Page 14 of Devotion

It takes a second to realize she’s talking to me. “Oh! It’s good.”

“Still not ready to tell us what your night gig is?” she teases, arching a brow.

I sip water from my glass, hiding my smile. “Nope. Still not ready.”

“I’m telling you guys, she’s one of those happy ending masseuses,” Eliza says, making a crude gesture with her hand that nearly has me spitting my water on the floor. The old lady at the table beside ours isn’t nearly as amused, though.

“You figured me out,” I laugh. “Yes, I play with guys’ dicks for a living.”

“I know we’re kidding around, but how easy would that job be? I mean, your dominant arm would look like it belongs to Popeye, but that’d be some damn good money.Easymoney,” Eliza adds, and the serious look on her face has the rest of us exploding with laughter.

“This is why my fiancé doesn’t like me hanging out with you sluts,” Dove says, flashing her ring at us before she takes a drink.

“Bitch, please. Chris might actually loveusmore than he lovesyou,” Isha says. “You just wanted to point out, for the millionth time, that your ass finally got engaged.”

Not even bothering to deny it, Dove shamelessly holds her gigantic ring out for us all to see. Again. Like we weren’t at the park bearing witness to the elaborate proposal.

“You havegotto be stopped,” Isha mumbles under her breath. “And when are you going to drop your baby news on us, Dove? Because we all know youmustbe pregnant. Why the hell else would you get engaged, and then rush to have your wedding three months later?”

“Um, I don’t know, maybe because Chris can’t wait to lock me down? Make me his wife?” Dove reasons, holding in a laugh because this is just what we do, give each other shit in the most loving way possible.

“Or… he wants to give you a chance to walk down the aisle before your pregnant ass can’tfitdown the aisle.”

Dove can’t hold it in, laughing as she shoves Isha’s shoulder for that comment. “I’m not pregnant, so feel free to stop being an asshole.”

Isha smiles back, pretending to be serious when she raises her hands in surrender. “Just sayin’.”

“But speaking of Dove’s shotgun wedding, did you invite the infamous Detective Diego Martinez to the engagement dinner? It’s only a few weeks away, Layla.” Eliza waggles her brows at me.

Shit, it was funny when the heat wasn’t on me.

“I, um…”

“That’s a no,” Isha cuts in.

“Then, do it now! Take out your phone and text the man,” Eliza says, widening her eyes with the challenge. “And why haven’t we met him yet? Six months is a long time to be fucking someone and not let your friends judge theshitout of him.”

“Facts,” Isha agrees. “He married or something?”

“He… no! He does have a daughter, but I’ve already told you guys that.”

“How old?” Eliza asks.

“Three.”

“Have you met her?”

“No, because it isn’t that serious.”

The three all share an identical look before their gazes settle back on me.

“Not that serious to you or to him?”

I glare at Eliza, feeling mildly annoyed at her question. Even if I know she means well. “I don’t know. I can only speak for myself, I guess. So… it’s not that seriousto me.”

She arches a brow, and I can tell she’s thinking so many things, but I’m grateful she keeps them all to herself.

Dove gets the conversation back on track. Sort of. “Anyway, the main focus is getting you to invite the man to the engagement dinner. So…”

---