AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I glanced over at the surfboard propped in the back corner. It was covered in signatures and messages from past diners. Somewhere on the waxed surface were notes from all of the LJGs. We’d shared so many wonderful memories in Atlantic City, could I really move?
A French fry came flying across the table and landed on my plate, knocking me out of my thoughts. I glared at Zoe expecting her to be the troublemaker. To my surprise she was staring slack-jawed at Chantou.
My calm and usually very zen friend was holding another fry as if she was ready to launch it at me. “Are you paying attention now?”
“I was paying attention.” I gave her an indignant look to try and cover up the fact that I had not been paying attention. It wasn’t my fault that I had a thousand things on my mind. I wouldn’t have even come today if Zoe hadn’t threatened to gather everyone up and ‘rescue me’ from my captor.
“Oh really, so you’re okay with Zoe’s plan?” Chantou gave me a look that dared me to agree.
“I never said that. But arguing with her plans doesn’t ever make a difference so I was staying quiet.”
Julia shook her head, the sequins in her hairband flashing in the light. “I can’t tell if she’s bluffing or not.”
Lucia snorted. “She’s bluffing or she would have been yelling at Zoe for threatening to put itching powder into her Daddy’s shorts.”
“Zoe!”
Zoe laughed. “That isn’t even close to what I said, but I’m impressed by Lucia’s sneakiness. It does prove that you aren’t even listening. We’re worried about you.”
“I send pictures every day of what we’re doing.” It was the only way I could share with my friends without really sharing.
“Pictures of places don’t tell us how you’re doing.” Chantou looked at me with concern.
Lucia nudged me with her shoulder. “Ever since he stole you away from work, you’ve been radio silent. You're the first of us to possibly find your forever Daddy. We want all the smexy details so we can live vicariously through you. Come on, writer girl, paint the picture for us.”
I shook my head. “That makes no sense. Oh, I finished Margaret’s story and am almost finished outlining a new series I’m thinking about writing.”
“Nice try, but we’re not falling for your diversions.” Zoe glared at me. “Why are you avoiding the topic? Does he have a small penis? Is he bad in bed?”
The sympathetic sounds that came out of my friends made me want to sink into the floor and disappear. I lowered my head to the table and banged it a few times.
“No and no. You guys really can’t pick up on the cues when someone wants to avoid a topic.”
Julia rolled her eyes. “We pick up on them, but when one of your best friends is acting dodgy, you don’t let them hide.”
“Fine.” Giving up on any hope of privacy, I told them about what had happened and the arrangement we’d come up with.
“And he’s been okay with the ‘no funny stuff’ rule?” Zoe asked.
“Too good.” I groaned. “I haven’t gotten more than a kiss on the top of my head in weeks, and that only if he thinks I’m asleep. I know I’m the one who set the rule, but if he doesn’t touch me soon, I think I’m going to spontaneously combust. He’s been so sweet and attentive. If I’m Little or Big doesn’t seem to matter to him. He respects my writing and got me a laptop so I don’t have to go to the library. He even helped me come up with a good ending for Margaret’s book.”
“Respecting your boundaries is a good thing.”
I narrowed my glare at Lucia. She was enjoying my frustration too much.
“I for one, am on team Gabriel. I’m sure it was him that got Seth fired.”
“No, that was Rocco,” Zoe interrupted.
“Seth was fired? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lucia shrugged. “I assumed you knew since it happened the same day you got transferred out. Even if Rocco did it, you know it was for Gabriel. Anyway, the new guy is so much better, though some people don’t agree.”
I knew who she meant by some people. Without Seth there to act as their pimp, there would be a few of the girls who would leave, not wanting to do actual massage work. Why hadn't Gabriel told me? With Seth gone, there was no reason for me to avoid work anymore.
Not that I wanted to go back. I’d gotten more writing done in the last two weeks than I usually finished in a full month. I liked not having to work a set schedule or deal with creepy customers. Taking naps during the day and not having to make my own meals was kinda like paradise. Not that I’d ever admit to liking the nap thing out loud. Plus, there was that email I’d gotten from an agent.
“You know that new series I mentioned?” All of the LJGs looked confused, but curious. “It’s for an agent. She reached out last week saying she thought she could get me a deal with one of the big publishers.”
