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“Actually, I do,” I said.
“You do?”
“We’ve been shopping many times. I enjoy it thoroughly,” I said.
“You just enjoy the sweet little perks that come with the dressing room,” Camilla said, grinning.
“I also enjoy spending time with you,” I said.
“Aww, see? Take Logan shopping with you this weekend. I can shop with you anytime. And when you guys are done shopping, you can come put on a show for me. You know, spin around while I make coffee or pour us wine or something,” Ava said.
Camilla was holding my gaze intently. “Sure. Yeah. If you want to come shopping, you can,” Camilla told me.
“Sounds like a date then,” I said.
“So, Camilla, what are you doing—?”
In the middle of Ava’s question, Camilla dipped her head back toward her phone. I watched her lose herself in whatever electronic world was more important than dinner with people she supposedly cared about. Ava peeked over the edge of her phone before furrowing her brow, then looked at me and shrugged.
Well, we had tried.
“So, what did you order to eat?” I asked.
“I love their vegetable lo mein with the chicken in that house sauce they make. I don’t know what it is or where it comes from, but it’s incredible,” she said.
“Order for Ava. Takeout to dine in?”
“Over here,” Ava called.
A woman walked over and slid a massive plate of food in front of Ava.
“Wow. That looks spectacular. And a lot,” I said.
“I’ll eat every single bite of it, too,” Ava said.
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will.”
“You can’t. You’re too small. Where will it all go?”
“In my stomach before I fall asleep on my face for the night.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Is that a challenge?” she asked.
She flashed me a grin while Camilla kept typing away on her phone. Honestly, Ava was the only thing that had saved my night out.
“It is,” I said.
“Then let’s make a bet. If I finish all of this, then you have to try on one of Camilla’s outfits she buys.”
“Oh, really? Wow. High stakes. Fine then. If you don’t finish—and I don’t think you can—then you have to try on one of Camilla’s outfits for me.”
“Camilla? Sound like a deal?” Ava asked. She looked over at her best friend, but Camilla didn’t even respond. It was as if she couldn’t hear what was going on around her. Ava turned back to me and rolled her eyes, then shook her head as she picked up her fork.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Oh, I’m very ready to watch you eat your weight in Chinese food,” I said.
“Then go!”
I was shocked when I lost the bet. The petite little woman in front of me finished an entire takeout order of two entrees before I could finish half of mine.
Ava
“I’m ready.”
I looked at myself in the mirror as the words tumbled from my lips. I had no idea where they had come from or what had given me the inspiration, but I knew I was ready.
“I’m ready.”
I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror. Maybe it was the dream with my mystery man that kept coming back to haunt me in all the best ways. Last night, he’d been there again, fisting my hair and nibbling at my neck with his breathless pants. No name, no face, no disposition other than a want for me. He pressed me against the wall, bent me over the bed, soaked in a tub with me before his fingers traveled down, down, farther and farther, until my folds were parted and his fingers were right at my entrance. Right there, ready to rip my virginity to shreds with his thick digits.
And I almost didn’t wake up.
I shivered as I stood in the mirror. Today was the day. I’d start my search to find a man who was worthy of my virginity. My mystery man had given me strength. His hot breath against the shell of my ear fueled me forward.
I grabbed my things and walked into work with the express purpose of getting out early. I wanted to take the weekend to do some research. I wanted to look at dating websites and other things around Manhattan that might help me. But I wasn’t going to fill in Camilla. Not until I had it all planned out.
Her head would spin through the roof otherwise.
“Ava, can I see you for a second?”
“Sure thing, boss. What’s up?” I asked.
“I know this is last minute, but we’ve had a new company come to us with an urgent need for some ad work, and what they gave me is rough. Can you take a look at it?”
“Sure. Oh! I was hoping I could leave a little early today? Maybe around three?”
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Just doing some personal research around the city, and I could use all the time I can get.”
“Yeah. That’s fine. Just take a look at this for me, would you? Get me any notes you can as soon as you can. They have an ad deadline of Tuesday morning, and they’re paying us a pretty penny to get it done.”
