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Talk about snapping someone right out of their post-orgasmic bliss, although I’m not sure there’s anything Leo could say to spoil the moment.
But there’s something hesitant in his voice that’s setting off a warning bell or two.
Nah. Can’t be anything big. Or can it?
Is he married?
Engaged?
Secretly gay and just wanted to try out a walk on the wild side?
I clear my throat. “Uh huh. Sure. Let me have it,” I say all cool and casual, hoping he doesn’t sense the adrenaline coursing through me that’s insisting it’s time to get dressed and get the hell out.
He pauses, then sighs. “The guys and I, you know, Jasper and Ethan, um, well, I feel I should tell you that we know… well, we know.”
Knowwhat? What the hell is he talking about?
I push myself up on an elbow to see him. “What do you mean? What do youknow?”
My stomach sinks when I find him avoiding my eyes.
What the fuck?
“We… well, we accidentally saw on your computer some emails or something about not being able to have an orgasm, and how distressing that is. We wanted to help, so that’s why we’ve been, you know, coming around.”
The earth stops moving and the air is gone out of the room. I am paralyzed, and I want to give back the stupid orgasm he just gave me. I want to pretend I never met him, or Ethan, or Jasper. That I never moved to New York and took a job as a sex and relationship columnist, and that I stayed behind in the small town where I grew up instead of being too big for my britches and thinking I could make my mark on the Big City.
Iama fraud.
And if these guys know, who else does?
I twist out of his embrace and with my back to him, pull my panties on and climb into my dress.
He is still speaking, but his voice is like a mosquito buzzing in the background because I don’t really hear what he is saying, except for the word ‘sorry,’ and something about feeling it’s best to be ‘honest.’
I’d rather he and the guys be dead, given the choice.
I stumble toward the door, Leo calling after me, and pull it closed. When I get to the street, I put my sunglasses on even though it’s dark outside because I desperately need some sort of shield, some sort of protection against the outside world, and I don’t know any other way to find it.
* * *
28
ETHAN
I getto work and find Jasper and Leo in my office, kicking back like they often do.
“Guys, my day is busy as fuck. While I enjoy a welcoming committee, it’s time to hit the road.”
Groaning, they push themselves to their feet and make for the door.
I stop them at the last minute. “Hey, hold up for a sec,” I call.
“Yeah?” Jasper asks. “What’s up?”
“Guys, I just saw Ava in the elevator, and the look she gave me, well, let’s just say a lesser man would have run away screaming. She seriously looked at me like if we were in the elevator alone and she had a weapon, I’d be taking my last breaths. What the hell is up with her?”
“No idea. I left the apartment before she did this morning so I didn’t see her,” Jasper says.
