Page 52 of Obeying the Owner

“Me too.”

* * *

Sheryl is already at my brother’s house when Lucy shows up with a pitcher of margaritas that she sets on the kitchen counter.

“Thank God you’re here,” I say, hugging her.

“Whoa.” She hugs me back and then exchanges a quick greeting with Sheryl. They’ve met briefly a couple of times when Lucy has stopped by to see me at work.

“I have so much to tell you both.” I eagerly start filling them in right away. “You know how I met James on Finder?”

“And he’s hot as fuck?” Sheryl confirms that I may have mentioned him.

“Well, it turns out he’s my new boss.”

Lucy’s mouth is hanging open and she’s speechless.

“Wait, I’m confused,” Sheryl says.

“James is actually Trey, my new boss. James is Trey’s middle name,” I try to explain.

“Holy shit. James and Trey are the same guy?” Sheryl finally understands, I think.

And I feel like I’m having a conversation with Joey from Friends. “Yes, they are one and the same.”

She makes an explosion sound and gestures as if her mind’s blown.

“How did you find out?” Lucy asks.

“When he called me into the office to meet me.”

“Oh Lord.” Lucy covers her mouth.

I share the details of what’s happened since yesterday morning, and by the time I’m finished I’m breathless and thirsty.

Lucy pours us each a drink.

I gulp most of mine down in one long swallow. “God, I needed that.”

“Here, have some more,” she says, filling my cup. “What are you going to do about Trey?”

“I don’t know. We don’t really have a choice but to keep things purely professional.”

“Pfft, good luck with that. I’ve seen that man and he’s hot as the sun,” Sheryl says.

“Right? How am I going to stay strong when I’m up against all his…” I struggle to find an adequate word.

“Daddiness,” Sheryl inserts.

Lucy laughs. “That’s hilarious, but it’s true. Now that I know James is Trey, I remember what he looks like. I met him and his dad at a fundraiser I went to with Niall.”

“I wish I’d shown you his picture. You could’ve stopped me from getting involved with him.”

“Yeah, but then you wouldn’t know how amazing it felt to be with him,” Lucy points out.

“True, but I’d have saved myself some heartache.”

“You really like him, huh?” Sheryl asks.

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