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Andrea looked over my shoulder, resting her chin on my arm. From the bottom of the basket, she pulled out a manatee keychain. On the belly, I recognized Ash’s handwriting and he had scrolled the name:Scarlett.

Andrea held it out for me. “You told him about Scarlett the manatee and your plans for a Florida home in the middle of theocean?”

I nodded, rolling the keychain over in myhands.

Andrea grabbed the fruit loops, pouring us each a bowl. “You pop the movie in. I’ll make breakfast. Looks like we’ve got some films to catch upon.”

I groaned. “Don’t you have to finish the costumes for Monday’smeeting?”

“I’m almost done. I just have one more dress to alter and I can do that tomorrow. Now, go. Go put on your newjammies.”

I wasn’t sure how this basket changed anything. In some ways, it didn’t. And in other ways, it changed everything. I texted Ash to thank him, then shut my phone off. I needed time to think. Time with Andrea. Time with Judy. And time withScarlett.

I wasn’t ready to give up on Ash yet. I wasn’t positive we were meant for each other, but maybe I’d been hasty ending things. Fear is a powerful motivator and even though I had asked Ash to show me his more brutal Dominant side, it was terrifying. I needed to know how often he needed that sort of release… if ever. Was that his kink? The more violent side ofhimself?

The rest of my afternoon was a blur of pounding headaches and sprints to the bathroom before I hurled. Note to self: Latina heritage doesn’t mean I automatically can handle mytequila.

By one o’clock, I had fallen into a deep sleep and when I woke up around five, I finally felt humanagain.

I turned my phone back on, playing some podcasts and scrubbed the bathroom so that poor Andrea wouldn’t have to. Then, I cooked myself some ramen, and as I was about to begrudgingly put onCabaret, my phone beeped with a text fromAsh.

How are youfeeling?

I smiled, relishing the warmth that spiraled inside of me at seeing his name light up myphone.

Much better, I textedback.

How much better?Hepressed.

A wicked smile curved my lips and my thumbs flew across my screen as I responded.Why don’t you come over so I can show you how muchbetter?

There was a pause and for a moment, I thought I had scared him off. Maybe that gift basket hadn’t meant what I thought ithad?

I had almost given up on him, when my phone pinged with anothertext.

Look outside yourwindow.

I ran to the kitchen, throwing open the blinds and found Ash’s Porshe sitting out front, the engineidling.