Page 50 of Smooth Talk

Chapter 21

Poppy

Ruby: I’m swearing off hate sex! It’s SOOOOO overrated

Emma: She’s just saying that because Knox’s ex is back in town. She came to the bar the other night and was fawning all over him

Ruby: I mean, I knew there was a chance they’d get back together. It seems like they always do. But I thought this time was different

Emma: I’m a little pissed too. I mean, if my lover ignored me and left with another woman, that’d be it, but maybe he had good reason

Ruby: Em, jeez, can we not use that word, you know I how much I hate it. I’m still waiting on that reason; we haven’t talked or texted since they left, and I already initiated first contact. Like a true malaka

Emma: My bad, I forgot. Maybe we should call him your bennemy, get it… like enemy with bennies. Winky face emoji. And maybe we should stop by Depot tonight, so he has a chance to redeem himself

Ruby: Ugh… I get it and we’re not calling him anything anymore. We’re just going to ignore him like he’s done me for the past few days. Next time we go to Depot, which may or may not be this evening, we’ll get our drinks from Jemma

Emma: You better hope there aren’t any guys around

Ruby: I know, she caters to the men. Eye roll emoji

Ruby: I get it, she works for tips. I’m not offended. Maybe I need to find a new bar. You wanna try out 5 Mile with me?

Emma: Seriously? It’s like a legit biker bar. Jake’s warned me about that place more than once, says he gets called out there on a weekly basis. No thank you

Ruby: Don’t be such a mouní. And since when do you listen to your stupid cousin? Maybe you could find an older, burly, hairy man-beast instead of a baby faced, barely legal man-child. It’d be a nice change of pace for us both, don’t you think?

Emma: Ummm, I like those men-children. They still care about their bodies, are eager to please and have stamina. What more could a woman ask for? And besides, Knox is older than you, has a beard and muscles, and correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t he own a Harley?

Ruby: Zipper lips emoji. Who’s side are you on?

Emma: Yours. Always

Emma: So Poppy, what have you been up to? You’ve basically ghosted us for a week. We take Harper out for froyo, buy her gifts and deal with 20 hangry tots because someone ‘accidentally’ knocked over the snacks table, and cricket emoji

Ruby: Poppy?

Emma: You have to give her a second to catch up. She’s probably at work

10 minutes later.

Me: Sorry guys & thank you for being my friends. I love you both so, so, so much. That bee came out of nowhere & I saved the nuggets and the cake. And in my defense, y’all know how clumsy I am. Anyway, I’m at lunch now so I have 15 minutes to spare. I’ve been slammed all week. I took Wednesday off for the Fourth, but I had to make those hours up the rest of the days this week. How was y’all’s holiday?

Emma: We had fireworks at the vineyard, over the pond. It was gorge! I banged one of our seasonal workers. A 22-year-old named Raúl. Muy Caliente. Winky face emoji

Ruby: You’re basically caught up on me, I also watched fireworks at the vineyard. Minus the muy caliente action. Minus any action. You spend the day with your parents?

Me: The morning/afternoon

Emma: You didn’t watch fireworks anywhere?

Ruby: She wouldn’t do that to Harper June, that kid loves fireworks

Ruby: Oh no, is she sick or something?

Emma: Poor baby

Me: She’s not sick guys

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