Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“What was the question?” I ask.
She leans forward. “This guy wrote in and said that he wants to slather his cock in avocado and bang his girlfriend. But he’s worried she’ll think he’s weird and that she might get an infection.”
“Oh my God,” I say, covering my mouth with my hand.
“That’s so gross.” Audrey looks slightly horrified.
“Food play is a total thing.” Gianna giggles at Audrey’s reaction. “You have so much to learn, Auddie.”
Audrey reaches for her drink, an Arnold Palmer, and takes a long sip.
These discussions always freak her out a little. Audrey has only ever had two boyfriends and no hookups in her twenty-seven years. She’s a good girl, a rule follower—a PhD in philosophy. I’m not sure if she’s ever uttered a curse word in her life. She’s had sex, but I’m sure she’s never had good sex. From what I can tell, missionary is the limit of her experience. And while there’s nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to sexual experience, she’s self-conscious about it.
“Are you going to respond to Mr. Avocado?” I ask.
“Hell, no.” Gianna laughs. “I feel like I’d have to have a therapist and gynecologist weigh in, and I don’t want to have those discussions.”
“I get that, but I’m kind of curious,” I say, grinning. “I think avocados have both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. While I’m not saying I’d be inclined to let a guy make guacamole in bed—”
“Stop it,” Audrey says.
“—I do wonder if it could theoretically be a holistic treatment,” I say.
Gianna’s laughter turns into a mischievous chuckle. “I have to admit that now I’m kind of curious, too. Hey, maybe you should write this column, Astrid. Give us a peek into your dark, demented mind.”
“Um, no. Thanks, though. My mind would bore the crap out of you.”
“I have a feeling that’s not true,” Gianna says, biting her lip to keep from smiling too wide.
Ignoring her, I reach for my sangria.
“Sometimes I worry about the two of you.” Audrey sighs.
“Information is good to have,” I tell her instead. “And when you’ve been in a dry spell as long as I have been, you have a heightened sense of curiosity.”
Audrey groans. “You wanna talk about dry spells? Let’s talk about dry spells.”
“I keep telling you two that I can lead you to the oasis.” Gianna winks, far too entertained for anyone’s good. “There’s a party on a houseboat next weekend. You’ll receive a colored wristband upon boarding, representing your interests.” She looks at Audrey. “Fetishes, kinks—that kind of thing. Not sewing or making cupcakes. Although making guac might count …”
I snort.
Audrey rolls her eyes. “I gathered. I’m inexperienced, not incapable of understanding context clues.”
“Just making sure,” Gianna says, bumping her shoulder playfully.
“Are you going?” Audrey asks her.
Gianna shrugs. “We’ll see. If you guys want to go, I’ll happily be your tour guide.”
“I don’t think I’ll be buying a ticket to that tour, but thank you for the invitation,” I say.
“I think you’d love it, Astrid,” Gianna says.
Audrey makes a face at me, expressing her disagreement.
“Don’t get me wrong,” I say. “I’m all for meeting a man and hooking up. But I need there to be more than a colored bracelet involved.”
“Yeah, we know,” Gianna groans. “You’d have so much fun if you could just relax and trust me.”
“Trusting you isn’t the problem.” You two women are really the only people I trust at all. “I’ll live vicariously through your wild tales. That’s enough for me.”
I hope.
Audrey shifts in her seat. “How was your week, Astrid? Anything exciting happen to you while I was gone?”
I grab my glass and take a long slug of my sangria. The alcohol heats my cheeks, sending a welcome warmth through my veins. I wait for it to hit the bundles of stress in my body before I even consider discussing yesterday. I’ll have to handle it carefully, or things will fly off the rails before I know what’s happening. Audrey will take this situation with Gray and turn it into an impending love story fit for the big screen. Gianna will concoct all the ways Gray and I could dispel our growing hatred for one another, and she’ll remind me that, in her opinion, hate sex is the best sex.
This thing with Gray is the farthest thing from either of those things as it can get.
“My week was fine until yesterday,” I say, feeling the tension in my jaw again.
“What happened yesterday?” Audrey asks.
“Renn called me into his office and asked me to take on another project.”
Gianna’s dark brows pull together. “He did? You didn’t mention that to me.”
“It happened after I talked to you.” I heave a breath, pushing the air past the tightness in my lungs. “I’m not happy, to put it mildly.”
“What’s going on?” Gianna asks. “It’s rare that you’re annoyed by Renn. Or did he finally assign you to Tate?”