Page 75 of Camera Shy

She pops her shoulders. “Then how the hell would you embarrass me?” Lennox throws her head back as she lets out a breathy laugh. “I’m going to pull my car around. Want to meet me out front in five? Oh, and that needs to go in the fridge,” she says, pointing to the pink box on the counter. “The icing has cream cheese in it.”

The front door closes with a click and I find myself for the first time in a long time, looking forward to a girls’ day out. I put my cinnamon rolls into the fridge as instructed and collect my purse and keys before passing by Cherry’s tank.

Sorry, girl, have a good day. I won’t be watching you all day like a sad, old spinster fish lady.

I apparently have plans.

20

Finn

“What’s up, Lenny?” I ask through my truck’s speaker. I turn the blasting air conditioning down so I can hear my cousin.

“Lenny?” she asks. “Someone’s in a good mood. Also, please don’t call me that.”

I laugh. “No? Why not? Brings me back to the good old days when you had braces and headgear.”

“Exactly. Ass. Anyways, why are you so cheery?”

“I’m just in a good mood. Mom’s doing well. Her new boyfriend is a good guy. We got a few more booking requests through the website—”

“And you got laid,” Lennox adds, interrupting.

Perhaps… “Why do you say that?”

“Because I hung out with your new girlfriend all day today. I might’ve implied you already told me what was going on, so she literally spilled everything.”

I wish Lennox could see my expression right now, a direct mix between irritated and rageful. “So you accosted Avery? I’m a big boy. I don’t need you to protect me.”

“Yes, you do, Finn. You may look like a grown man, but you’re fragile like a teacup puppy when it comes to the women you fall for.” She snorts in laughter.

“If she told you everything then you know we’re not actually dating.” I pump my brakes when the red sedan in front of me slows down for no apparent reason. I hate traffic driving back from Scottsdale. Everyone on the road drives like they’re lost.

“Do you like her?” Lennox asks.

“I slept with her. Of course I like her.” I instantly regret my statement because I know what’s going to come out of Lennox’s mouth next.

“Um, you’ve slept with plenty of women you don’t like. Cass, Anette, Rayna, Molly, Heather, that one stripper from Ruby’s whose first name was legally Sprinkle. As a reminder, she was the one who squealed like a little piglet when she came.”

Oh God. “When the fuck did I tell you that?”

Lennox roars in laughter. “You were so hammered. Tequila is like truth serum for you, dude.”

My cheeks fill with air as I roll my eyes. “I liked all of those women. I just didn’t want a relationship with them. And they didn’t want a relationship with me either.”

“Wrong. Molly was in love with you for years, and Rayna cried for three days straight when you got back together with Nora.”

“Do you keep tabs on all my hookups?”

“God, no. The volume alone would be way too much work. Who the hell would have that kind of time? I saw Cass last week, though.”

I’ve only had one friends-with-benefits situation that didn’t end in total disaster. Cass is a legitimate friend, but I’ve had her in every position you could imagine. The only reason I haven’t called her in a while is because I was taking a break from fucking around. Cass is extremely apathetic about sex and relationships. She’s not remotely close to being interested in a relationship with me, which is probably why Cass was the only woman in the world Nora wasn’t jealous of. It’s why Nora invited her into our bed so many times. “How is she?”

“Good. She’s still working at Ruby’s.”

“I figured as much.” Obviously. I’m convinced Cass is the best-paid bar manager in Las Vegas.

“She asked about you. She told me to tell you to call her.”

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