Page 13 of Someone to Watch Over Me

“Have I told you how happy I am for you guys?”

“Aw, thanks. You have, but it’s always nice to hear. We got lucky, and we know it.”

“It wasn’t luck so much as courage and determination and perseverance and a decision to live your best life after the worst thing happened.”

“And a teeny, tiny bit of pixie dust on top.”

“I’ll give you that, but you two overcame a lot to get where you are now. So did Roni and Derek and Wynter and Adrian. I look at all of you and wonder where you get the courage to start over. Where does that come from?”

“I wish I knew. All I can say is that one night, I decided I didn’t want to be just friends with him anymore, so I took matters into my own hands, and well…”

“Wait. What’d you do?”

“I told you that story.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh, damn.”

Her entire face turns bright red, which makes me laugh.

“This is gonna be good.”

Laughing, she says, “That weekend at the beach?”

“Uh-huh. What about it?” I still feel guilty about how they all chipped in to pay for me to go because I couldn’t afford my share.

“I might’ve crawled in bed with him and pretended like I mixed up the rooms.”

“Iris!” She sputters with laughter. “Oh my God!What’d he say?”

“It was more about what hedidthan what he said.”

“How did we not figure this out?”

“I don’t know, because between us and Roni and Derek, there was enough sexual energy in that house to set the place on fire.”

“What even is sex? I haven’t had it in so long, I don’t even remember what it’s like.” It’s been more than five years since I had anything resembling sex.

“Yes, you do. You remember.”

“I don’t think about it very much. I feel like that part of my life is over.”

“It’s not over.” While stopped at a red light, she looks over at me. “Two years ago, I would’ve said the same thing, and look at me now. Getting busy with my fiancé as much and as often as we can.”

I put my hands over my ears as I scream.

The bitch just laughs her ass off. “Don’t tell me that’s done for you, because it’s not.”

“What if it is?”

“It’snot. You’re just not ready yet. When you are, it’ll be gameon, baby.”

“How will I know if I’m ready?”

“You’ll crawl into bed naked with a guy you already love and respect—maybe you’ll even do it on purpose like I did. But don’t tell Gage that. He still thinks it was a big mix-up.”

“Does he? Really?”

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