Page 101 of Pretender

“Hah,” I breathe and disappear into my wine glass, avoiding Jamie’s stare. We used to have a brimming cupboard of treats when we lived together. If I’d remembered they were coming, I’d have stocked up. Made the place look more in line with how I’d imagined it for myself.

“So, back to you and Aiden,” Jamie says, but Sophie returns with wine and… Oh, no.

“I’m peckish, but you only have mini gherkins in the pantry.” She holds up the jar.

The jar.

“Oh,” I squeak.

“What? Something wrong with these?”

“It’s just… I have a thing with this jar.”

“You have a thing.” Sophie narrows her eyes at me.

“Yes.”

“Please elaborate.”

I shrug. “I can’t open it.”

Sophie blinks at me. “I’m sure Jamie can.”

“No!” I shriek and clap a hand over my mouth, letting a nervous giggle escape through my fingers. “It’s stupid,” I say, dropping my hand. “I bought this jar a couple of months after I moved back in, and it’s like a challenge. I just need to do it myself, okay?”

Sophie stares at me for a moment. I stare back.

Then she nods. “Okay. I get it. I’ll put it back.” She walks back to the kitchen and calls over her shoulder to us, “But you better order something before I eat your bonsai trees.”

“Don’t you dare,” I shout after her.

“On it,” Jamie says, the blue sheen from her phone making her face light up across from me. “Done,” she says a couple of minutes later. “Sophie, leave Pedro alone,” she yells into the kitchen and I hear Sophie laughing.

“Don’t worry,” she says, returning without pickles and no evidence of a bonsai massacre. “Wine me, and let’s get back to topic.”

“Yes, Aiden’s penis,” Jamie says, and Sophie and I both burst out laughing.

“I’m well aware you’re joking, but I have to disappoint you. I’ve not seen it yet.”

“You say that, but we can still talk about it.” Jamie wiggles her eyebrows.

Sophie huffs a laugh. “You sound like a thirteen-year-old.”

“I just love hearing about people’s firsts. It’s so exciting. That’s why I read romance.”

“We don’t have any firsts yet,” I say, but my ears betray me. Our first kiss at the engagement party, and then our first real kiss today. Both haunt me in the best way. I shift on my seat, the heat hitting me at the visceral memory of Aiden’s lips on mine.

“Oh please, what were you doing earlier?” Sophie asks.

I shake my head, feigning innocence. “What do you mean?”

“You think we couldn’t hear your moans?” Jamie asks, grinning at me. Sophie hums in agreement.

“We were just kissing,” I mutter, but my ears burn.

They fucking heard me?

Moaning!