Page 47 of Sins and Secrets

The back of my neck starts to sweat. Did Jade screw around with the thermostat again? No. It’s because I’m legit nervous as I type my next message. Then I delete it. I try three more times before I finally send:

Me: Want to come over tomorrow and watch Knights of the Night?

It's one of her favorite shows. She posts about it all the time on Instagram, not that I've been checking out her account for years.

Waverly: Will there be any sexytime?

Shit. Does she want this to be only sexual?

Me: We can go over your Green Yellow and Red list, I’ll show you mine.

I’m sick waiting for her response.

Waverly: Awesomesauce. Is there an actual list or do I have to make it up?

I exhale reading her message.

Me: I’ll send you the PDF.

Shit. My client will be here soon, and I still gotta prep my station. I send her the file and head out to the studio. Two hours later I’m done outlining a basic skull and roses on a middle-aged man going through some sort of identity crisis. When he needs a break, I check my phone. Five missed texts from Waverly.

Waverly: Um I don’t know like 75% of the things on this list.

Waverly: Am I supposed to color code it in marker or something?

Waverly: I asked Alana about the list.

Waverly: My brain is melted. No brain. Just a puddle.

Waverly: So, can things move from yellow to green? If I’m not sure about it and we try it and if I like it, can it change? I want to do the right things here.

Me: How’s your puddle brain doing? And yes, things can move columns as long as you articulate it.

Waverly: YOU LIVE!

Me: I was working, you should try it.

Waverly: RUDE! I’ve been working and researching.

Waverly: I think you’re cranky.

Me: I’m not cranky

I’m hungry. Rico’s eating a BLT which smells freaking awesome.

Me: Maybe a little hungry.

Me: I’ll answer any of your questions after I’m done with the client.

Flexing my fingers and rolling my shoulders, I tell my client to take a break after another two-hour session. My shoulders are killing me, I’m starving, and I’ve got the early onset of a headache.

Jade checks out the client and hands me a bag. “When did you order food? I thought you didn’t use your phone when you work.”

I blink at the bag. “I didn’t,” but damn it does smell good.

I take it to my office and smile as soon as I read the comment on the receipt.Don’t be hangry.

Tearing into the food, I sit back and send Waverly a text as the flavor explodes in my mouth.

---