Page 43 of The Moment We Know

Paige nodded.

“So … no triggers?”

“Nope. It was trigger-free, and went off without a hitch. Well, for the most part.”

“For the most part?”

“He sort of came more than I was expecting, and there was a little bit of a mess, so I had to lick him off. Which, I think he kind of liked, so maybe that wasn’t really a ‘hitch’ after all.”

“Sounds like you crushed it.”

Paige shrugged, as if overcome by modesty.

“This calls for a toast,” Jules announced and raised her wine glass. “Here’s to crushing it.”

Feeling slightly ridiculous at toasting to a successful blow job, Paige nonetheless raised her own glass and repeated, “Here’s to crushing it.”

After they both drank, Jules asked, “So … what’s next?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I mean, I don’t know. When we get together for a date, whatever happens, happens.” Jules was frowning, and Paige knew that look well. “When I told you we were going to be ‘sort of’ dating you said it was ‘considerate’ of him and ‘smart’. Remember?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think it was going to drag on forever.”

“It’s not going to drag on forever.”

Jules took a breath, as if needing to regroup after a serious setback. “Okay, so whatever happens, happens … which translates to actual sex happening … who knows when?”

“No. Well, maybe. I mean, it’s going to happen, but it’s not penciled in on our schedule.” Paige looked at the ceiling for a moment, then back at Jules. “That’s part of what’s making this work. The not knowing.”

“So, the next time you get together, he could end up going down on you again.”

“Yes.”

“Or he could decide to take you to the malt shop for a soda—” she broke off when Paige gave her a dirty look. “Sorry. I meant to say that he might decide to push you up against a wall and fuck you.”

Paige took a moment to actually picture that, and found herself liking it very much.

“You’re picturing that, aren’t you?” Jules asked.

“What? No.”

“Shit, you are. You totally want David to push you up against a wall and fuck you—”

“How are we doing, ladies?” Anthony asked, startling both women. “Can I get you another glass of wine, or more bread sticks?”

Paige leveled Jules with a glare before turning to Anthony with a forced smile. “I’m fine, but thank you.”

“I’m fine, too,” Jules said, her smile more natural, because the last time she’d been embarrassed was in the ninth grade.

“Okay. Your meals should be out shortly,” he told them, then headed over to another table.

Jules waited until he was almost out of earshot before saying, “Relax. He overheard me that time.”

“Yeah. Talking about me wanting David to push me up against a wall and fuck me,” Paige said, as she picked up her glass of wine, slid out of the booth, and then stood next to Jules.

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