Page 17 of Lennox Lane

“Okay, okay, damn. Have some patience,” she said teasingly before continuing, “I’m only saying this once,” she finished as she saw Nova clasp her hands dramatically.

“That man is annoying, emotionally constipated, arrogant, nosy, and dramatic, but the sex? The sex was so good I understood completely why women double text his ass and call back-to-back,” she admitted as both women leaned in. Nova’s dramatic ass actually shrieked while Cadence slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Do not embarrass me in this establishment,” Lane said.

“Your man, your man, your man,” Cadence chanted.

“Aht. I recovered and stopped drinking the Kool-Aid,” she reminded them.

Cadence laughed so hard she had to hold her belly button. The truth was, Lane was a grown woman with grown woman stories. She also had every right to be annoyed when the man attached to the best sex of her life started treating his feelings like a federal indictment.

Nova grinned. “So he put it on your ass.”

Lane lifted her chin and answered proudly, “He submitted a strong application for permanent residency between these thighs, but as only a man can do, he got scared and ran like Forrest Gump.”

“Did he ever explain why?” Cadence asked with a pissed-off expression.

“He panicked when his feelings got too deep to control, and I get it because I was in the same boat, but I told him he forfeited whatever he thought he felt when he walked away like the cowardly lion,” Lane shrugged.

“That sounds like the version of you that makes sure nobody gets the chance to leave twice,” Cadence said lovingly as she studied her.

Lane wanted to call Cadence a liar, but the problem with best friends was they knew you better than you knew yourself at times. Even worse, they knew exactly where to press on your nerves. Deciding to change the subject, Lane let her girls know she had a date tonight. Both Nova and Cadence wanted more details on the mystery man.

She shared that they’d worked on a few deals together and he’d always been respectful in letting Lane know he was interested in her. It didn’t hurt that he was always dressed impeccably and smelled incredible.

Nova leaned toward Cadence and whispered, “That means boring.”

“It absolutely means boring,” Cadence agreed, “Dangerously fine men with sex appeal get acknowledged immediately.”

“That’s what dinner is for,” Lane said, “To find out if there’s chemistry.”

“And if there’s no chemistry?” Cadence asked.

“I’ll text y’all for an emergency rescue.”

“Code word?” Nova asked.

“Something subtle.”

“Pumpernickel,” Cadence said.

Lane stared as she snickered and Nova shook her head. “No. Something realistic. Like, ‘This man just explained NFTs to me.’”

“That would be an actual emergency,” Lane grimaced at the thought.

“NFT means call and pumpernickel means we show up,” Nova devised.

“Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. So, here’s to chemistry, no emergency rescues, and Lane not comparing every man to Lennox,” Cadence encouraged as she raised her fauxjito.

“I am not comparing; selectively evaluating at best.”

“Comparing,” Cadence and Nova said together.

Lane rolled her eyes, laughing despite herself. The rest of lunch settled into something easier as they discussed Nova’s promo schedule. Cadence’s Vogue shoot, as well as the baby names KC kept suggesting and Cadence kept rejecting. Nova insisted that one twin needed a name that sounded expensive and dangerous—Cartier Reed —which Cadence vetoed immediately. Lane said Cartier Reed sounded like a woman who stole husbands for sport. They were still laughing when Lane’s phone buzzed, and she stilled.

Cadence noticed first. “Lane?”

Lane looked down at the unknown number texting her again. Her stomach tightened before she opened the message.