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At first I just saw a few familiar faces, so I skipped them. I needed new. Someone bright and shiny to hold my attention. Bright eyes and warm skin and enthusiasm.
I found a few candidates and sent some preliminary messages to test the chemistry. The vibes had to be right before I’d hop into bed with someone. Through a lot of trial and error (a LOT), I knew what my instant red flags were, and the kinds of hookups that weren’t worth my time.
Lark came out of her room just as I pulled dinner from the oven.
“Is some of that for me?” she asked.
“Yeah, of course,” I said. I’d made two portions without even thinking about it.
“Thanks,” she said, getting two plates out of the cupboard.
She filled her plate and then we sat together on the couch and watched another episode of the show about teachers. It had quickly become my favorite thing and I was hoping it would get another season.
Joy sent me another message with a link to some decor.
Have you been in touch with Lark about the party? She might also want to be involvedI sent.
Yeah, I’ve been talking with her too. She basically told me whatever I wanted to do was fine, but I’m still keeping her in the loopJoy responded.
“You’re smart,” I told her, looking up from my phone.
“For any particular reason, or just in general?” she asked.
“For telling Joy to do whatever for the engagement party. She’s already sent me about five hundred links and I’m about to tell her to just be in charge.”
Lark finished her plate and set it down. “Unless I want to be in charge, I’m happy to step aside and let someone else go for it. When I was growing up, I would just let Honor or my mother do what they wanted because it was just easier not to fight. At least for most things,” she said. “My therapist says I should stop doing that.”
“No, I see what you’re saying. If you don’t really care either way, then I understand stepping aside. I’m not good at it. Too much of a control freak,” I said, shrugging.
“You’re notthatmuch of a control freak,” Lark said, rolling her eyes.
“I’m controlling myself right now,” I said, meeting her eyes. I should not be going down this road. I should stop talking right now.
“That’s not the kind of control we’re talking about, Sydney,” she said, looking away from me.
I slammed my lips together and didn’t say anything else. See? Control.
One of the women I’d messaged on my dating app started chatting with me and she was sweet and funny, and I went ahead and asked her if she wanted to have brunch with me on Sunday. She lived about thirty-five minutes from Arrowbridge, which wasn’t too far a commute for sex, so I’d said she could pick a spot that she liked. Honestly, the food wasn’t what I was there for. Some people might not think that a mid-day meal could lead to steamy sex, but brunch was an inherently horny meal.
Lark was hanging out with Mia again, so everything had fallen into place for my perfect day. I was a little bit giddy as I got ready in the bathroom and made sure that I looked as fuckable as possible. Hard to do when you had to cover up with a winter coat and hat and so forth, but I did what I could. I’d left my dark hair down. It was extra shiny and soft from a deep-conditioning treatment I’d done last night. My body was groomed and moisturized and tingling at the thought of being touched and licked and teased.
My skin buzzed with anticipation.
“Mama’s getting laid,” I announced to Clementine when I stepped out of the bathroom and headed for the door.
Clementine meowed and then went to his window.
“Be a good boy while I’m gone,” I said.
Clementine ignored me.
* * *
My energyand excitement started high as I drove toward the restaurant that my date, Nicole, had selected.
But as I got closer, I started feeling…less enthused. I told myself that it was just because I was out of practice. Once I saw her and we started talking and I felt the spark of newness, my libido would take over and do the thinking for me. I couldn’t wait.
* * *
