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“I’m sorry, Dahl. I should’ve said something. I didn’t even see you two talking. Where is he, anyway?”
“That’s a good question. I think one of the minions was called in to ‘deal’ with him. I don’t even want to know what that entails.” My gut swims with fear and nerves thinking about what Graham’s doing with him. Not because I care about Shawn, but I don’t want this coming back to bite Graham in the ass. Shawn’s father, Warren Montgomery, is the DA and has a lot of reach. Call me crazy, but I don’t think he will take the news that his son was beat up by a mobster well.
“So, uh…” Jade is picking at her nails, avoiding eye contact, and feigning nonchalance, horribly, I might add.
“What minion did you say step-hottie call, again?” I know what she’s getting at. She wants to know if he brought Carter in. Of course, I can’t make it easy for her.
“I didn’t,” I deadpan. Finally, she loses the act, and smacks me with one of the fifty-seven pointless decorative pillows on my bed.
“Goddammit, bitch, don’t make me spell it out for you. Do I get to see that sexy Irish hulk or what?” My grin feels like it’s splitting my throbbing lip open, but I can’t help it. It’s fun to get her all riled up.
“He actually told Graham that you creeped him out and he specifically requested that you stay away from him. Way to go, J.” She knows I’m joking so she rolls her eyes and tells me to fuck off.
“But really,” I say. “I’m pretty sure they won’t be back for a while. I don’t know what they’re up to, but I know that Graham always keeps business away from me…err…us. Away from us,” I correct myself.
Jade raises one perfectly arched brow at me, with a smug look on her face.
“What?!”
“Graham? He’s Graham now? Not Asshole or even stepdaddy dearest? Not only are you referring to him by his real name, but you seem to be worried about him. Anything you want to tell me?” She’s my best friend, of course I want to tell her. I don’t know why I haven’t. I guess I just liked having it be our little secret.
I take a deep breath, before blurting out, “I’m sleeping with my step-dad.”
Smooth, Dahl.
Her eyes practically bulge out of her skull, but she doesn’t say a word. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jade speechless. I tuck a few strands of my blonde hair behind my ear and huff in annoyance, like she’s making a big deal out of nothing, which is, of course, bullshit. This is huge and I kept it from her. Only Graham and I haven’t slept yet, so technically, I’m not 100 percent a crappy friend. Only, like 95 percent.
“Well, I mean, I haven’t slept with him yet,” I rush to continue, shrugging. “But I want to. And I will. Tonight.” And the verbal diarrhea just keeps on comin’.
She finally snaps out of her shock at that, shaking her head from side to side while squeezing her eyes shut. She holds one finger in the air for me to shut the fuck up and let her digest the new info.
“Ignoring the fact that this is the first I’ve heard about this thing between you and Don Draper over there, I fucking knew it, by the way, you want to have sex with him tonight? After what just happened?!”
I lick my lips, looking left and right, grabbing a stuffed teddy bear Graham bought me when we first moved in because he had no idea what girls this age are into, and hug it to my chest.
“I’m gonna be honest, J. The fucking apocalypse couldn’t keep me away from him at this point. Which brings me to my next point. You’re clam jamming me.”
Jade throws back her head and cackles.
“Oh my fucking God, you did not just say that.” She grabs my head and smothers me with her boobs, falling into the bed on top of me, peppering me with kisses. “My little Dahlia is growing up and finally giving up that V-card. And to her step-dad, no less. Go big or go home, am I right? I’ve never been so proud.” She continues her assault on me as I fight my way out of her cleavage and swat her hands away.
“Nobody’s losing anything if you don’t get out of here.”
She snags her purse off the end of my bed and stands up swiftly, just like that, a giant smirk spreads across her face as she slips her flats back on.
“Fine, I’ll go. But on one condition.”
I roll my eyes, already knowing where this is going.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll call and tell you all about it later.”
She arches an eyebrow. “With details?”
“Down to the number of inches,” I grunt, burying my face in the fluffy teddy bear, feeling my neck and ears reddening.
“Damn straight baby girl.” She smacks a loud kiss on my cheek and then hugs me uncharacteristically long. Then she lingers on the threshold, fingering the doorframe before swiveling on her heels to face me.
“I really am sorry about tonight, Dahl,” she says in a quiet voice. “And I know this is all kinds of forbidden, but I see the way he looks after you, the way he looks at you. You deserve something good. Don’t be afraid to take that shit.”
