Page 27 of Allured By Her

“I’m, um, not really selling them right now,” I said.

“Okayyyyy,” Tenley said, drawing out the word. “I’m getting the vibe that you don’t want me to find your shop.”

I wanted to argue with her, but I didn’t.

“I’m incredibly curious why, but you can have your little secret if you want,” she said, putting her phone down. I relaxed, grateful that she didn’t continue to pry.

“Just so you know, if you do sex work on the side, I’m not going to judge you. If that’s what you were worried about,” she said a few moments later.

“Oh, thanks,” I said, neither admitting or denying that I did sex work. Was making sex toys considered part of the sex work industry? A lot of people might have different opinions on that.

“I have to have dinner with my family this week,” she said, pivoting the conversation.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I asked. In the time we’d spent together, Tenley had rarely mentioned her family.

“It’s…an annoying thing. My parents miss Shane, maybe even more than I do. My brothers miss him too.” I’d forgotten that Tenley had three brothers. Two older, one younger.

“That sucks,” I said. “My parents moved to France and we only video chat about once a month. They come back every Christmas, but we’re not super close,” I said. I loved them, there was nothing wrong with our relationship, we just weren’t as tight as I was with Ingrid. They had their own lives and so did we and every now and then we talked and caught up. It worked for all parties involved.

“You’re close with your sister, though, right?” Tenley said.

“Yeah, we see each other all the time. I lived with her for a while too,” I said.

“Two of my brothers are renting a place together too. They call me every time it gets disgusting like I’m going to come over and be their maid,” she said, rolling her eyes, but her tone was fond. “They’re monsters, but they’re family.”

We compared our siblings until my break was over and she headed back to her computer and I went back to making lattes.

“You’re all happy,” Lark said during a lull.

“Hmm?” I said, looking away from Tenley. Her mood seemed more lifted than when she’d walked in today. I didn’t think I was completely responsible, but I knew I’d helped.

“You’ve been smiling since you got back from your break. I think it’s time to admit that you like her,” Lark said, nodding in Tenley’s direction.

“I don’t like her,” I said.

“You do. A little bit,” Lark said.

“Fine, I like her a little bit. But that doesn’t mean I like her, like her.” Tenley was straight and trying to get back with her ex. You couldn’t get much more off-limits than that.

“It’s okay if you do. Shit happens,” she said. “We’ve all fallen for the wrong person before.”

Yes, but I’d already done that in my life. I didn’t need to do it again.

“I’m not going to fall for her. There’s way too much history standing in the way. And she’s going to get her terrible boyfriend back and then she’ll go back to bugging me for free coffee.”

“Sure,” Lark said. “But don’t hate yourself if you do develop a crush.”

“I’m not developing a crush,” I said, trying to keep my voice down. “I’m going to get some more almond milk.” I ran to the back room to end the conversation. Like a coward.

* * *

“Hey, fake girlfriend,” a voice said while I was cleaning dishes in the sink just before heading home. I didn’t have to look up to know who spoke.

“Can I help you?” I asked, keeping my voice sweet.

“There’s a party at the Castleton beach on Friday night, and Shane is going to be there, so I need you to come with me,” she said.

Ugh. I definitely didn’t want to do that, but I was the fake girlfriend and that was my job.

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