Page 17 of Double Dare

“How is the new job going?”

“I’ll be officially starting next week!” She beams. “Me! A practicing doctor. It’s family medicine, and so far, I’ve been shadowing the other two physicians, but my sign-up list is getting long. I already have so many patients to meet. I’m going to be a doctor.”

“You already are a doctor. You’re going to have your own clinical space. So happy for you.” I clink my glass against hers, celebrating the life she knew she wanted.

“Frick yeah,” she says, still blushing, but I think it’s for happy reasons instead of uncomfortable ones.

There’s another knock on the door, and this time, it opens before we have the chance to get up. Maeve isn’t as polite as Gen; she lets herself right in.

“Hey, hey,” Maeve greets. “Hey, Gen. Sorry, I didn’t know you guys were doing dinner.”

“I purchased plenty. Come sit, Maeve,” Gen says, being the polite host in my house.

“Now we just need Nina and Freya,” I laugh. “And Rayne.”

Gen’s cheeks redden. “Oh, Nina and Bo were…indisposed when we left the house.”

“I swear, Nina dominates the fuck out of Bo,” Maeve says. “Hot.” She steals a glass from my kitchen and Gen pours her some wine. “Confession. I’m here with bribes and to run something by you guys.”

“I like bribes. What’s up?”

Mae sighs. “Okay, so clearly me and Kade are done, right? Our arrangement is over, and we’re just friends.”

I blush this time. I love Maeve, and I’m so glad Kade has her, but to hear that the sexual part of their relationship is over makes me selfishly happy. What is wrong with me? It’s not like he’s mine, and I have no right to feel this way, but…

“But,” Maeve goes on. “I got used to a certain standard, you know? So, is an incredible emotional connection worth a mediocre sex life?”

Gen jumps right in. “Why is the sex only mediocre? What’s the problem, assets or communication?”

Greatly phrased, Genevieve.

“Communication, I guess,” Maeve says.

“You’re being too much of a pansy to tell him what you’re into?” I guess.

“Yeah. Kade already called me out on it, but…how does that just come up in conversation?” She sips.

“What sort of stuff are you into, Maeve?” Gen asks.

“Vile things, Genevieve. Vile things.”

“Oh.” Gen nods too many times.

“I’d just ease into it. In the heat of the moment, you know? Are you…regretting ending things with Kade?” I should not have asked that.

“No,” she laughs. “We’ve pretty much been over for a long time now. The odd time we…yeah, but it’s always been more of a friend thing. Actually, it feels like this is a step forward for us. Like our relationship is progressing into something better anyway. We tried to date, but it didn’t work. The sex was good, but it wasn’t emotional, so it was lacking something, and now we’re just…two old ladies who sit in bed, gossiping and drinking tea.” She grins.

“Kade? Tea?” I laugh.

“Chamomile. Knocked him right out,” Maeve bursts out laughing.

“I should try that on Forsyth the nights he won’t let me sleep,” Gen adds.

“Genevieve!” we both scold her, laughing.

Taking it all in, I lean back and enjoy the moment. One tattooed badass and one proper warrior. It’s good to have girlfriends.

Chapter 8

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