved her off and tried to redirect towards something less mushy. “Okay, now let’s talk about how amazing the class was and what you’re doing for Valentine’s.”
She cut her eyes at my change of topic suggestions but conceded. “I assume this year I’m on my own in our traditional boycott of Hallmark holidays?”
“Yes, but not for the reason you think! I told Tom I refused to engage in any sort of romantic bullshit on a made-up holiday.”
I got a chuckle for that. “Of course, you did.”
“But Libe asked me to come over and help her prepare Valentine’s gifts for her classmates. They can bring a little gift for each kid and she wants to make them homemade cards. I’ve been recruited to help select and apply stickers.”
“Okay that’s completely adorable and you’re clearly gunning for boyfriend/future stepdad of the year award.” She smiled wide then and squeezed my knee. “Have I told you how fucking happy I am for you, babe?”
“Yes.” I didn’t even have to try hard at sounding exasperated. Because there wasn’t a single person in my life who wasn’t stanning Tom to an unhealthy degree. “My love life is the stuff oflegend and fairytale. I love Tom and his kid so much it scares me, and I continue to be deeply obsessed with his enormous dick.”
That got us a few looks from the other bar patrons which I ignored, then tried to steer the convo away from me for a bit. “Let’s talk about you. What’s the word on you and Henock?”
Her eyes got shifty as fuck and she took a big gulp of wine before answering. “Nada. I told you we’re friends. There’s nothing there. He’s really cool and we have a lot of things in common, but that’s all.” I gave her some side-eye, because I wasn’t buying it, but I let her get away with her bullshit story for now. I looked down at my phone and saw I had a text from Tom, which of course had me cheesing, because I was that person now.
Ayako looked at me like I was a lost cause.
Tom:Hey, amor. I just got home from my meeting. Are we still on for tonight? Are you done with your mysterious dance class?
I fired back a text right away.
Camilo:Yes and yes. I’m having a quick drink and catch up with Ayako and after, I’ll head up to yours. Also my classes are not mysterious, Thomas. I’ve told you about them a million times.
Tom: But I’ve never SEEN them. I’ve got to sneak into one of them sometime, so I can see what you two get up to over there.
He was ridiculous.
Camilo:You can come anytime. *eyeroll emoji* These classes are at the New York City Bodies studio, not at the shelter. None of the clients come to this one, so there are no confidentiality issues. Anyone can come, and that includes nosy ass boyfriends!
He responded with a gif of a dude leering.
I laughed and showed the phone to Ayako. She grinned when she read his texts and then perked up. “Send him the video! We signed waivers for this one, so they’re probably putting the clips up on YouTube. They usually upload them right away. Here, let me look.” She grabbed my phone and pulled up the studio’s YouTube account. “Oh man he’s going to flip when he sees it. Tonight’s class was lit.”
I was one hundred percent into this idea. We’d danced to “Dangerous Woman” for the class and the choreography was super sexy. Ayako and I had taken it a few times because we loved it so much. I knew the video of the group doing it together would be fire.
I nodded enthusiastically as she tapped on my phone screen like she was on a mission.
“Okay that’s a fantastic idea. I’m running the risk of getting mauled in the hallway of Tom’s house, but I can live with the consequences of that.”
Ayako smacked my arm, her eyes still focused on what she was doing. “Don’t brag about the hot sex you’re going to get while I go home to watch Netflix with my cat.”
I laughed at her grumbling. “It’s not a guarantee it’ll be hot.”
“Nobody likes a show off, Camilo.” She protested as she opened the link and we watched it in silence. The video was basically a full minute and a half of the entire class writhing, gyrating, straddling chairs, hair whipping, and eye-fucking the camera with complete abandon.
We looked pretty fucking hot.
Ayako gave a husky chuckle when the video ended. “Prepare to be attacked as soon as you get to his house if you send him this.”
I took my phone back from her, and proceeded to do exactly that.
