Текст книги "Wild Cards"

Автор книги: R.C. Stephens

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

Chapter 19

Vicky

After I left Luc’s penthouse, I had gone back down to my apartment to change into one of the few conservative outfits I brought with me on this trip. The same pencil grey skirt with a simple black top and of course the Jimmy Choo’s. Luc wasn’t willing to cave into sex, but I could tear his walls down bit by bit.

When I got downstairs at nine a.m., Bryce had Derek, his driver, waiting for me. I had declined Luc’s offer to give me a ride. I didn’t need Bryce thinking there was something between us. At Tyson Towers I got onto the elevator with warm butterflies swimming in my stomach. A part of me worried that I was too anxious to see Luc again after we had only parted this morning. I knew something major was happening between us, and at this point I also knew that I couldn’t pull away from him, but those revelations didn’t ease my old anxieties about falling in love.

Walking up to the secretary’s desk, I paused and smiled. “Hi. Good morning.” I continued walking past her desk toward my new office. My office, shit it didn’t even seem real. New York felt more like a farfetched dream every passing day. Every aspect, including Bryce’s warm welcome, my new apartment, and Luc, were too good to be true.

My cell phone vibrated in my purse and I pulled it out to see a message from Bryce. I hadn’t heard from him since yesterday afternoon.

Vicky I would like to come by your office this afternoon, I will bring lunch with me.

In my mind I did a happy dance that he was making the effort to get to know me like he promised. I replied to his text,

Thanks that sounds great.

As I typed the last word with a silly grin on my face, Luc walked into my office with a questioning look. “That was Bryce, he is coming by my office for lunch today,” I explained.

“Good, I am happy for you, Vicky,” he said with the right side of his lip tugging up at the corner. “I wanted to let you know that I spoke to the party planner about Scott. I feel like I should have predicted that he would show up to a party to look for you. The party planner said he had a clean record and he apologizes. He asked if you wanted to press charges?” he asked watching me intently. Speaking of Scott caused my chest to constrict.

“What do you think?” I asked Luc.

“I don’t think you should press charges. By the sounds of it I don’t think he is mentally all there and if he goes to jail he can hold a vendetta against you. As it is he was stalking you, so he isn’t a person you want to upset. I think you should let me take care of him,” he explained and my jaw dropped. When he realized what he’d said he began to laugh really hard. I didn’t think I had ever heard a laugh come out of him. It was a beautiful sound.

“That’s not what I meant, Vicky. I am not going to kill the guy. Geez.” He shook his head.

“I’m sorry, you are ex-mafia. When you said take care of him that was the first thing that came to mind.” I raised my right brow and gave my head a little tilt like I was justified for thinking it.

“I’m not killing anybody but I will ensure your safety,” he reassured me.

“Okay then I trust you,” I replied.

Luc gives me a quick kiss on the lips. “Thank you. So for the car plant let me go over the plans with you and see what you can come up with, also as an intern you will need to spend time at the plant itself. Since Bryce has placed you under my authority, you can act as my assistant as well. It will be a good opportunity for you to learn the ropes. There is a company shuttle downstairs that can drive you to the plant. There is a schedule at the main desk. Bryce mentioned no special treatment,” Luc grinned, eyeing me hungrily as his eyes danced with amusement. His gaze caused warmth to rise in my chest and I knew it would be tough working beside him and controlling my body’s reaction to him. “So the main focus for the office work will be coming up with a formula for a battery that will have a long lasting lifetime without the need for regular recharge. Given the amount of recharge stations in most metropolitan cities around the world, this is the biggest challenge in our industry…” Luc went on to explain. I loved watching him explain the schematics and listening to how passionate he was about the project.

I now understood why Bryce had put him in charge. He’s brilliant and he had come up with some breakthroughs of his own with the structure and weight of the car. It made me think of the roller coaster I built back home when I was in high school. There were so many factors that had to be considered before we got it up and running. Luc finally headed back to his office and I buried myself in a computer programming site, trying to come up with solutions and researching different options. I hadn’t paid attention to the time until my phone rang that it was already three o’clock.

Bryce said he would come by for lunch but I didn’t know what time he considered lunchtime. Given who he was and how busy he was I didn’t want to hold it against him. He was kind enough to give me a place to stay and a job, even though I had no idea how much money I made and I was hoping to return his credit card to him.

My phone had been ringing off the hook when I finally checked it. “Hello,” I answered the phone hesitantly; I wasn’t sure who would be calling my office.

“Vicky,” a young male voice said through the phone. “My name is Brad Andrews, Bryce asked me to call you, he said he is running late. I’m his nephew.” The young man chuckled into the phone, probably because this was typical Bryce behavior ditching his long lost daughter for lunch. “If you don’t mind, I am right around the corner from Tyson, I ordered some lunch up to your office and I would like to come join you, what do you say cuz?” he asked with the same light hearted tone.

This guy, Brad, was my cousin, wow. Luc mentioned something briefly about him last night but I hadn’t given too much thought to the idea that I had extended family. Mama had a brother but they weren’t close and him and his wife had no children. My papa’s family was big but they lived back in Italy. With how expensive travel to Europe was we never really had an opportunity to engage our Italian roots.

“Sure Brad, that would be great,” I answered quietly.

“Okay, Vicky, be there in five,” he said and I could hear the phone disconnect. He hadn’t even said bye. I was beginning to understand that Bryce was really only dedicated to his job. He seemed regretful yesterday when he spoke of his other kids, but maybe he was too far gone to focus on anything else but his work and making Tyson successful, which it already was.

About ten minutes later, Luc’s secretary came knocking on my office door with a cart covered in food similar to the one Bryce had ordered yesterday. The truth was that I was famished after skipping breakfast. “The young Mr. Andrews will arrive shortly,” she said politely before closing the office door behind her. Brad was an Andrews but Bryce had mentioned that none of his children were working at Tyson. I wondered if Brad worked here. A few minutes later there was a light knock on the door, I got up to answer it but a young man, maybe about five years older than me, peeked his head in, “May I come in?” he asked with the manners of a gentleman.

“Yes, of course, you must be Brad,” I said, extending my hand.

“Come here and give me a hug, Vicky, I understand you are a long lost cousin,” he chuckled taking me in for a warm hug. Then he pulled himself back and held on to my hand. “Damn woman, you are lucky you are my cousin,” he smiled with a devilish grin.

Luc chose that exact moment to make his way into my office. “No harassing the interns,” Luc said, walking toward my desk. “I see you have a lunch date, Vicky, I just wanted to check in on your progress,” he stated matter of factly and I hoped I hid the blush that appeared on my cheeks by his mere presence. Luc turned his head and his eyes landed on the cart covered in food. “You haven’t eaten?” he said looking back at me and I shook my head. “Okay, go ahead and eat and stop by my office when you have a minute.” He turned around to leave and nodded his head saying, “Brad,” before he walked out the door. Geez, Luc is always so intense and serious.

Brad made himself comfortable, taking his sport jacket off and placing it on the back of the chair, before taking a seat with a wide smile on his face. The Andrews men clearly had a distinctive look. He was tall like Bryce with the same wide shoulders and strong physique; only his eyes are a lighter blue where Bryce’s are an interesting shade of grey. Their skin looks almost naturally tanned and they both have the same shade of dark brown hair, only Bryce has strings of grey running through his.

“So how are we cousins?” I asked, squinting my eyes and trying to make small talk with the complete stranger who had made himself feel at home in my office.

“My mother was Bryce’s sister, but he adopted me when I was a boy,” he explained and I couldn’t help but notice that he said the word ‘was.’ His mother must no longer be alive. My heart ached for this stranger.

“I’m sorry,” I replied.

“My parents died in an accident when I was seven, that’s life, Vicky. I am twenty-seven years old. I barely have any memories of them,” he explained to me, making me wonder why he was revealing so much to a stranger. “Bryce told me about your mom and your dad, I’m sorry that must be tough because she raised you,” he trailed off and for the first time since I met him his unabashed surety wavered.

“It’s been a hard time,” I admitted. “But that’s life, right, Brad.” I said, plastering on a fake smile. I really shouldn’t be putting up a front with this guy; he seemed genuinely nice.

“Don’t be offended by Bryce, Vicky, he means well but considering who he is and how much he has on his plate, he is constantly being pulled in different directions. I don’t envy my uncle.”

“So you are here to make excuses for him,” I said light heartedly, but a small part of me is hurt that he didn’t make our lunch date.

“No, I’m not, I’ve had my share of issues with Bryce. I am not going to lie to you, he was my guardian growing up and having no parents meant I fucked up a lot, excuse my French,” he grinned. I couldn’t help but eye the food on the cart. I was starving. “I’m sorry you are hungry and I am talking away,” he said, standing up and moving the cart closer to us. I stood up around my desk and took a plate off the cart filling it up once again with numerous salads and pasta.

“I am actually very interested in what you have to say Brad, I just haven’t eaten all day. Why don’t you take a plate and we can talk some more over food,” I suggested. Brad took a plate of food and we both sat munching away. He was easy to talk too, and I liked the idea of meeting another family member, although my curiosity about Bryce’s other children became heightened by the passing moments. Brad was funny, outgoing and extremely handsome I wondered if they were the same.

“How are Bryce’s other kids?” I asked.

“Honestly, Vicky, you aren’t missing out on anything. My other cousins are a bunch of spoiled rich kids,” he admitted through a large bite of lasagna.

“Oh, what makes you different then Brad?” I giggled. He was fun to talk to.

“Honestly, he may have adopted me, but I wasn’t his kid. I was left shit loads of money, but I have always felt the need to prove myself to him and at times our relationship was rocky, and I was very much on my own. I spent a good number of years feeling sorry for myself and rebelling,” he admitted while his cheeks flushed.

“What changed Brad?” I asked, knowing I may be pushing my limits with him.

“Honestly? One bad fuck up and the realization that I needed to grow up,” he admitted with all honesty. He definitely wasn’t a stuck up rich kid, despite his name.

“I hear you, I’ve done my share of messing up since my mama died, this is me trying to get my shit together,” I admitted, lowering my head.

Suddenly Brad leaned forward. “Does getting your shit together include shagging the boss?” he asked, throwing me completely off. My jaw dropped and my pasta practically came pouring out of my mouth. I dropped the plate on my desk and looked at Brad wide-eyed, but he had a playful grin on his face.

“What do you mean?” I asked, still in shock. Luc and I couldn’t have been that obvious.

“Ah, you are a real Andrews…” he grinned some more. “Come on, Vicky, I saw how Luc was watching you, and you were eyeing him,” he chuckled, leaving me speechless. “No worries, I won’t tell Uncle Bryce, besides Luc is valuable around here. As long as he doesn’t go breaking your heart…. anyway you seem like a nice kid, and the big French dude hasn’t gotten laid in far too long…” Brad went on leaving me in a continuous state of shock.

“For the record I have not slept with him….” I answered vehemently. I don’t know why it was so important in that moment but it just was. Then my tone dropped “You know about that?” I asked, flinching my head back with surprise. I remembered Luc telling me that his ex-wife’s boyfriend was close with Brad, but he never mentioned being close with Brad. Brad was like a whirlwind.

“I introduced him to my uncle, my best friend is engaged to his ex-wife, I’m sorry I don’t know how much you know. I should really stop talking,” he said, rising from his chair and placing his plate of pasta on the bottom shelf of the cart.

“I know about all that…” I admitted.

“I figured you did, if you got, uh… through,” he coughed, “to him,” he continued to mutter.

I shook my head but I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s not like that Brad,” I tried convincing him.

He waved me off. “Yeah right.” I figured there was no point in explaining.

“Don’t let him convince you he’s a bad guy. He’s become an asset to Tyson over the past two years and he’s my friend. Although my friend Dylan isn’t too happy about that…oh, well.” He shrugged, then continued. It was hard to get two words in with Brad. “Dylan is back in Boston and it was Dylan that sent him here in the first place…” he continued to mumble on. “Well, Vicky, it’s been a real pleasure… we will have to do lunch again cuz,” he said coming around my desk and giving me a big hug.

“Yeah, Brad… sounds great,” I said, really meaning it. He was like an active volcano of information on my long lost family and on Luc, and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

“Take care, Vicky,” he said, throwing his coat over his shoulder as he disappeared out the door. I fell back in my seat and let out a long breath. Wow, cousin Brad was a handful and he seemed to know everything about everyone. I forgot to ask him if he worked at Tyson. I couldn’t help but wonder why Bryce had to cancel our lunch without even a message or a phone call.

Deep down I was disappointed, even though I knew I didn’t have a right to be. I didn’t know what I was expecting from him but after giving me a place to stay and a job, I thought he would also give me his time. Thinking about it made me realize that it was easy for him to provide a place to stay or a job, it was his time that seemed to be the much wanted commodity around here, or maybe his other families are used to this from him. I wondered if Mama realized that staying in New York would have left her a lonely woman. Bryce would have been working all the time and she would have been alone to care for me. Back home growing up, my papa worked for a delivery company from nine to five, so he was always home in the evenings and we always sat for family dinners, we always did things together. Thinking of all the family time we spent together put a smile on my face.

“Well, that’s a nice sight to see,” Luc said, walking back into my office with a light grin.

“Do you always check up on your interns this way?” I crossed my arms over my chest and asked him with a chiding tone.

His grin widened. “Of course not, I came to see if your loud mouth cousin left…” he laughed.

Brad was talkative I’d give him that.

“What was causing that nice smile when I walked in here?” Luc asked, taking a seat in the chair Brad had just vacated.

“I was thinking of my family,” I admitted, feeling the pain of loss mingled with happy memories.

“It’s nice that you have good memories, Vicky, you should hold on to them,” he smiled softly.

“I know, Bryce stood me up for lunch and sent Brad instead. It was good to meet Brad, but I felt a little disappointed and somehow my mind drifted to my mother. She came to New York to tell Bryce she was pregnant, but after learning about his social status she never contacted him. I wonder if she knew so young that life with him would have been lonely?” I sighed thinking of my beautiful mother.

“Vicky… Bryce is a good man, he really is, but he’s a billionaire. He was born to one of the richest families in North America and he’s on the board of probably one too many Fortune 500 companies. But he also does a lot of philanthropic work, he supports a lot of organizations that distribute aid to those in need all over the world after natural disasters and the list goes on,” Luc explained, sounding like he was trying to sell me on Bryce. The thing was whether I understood it or not he was my biological father.

“What are you saying Luc?”

“That the man is one of the good ones, but he’s human and he has his faults. He is married to his job, which leaves little room for other things,” he continued to explain, and I could tell he really looked up to Bryce, like a father almost. His own father sounded evil, so I could understand why Bryce’s qualities appealed to him.

“I understand, I was just thinking that my mama may have understood that which is why she took me away from here….” I sighed as my mind drifted to my mother again. I thought of how much I missed her. “How about you, Luc? Are you married to the job like Bryce?”

Luc shook his head. “No, Vicky, I don’t even have half the responsibilities that Bryce has and I am happy with that. I don’t need to be a business mogul. I am passionate about my work and that is what is important to me, and right now I am passionate about you,” his voice dropped to a low husky tone sending delicious ripples of lust through my body.

My phone beeped but my eyes were glued on Luc.

“Are you going to check your message?” he asked, pointing his head toward my phone.

“What? Huh…ya…” I stuttered dreamily. I picked it up from my desk to see a text from Nessa. She had arrived.

Me: I left the key for the apartment with the doorman.

Nessa: Thanks babe.

I was excited to have her here. As I pulled my gaze from the phone, I noticed how Luc was watching me closely. He looked turned on.

“You’re beautiful.” He smiled.

“So are you.” I smiled back.

“Can I take you out later?” he asked and his eyes look heated, like he had only one thing on his mind.

“Is that a good idea?” I asked, knowing that he intended to rip my clothes off. Then chided myself for questioning such a delicious idea.

“I’m only offering dinner, Vicky,” he feigned innocence.

“Really?” I cocked my head to the side.

“No….you could be on the menu.” He grinned then he blinked his eyes and his tone became serious. “Let’s go to dinner. Your friend can come, and then you are mine for the rest of the night.”

My cheeks flushed from the promise in his words.

“Luc,” I breathed out as moisture pooled in my panties.

“I promised you professional, I should keep to it,” he said, standing from his chair and adjusting the front of his pants. Was he hard? I am drooling…

“I can give you a ride home,” he offered and he noticed my hesitation. “Why do you have to be a difficult girl still? I thought we had everything worked out. I thought we understood each other.”

“Why are you calling me a girl again?” I squinted my eyes at him playfully. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m the new girl on the block. I don’t want people to think I am screwing the boss. As it is, Bryce gave me a nice office and this job,” I said, leaning back in my chair.

“I understand, Vicky, although technically you aren’t screwing the boss, yet, but that’s about to change,” Luc responded, leaning forward across my desk and placed a soft kiss on my lips. A part of me wanted to crawl up on the desk, grab him by the tie and seduce him, but I urged my libido to calm the fuck down. He seemed light and happy and it warmed my heart to see it. He deserved happiness and it made me happy to think that I had something to do with it. He walked around the desk and touched my chin with his finger before he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. His movement was soft and tender, and my eyes closed reveling in how close he was to me. That he even wanted me or trusted me enough to do this with me. Then he pulled away.

With my eyes still half-mast and my lips tender from his kiss I said, “I will see you later.”

Luc nodded his head in agreement and walked out of the office. My eyes followed his long built body in his suit and my chest tingled with excitement. So this is a crush…

After tidying up my desk, I grabbed my purse and walked over to the elevators. It had been a pretty good second day and I was hoping to visit the plant soon to see the construction of the cars first hand. I sent Nessa a quick text that I was on the way home.

I quickly caught a cab and as I stared out the window at the setting sun and the evening traffic jam, I realized that New York was doing something to me. Once again, I blamed Mama’s letter. Is this why she wanted me to come here? Did she see this place as filled with opportunity for me? She never told Bryce about me but something inside told me that she was sure he would accept me or else she would have never sent me here. Even from heaven she was looking out for me.

Ten minutes later the cab pulled up to my new home. As the elevator rose up the levels my excitement to see Nessa grew. At the twenty-third floor, I exited the elevator and quickly unlocked the front door as Nessa turned the handle opening the door and throwing her arms around my neck.

“Nessa, uh….your hair,” I muttered, pointing to her head like an imbecilic idiot. Her hair had been jet black since the day I met her. I figured she was a brunette and dyed it black to emphasize her bad girl persona. “You’re….you’re…. blonde. Not just blonde, almost white blonde,” I stated, still dumbfounded. It was such a drastic difference.

“Ah, yeah, I’m actually a natural blonde Vick,” she said, twirling a tendril of hair. I slowly made my way into the apartment and Nessa bounced on her heels following me. It felt good to have her there. She had become like my family and now this place was feeling more like home.

“No way… I would have never guessed…” I admitted feeling foolish. I felt like I knew her better than anyone else, how did I miss this about her? Seeing her as a blonde had softened her features and made her look like a different person. I fell back on the couch and let out a long breath, it’d been a long day.

“Why did you dye your hair so black then? It’s a pretty drastic move, don’t you think?” I tilted my head assessing her. She seemed antsy, I always knew that there was more to her story than being left alone at a young age when cancer took her mother.

“Come on, Vick, you know I’m a drastic person and now you’re here in New York and I felt alone back in Canada…” she explained with a frown. “Everything was good before I met you.” She squinted her eyes at me but her tone was laced with humor. I came barreling into her lonely life and she may not have realized that she needed a friend before she met me but she took the job of being my friend seriously and has always had my back. “I was used to being alone and then you went and changed that on me.” Her head tilted down and her plump lower lip darted out. “I suddenly didn’t like Thunder Bay without you,” she admitted with brutal honesty. That’s one thing I’d always admired about her; she was a straight shooter. Only now sitting here and looking at her I felt like she was a complete stranger and not the person who saved me from drowning when my mama got sick. This girl didn’t look dark and haunted, she looked like Malibu Barbie all bright and sparkly.

“But why wash out the hair color to come here?” I asked, knowing she’s not the type of person to care what people think of her.

“Because, Vick, what you don’t know about me is that this is home…” she said softly and her face paled as if the words were painful for her.

“What do you mean? You’re from New York City?” I asked with a surprised tone. I knew she wasn’t from Thunder Bay because it was a small enough town to know who’s who, but I figured she came from one of the bigger cities in Canada since she didn’t like to talk about her past.

“Yeah, Vick, I’m from here, my family lived not too far away from this building,” she admitted. “I know what you are thinking. Why have I lived this poor life on the streets and just barely getting by when I was born rich, right?” She wrapped her arms around her waist and gave her arm a small rub almost as if she was consoling herself.

“Nessa, you know I’m not judging you, if you want to share with me I’m listening. I was just surprised to see you….so …..uh….blonde…” I repeated the word blonde because it still hadn’t settled with me. I leaned forward and gave her a small hug. She rubbed my back.

“Sorry, Vick, you were talking about this long lost father in New York, and well, I thought it was pretty ironic. I mean what are the chances of meeting some drunk girl in a bar in Thunder Bay, Ontario and our stories are so similar, right?” she laughed to herself. Her voice was shrill and her hand landed on her chest almost as if she was controlling her laughter, or maybe she was trying to steady herself. She was speaking so fast that I could tell she was nervous. She was making me nervous.

“I don’t understand what you are saying…” I trailed off. I was suddenly panicked that Bryce had another long lost daughter and the color must have drained from my face.

“Oh no, honey,” Nessa responded quickly. I think reading into my assumption. “We don’t share the same daddy. My daddy is in politics, not business, even though those two things are closely knit together here in America,” she explained and I exhaled a long breath. I don’t know why the thought just didn’t sit well with me.

“Are you okay to be back here?” I asked, worried. She must have left this place at such a young age because something wasn’t good for her here.

“Yeah, I wanted to be close to you, maybe it was a sign that I should come home. I had dyed my hair black because I was a missing child, Vicky, and I didn’t want to be found, but now I am grown up, no one can force me back anywhere. I just need to find a way to stand on my own two feet. Maybe I can find a job tending bar or waitressing like I did back in Thunder Bay.”

I didn’t want to press Nessa knowing that family trouble could be hard to discuss. Clearly there was a reason she left this lavish style of living after her mom died. Her father must be a real jerk.

“Yeah, so I was kind of telling you on the phone the other night….I met a man,” I paused, as if I told her I was growing a third boob and her eyes widened as if I did say I was. After explaining the situation with Luc, she plastered on a happy face, probably because she didn’t believe in happily ever after’s and she didn’t want to rain on my parade. I’m not sure I believed in them either. The only thing I did know was that Luc was one of the good guys and thinking of him caused my lips to curve up.

“I told Luc I would text him, we made plans to grab dinner. You should join us,” I knocked her shoulder.

“No way, Vick. I don’t want to be a third wheel,” she said shaking her head continuously.

“Don’t be ridiculous, besides I have an idea,” I drawled.

“Oh yeah, what?” She looked at me intrigued and I could only imagine she had a party on her mind. “How are the parties here? Are they as good as back home?” she asked with excitement in her tone. Yup, I knew it!

“Ness, I’m not doing parties anymore, I told Luc that I would try the relationship thing with him,” I explained hesitantly. I knew she would feel like she was losing her party mate but there was more to our friendship than parties anyway. As I predicted she pouted.

“I told you I have an idea, we are going on a double date,” I giggled like a schoolgirl. I, Vicky Molino, am giddy.

“Excuse me, Vick, did I hear you right?” she asked, widening her bright blue eyes. Without the heavy black makeup around her eyes and the jet-black hair she actually looked like a southern belle. I was still trying to get used to this new look, she was beautiful and sexy either way, this was just different.

“I have a cousin I met today, he seemed nice. I am going to ask Luc to see if Brad wants to join us for dinner. He knows I’m Bryce’s daughter. Bryce sent him to me because he ditched me for lunch today.”

“I’m sorry, Vick,” Nessa said, placing an arm on my shoulder trying to gauge my emotions.

“No worries, Bryce is a busy man, I am trying to understand,” I said, while I typed a text to Luc on my phone. His response was just as funny as Nessa’s. Brad was a womanizer and he asked if I was sure I wanted to expose Nessa to him. To me, Brad seemed kind and friendly and we shared a similar past. The four of us had been orphaned even though for Luc and I, we were grown up when it happened.

Me: Luc please just set this up. It will be fun!

Luc: Anything for you pretty girl.

I stood up from the couch and rolled my eyes at his text, even though it caused a warm delicious feeling to circulate through my body.

“Okay, I am going to take a shower, Ness, did you settle into the empty room?”

“Yeah, I didn’t bring much with me but it’s all in bedroom one, I’ve showered already. Do I need to change into a dress or something?” she said, looking down to her ripped jeans and t-shirt.

“Uh maybe, yeah… but nothing too slutty, Ness, you know how it is on this end of town,” I said referring to the richer end of town. Even the sex parties had been classy.

“You got it, babe, I will go change,” she huffed. “Who would have thought I would be blonde and double dating,” she called out as she left the main room. I threw my head back laughing because if anyone would have bet me that this is where I would be a month ago, I would have told them they were batshit crazy.