Page 51 of Tease Me

Odors of pine and disinfectant invaded my nostrils as we entered the large room surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mirrors. About twenty or so men were already in there, and Lolita and I found our own space at the back of the room, dropped our bags, and started with a warm-up.

After a series of stretches, Lolita led the routine, and we launched into a punishing workout of punches, kicks, strikes, blocks, and stances.

Lolly paused after she’d just kicked the crap out of a body bag I was holding, and when her eyes bulged, I braced for the announcement I knew was coming. “Okay, I have a plan.”Damn, she was loud.

Everyone in the room turned to us.

“What?” I whispered as I chuckled at her outburst.

“Come on.” She plucked our bags from the corner, then grabbed my arm, and I apologized to nearly everyone as she dragged me through the crowd and led me outside. The rain was easing, and a flock of rainbow lorikeets struck up a chorus as Lolita indicated that I should sit on the bench seat at the front of the dojo.

She stood, rubbing her hands together. “Alexander is a cocky asshole, right?”

“Understatement, but yes.”

“He probably thinks he’s done nothing wrong.”

“Well, obviously, my parents think that.”

“True. Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to go to your father’s birthday.”

I rolled my head back. “Oh, Lolly, I don’t know if?—”

“Shhh, hear me out.”

I cocked my head at her bossiness.

“You are going to that party, and you’re going to look so fucking hot they’ll hardly recognize you. That bastard is going to regret ever cheating on you.”

“I don’t think he knows what regret is.”

“He will when he sees the sexy, confident woman you are now.”

It had been more than three and a half years sinceI’dleft Mildura, and Lolly was right; I had changed. Forthe better, too. But could I confront Alexander? Just the thought of seeing him againhadan inferno of angerflooding through me.

She jiggled from foot to foot. “Oh my god, this is so exciting. We need to go shopping and buy you the sexiest fucking dress ever. His eyes will pop right out of his head.”

I couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm.

“Oooh, and you know what?If you get close enough to that bastard, you can knee him in the balls, too.You’re getting good at that.”

We both roared with laughter, and as I pictured doingexactlythat, her phone pinged, and she tugged it from her bag. “Shit, Cal says Savannah’s been throwing up. Sorry, babe, I’ll have to take you home.”

“Of course. I’m sorry.” We started toward her car.

“Don’t be sorry. You know you can call me anytime.”

“Thanks, Lolly. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Pfft. Stop it—this’s what girlfriends do.”

As I buckled up, I thought about the friends I’d had before I moved here and met Lolita. Chelsea-Lea had been my best friend, and she’d turned out to be the biggest back-stabbing bitch ever. “Not all girlfriends.”

She shot me a glance. “Oh yeah. When you see that slut, slap her across the face from me.”

As I laughed aloud, I wondered if Chelsea-Lea had given birth yet, and then I wonderedwho the father was.Suddenly, the idea of going back to Mildura was appealing. Maybe it was time I went home and showed themjustwho Jane Nichols was.

Lolita drove into the drop-off zone at the Hot Horizon Hotel. We said our goodbyes, and I made my way to my room. After a quick shower, I crawled into bed, and as I tried to predict how mynextencounter with Alexander would play out, I drifted off to sleep.

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