Page 64 of Neighbors With Benefits

Cat flicked a hand dismissively. “You canborrowher any time. It was more entertaining watching you two have sweaty fun out there.”

I gave her a look, but she ignored me.

We shared a drink while making small talk. Bash talked about his job, while Cat asked very pointed questions about his love life: if he was dating anyone, how long his last relationship lasted, if he saw himself settling down eventually.

Finally, Cat stood up and said, “I don’t want to crash your victory party, so I’m going to head home. Be responsible with your victory drinks: Lyft is cheap out here.”

“We actually walked,” I told her as we left the restaurant. “Our street is less than half a mile away.”

“I get it, your new neighborhood is amazing,” she muttered.

When we were outside, I gave her a playful shove. “You weren’t exactlysubtlewith your questions in there.”

“Forget subtle. He’s into you, Jazz!”

I rolled my eyes. “We’re good friends.”

“And you could be more than that. I saw the way he looked at you. When you got up to go to the bathroom, his eyes followed you thewhole way. He wants to slam your clam.”

“Cat!”

“He wants to—”

“I swear,” I said, “if you say any more silly euphemisms, I’m going to retrieve my paddle and beat you with it!”

“I know you mean that as a threat, but I’m actually super into spanking.”

“CAT!”

She gave me a hug, and her face became serious. “I’m not just fucking around with you, Jazz. That man isinto you. In a big way. Do with that information what you will.”

Cat gave me one more pointed stare, then went to her car.

“I couldn’t decide between cheese fries and nachos,” Bash said when I returned, “so I ordered both. I hope that’s okay.”

“That’s the most okay decision anyone has ever made. We’re on the same wavelength.”

He leaned forward on the table. “Like with that chest bump when we won!”

“That’s the first time I’ve ever chest bumped anyone!” I revealed with a giggle. “I could tell that’s what you wanted to do, though.”

“You’re a natural.” The waiter then arrived with our food. Bash bit into a nacho and said, “Your friend is nice. I think she was hitting on me all night, though.”

“She’s flirty with everyone,” I replied. “Don’t read into it.”

“Well…” Bash took a long sip of beer. “When you were in the bathroom, she started rambling about being a bisexual. Said the best part is having threesomes with other couples. Then she asked if I had ever had a threesome. Does she ask everyone that?”

I closed my eyes and groaned. “Sometimes. She’s one of those people who has no filter. She over-shares.”

“Apparently so.”

“Sorry about Cat. I hope her question didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

He shrugged. “Nah, it’s all good. I answered her question, she teased me a bit, and then you got back from the bathroom and she quickly changed the subject.”

I pretended to focus on the cheese fries and asked, “You answered her question? What did you say?”

“I told her I’d had threesomes before.”

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