Page 136 of The System

“Okay. I like him, yeah,” Marin said.

“Good, because I asked Hollis and Raleigh if you could have a plus one, and they said yes, so I invited Frank.”

“You did what?”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Carina rushed into the bedroom. “I’m here. How late am I? The luncheon ran over. My makeup is already done, though, and my hair is fine, I think. Is it okay?”

“Hi, babe,” Kieran said and kissed her. “Your hair is fine.”

“Okay. Then, I just need fifteen minutes.”

“No problem. We’re ready. We were just talking about how Frank is going to be there tonight.”

“You told her?” Carina asked as she moved into their closet to grab her dress.

“Yeah, she did. And what am I supposed to do about it?”

“Well, you just said you need sex,” Kieran replied.

“You need sex?” Carina asked.

“I think that was your girlfriend who said that,” Marin joked.

Carina walked out with her dress in hand and asked, “You need sex?” She almost looked hopeful.

“No, babe,” Kieran said, laughing.

“Oh.” Carina looked disappointed.

“I mean, later, if you want, yeah.”

“I’m so confused and running so late… I’ll be right back.” Carina disappeared again, this time into their bathroom.

“Frank is the guy you settle down with. He’s not the guy you have a one-night stand with,” Marin said.

“No one said it had to be once,” Kieran offered. “You like him. Ask him to dance or something.”

“He was my attorney, Kieran. It’s weird. He’s seen me in prison orange.”

“And yet, he still shows up to have coffee with you at least twice a week.”

“Are we still talking about Frank?” Carina yelled from inside the half-open bathroom door.

“No, Kieran just told me she wants you to use the extra big strap-on tonight. The biggest one you have, with that super strong vibrator inside it,” Marin yelled back.

“You what?” Carina opened the door with her dress half-zipped on the side and stumbling out with one short work heel on and one off already.

“I’m going to kill you,” Kieran said to her sister. “You,” she added, pointing at Carina. “Back in the bathroom. I’ll come in and help you zip up.”

“Is that code for something? I’m leaving,” Marin announced and walked out of the room as Kieran followed Carina into the bathroom.

“So, you don’t want sex, and you definitely don’t want to use the big strap-on?”

“Better to just let it go. She’s teasing me,” Kieran said before she zipped Carina’s dress and kissed her bare shoulder. “And you look very pretty.”

“I look exhausted.”

“No, you don’t.” Kieran looked at her in the mirror. “You’re always beautiful.”

---