Page 45 of Master of My Heart

She smiled. “Medicine is wonderful. I’m not feeling any pain.”

He laughed. “That’s kinda the idea. Think you’ll be up for going out tonight?”

“Jay, she should stay home and rest,” Liz scolded. “She was really pale when she woke up.”

Jayson looked thoughtful, then nodded. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”

Sabrina remembered what he had said the day before about celebrating and didn’t want to disappoint him. “I can go out if you guys want. I’m fine. Really.”

They both gave Sabrina a look and shook their heads. “We can celebrate another time,” Jayson said, patting her knee. “It’s more important that you’re ready for Monday morning.”

“If you’re up for it, though, we can go shopping tomorrow,” Liz said. “We’ll take it slow.”

“I’d like that.”

*****

Since Jayson and Liz insisted on her staying in that night, they invited some friends from the company over to make it more fun and to introduce Sabrina so she didn’t feel so lost when she started Monday.

Sabrina had already met Scott, Micah, and Kyle, and they all greeted her with friendly and flirtatious smiles. Even Micah, who hadn’t been especially welcoming on Wednesday, seemed happy to see her. The three of them had been cast in the high-energy Russian dance, which meant that she would be dancing and rehearsing with them.

Mya and Audrey arrived a few minutes after the guys, loudly discussing Nutcracker roles. Mya was tall and thin with high cheekbones and big brown eyes. She had her long black hair in a myriad of braids with beads at the end that clinked together when she moved her head. She gave Sabrina a big, friendly smile and hugged her almost as hard as Liz did. Audrey’s sleek, dark brown hair was shoulder length, bangs covering her forehead. Her eyes were so blue, they were almost violet, which fascinated Sabrina. Audrey was a little shorter than Mya, but seemed to have twice the energy. When they said they were roommates, Sabrina could only imagine how noisy their apartment was.

“I’m ordering pizza,” Jayson announced over the din of conversations.

Audrey and Mya groaned. “Why can’t you ever order healthy stuff?” Mya asked, eyes narrowed, though she didn’t look entirely serious. “We’re not guys, you know! You guys bitch if we gain a pound!”

Jayson rolled his eyes. “Fine. We’ll get it from Sammy’s so you can get rabbit food.”

Scott grinned. “If you didn’t stuff your face, you wouldn’t have to worry about it, Mya,” he said with a laugh.

She narrowed her eyes and grabbed him around the waist, tackling him to the floor.

“Hey, if you wanted to fuck me, you just had to ask,” Scott said with a laugh as Mya sat on his hips and held his hands above his head.

“Ha, you wish,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You just don’t like admitting I can kick your ass.”

Kyle, the bulkiest of the guys, grabbed Mya beneath the arms. She squealed and let out a string of profanities as he hauled her up.

“Audrey, help!” Mya screeched, laughing at the same time.

Audrey sat on the couch daintily. “You said you wanted to get some action tonight,” she said, studying her nails. “I’m not getting in the way.” She stuck her tongue out at her friend.

“Bitch,” Mya muttered, then turned her attack on Kyle.

Sabrina scooted closer to Liz. “Are they always like this?” she whispered.

Liz laughed. “Oh yeah. Mya’s a horny bitch.”

Mya stuck her tongue out at Liz just before getting tackled by Kyle, then laughed hysterically when he started tickling her.

Sabrina watched everyone’s interactions with trepidatious fascination. She’d never experienced such a thing. It was scary and refreshing at the same time.

By the time the food arrived, though, they had calmed down... for the most part. Liz commented that she suspected Mya and Kyle would leave early and together. She was right. About halfway through the movie, the two ducked out. No one said anything, and she glanced at Liz, who shrugged.

“It happens. No one cares, as long as it doesn’t affect our dancing.”

Sabrina stared at the closed apartment door for a few seconds before turning back to the movie. What would they think if they found out she’d slept with Jayson?

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