Page 52 of Restrained

“Penelope,” my tone says stop, but my best friend couldn’t care less.

“Tell me everything. I mean, my God, the dry spell has ended!”

I roll my eyes, and Viv laughs. “Oh good. So, she knew about the whole virgin thing.”

She takes another drink of her wine, and I freeze. No. She didn’t. I turn to face only Penelope as she processesthat information. “What?” She looks confused. “Hayden was a virgin?”

“Oh shit.” That comes from the other side. “I’m sorry, Lola.”

Penelope’s eyes connect with mine. “You?”

I feel guilty when I see the hurt in my best friend’s blue eyes, but don’t have time to say anything before Asher appears through the patio door. “Sorry to interrupt girl time, but Baz wants you to tuck him in, Viv.”

She nods, her hand brushing over my arm as she stands up. “I’m sorry.”

I laugh and brush off her apology because there’s no need. To me, we’re sisters, and sisters tell each other’s secrets sometimes. “It’s not a big deal. Give my nephew a kiss from me.”

She still looks horrified as she walks inside with Ash, and I cringe, thinking about them spending any time alone together with emotions still clearly high.

“Not a big fucking deal?”

I take a deep breath and turn back to Penelope. “It’s really not.”

“How the hell did I not know this? We’ve been friends for years and years and you never told me?” She stops, looking guilty. “Or I've been that self-involved that I never asked.”

She’s given me a hard time about getting out and dating, but I'm sure she assumed I’ve had sex with someone over the years. “I didn't’ tell you because I didn’t want it to be a big deal. I just didn’t want pressure to sleep with someone.”

She seems to think that over. “I get that. And I'm an asshole so I probably would have.”

I laugh. “No doubt.”

Her shoulders shake with laughter as she leans back in her chair. “You bitch. I can’t believe you never told me. And with a client?”

“Yeah. Hayden, but I don’t know what any of it means.”

She rolls to her side, propping her head on her hand. “Was it more than once?”

I nod. “Yes.” I bite my bottom lip, thinking about every encounter. “It’s like I’m addicted. Even now I want to be in his arms. I’ve never felt like this before.”

Her smile is bright and brings attention to her dark blue eyes. “That’s great, Lola. I’ve never seen you light up like that before.”

“Yeah.” I stare into her eyes, eyes I've known for years.

“So, is it just sex? Or have you guys had those intense, crazy talks in between where you learn everything about the person?”

I’m lost in the golden flecks in her eyes. “Ummm...He’s kind of a mystery, but we’ve talked. He’s even from Kansas City.”

“Huh. That’s kind of a crazy coincidence.”

Is it? I stare into her eyes. “Your eyes have gold flecks in them.”

“What?” Her eyebrow quirks up. “They do?”

I nod dumbly. “Yes. How have I never noticed that before? I just thought they were blue.”

She wags her eyebrows jokingly at me. “Maybe you just haven’t spent enough time looking into my eyes.”

She’s being playful, but I'm starting to feel sick as I sit up, my hands gripping the edge of the chair, causing her to sit up and face me, our knees touching. “What’s wrong? Lola, it’s probably the patio light or something fucking up the way my eyes look. It’s okay.”

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