Page 64 of Fight Me Little Pearl

“Where do I find a man like him anyway?” Bella asks, and we all laugh.

“Have you forgotten you’re married?” Louisa asks.

“I’m going to poison my husband one of these days,” she says, and I fear she’s serious.

“Bella, don’t say that,” Louisa says loudly, then she leans in. “I know something you can use. It’s odorless and tasteless. One sip is sure death.”

The women burst into laughter again. My phone beeps and I look down at it. It’s a text from Valentino.

When are you coming home? My cock misses you.

Butterflies erupt in my belly. Keeping my excitement from showing on my face I send him a text back.

Tell your cock I miss him too. Will you come fetch me?

I'm no longer paying any attention to the conversation around me. All I want is to see Valentino. The scary marriage stories of these women have given me a fresh appreciation for the man I’m married to.

Another text from Valentino comes in.

I’ll be right there.

I take a deep breath and relax against my seat.

“I can’t believe we spent the whole afternoon talking about our husbands,” Maria says with a bitter laugh. “These men have a way of ruining everything.”

“And it’s unfair to those of us who don’t have one,” Louisa says. “Tina, Bianca, and I, should have our own special hangout.”

“We should invite Francesca,” Tina says. “Seems she’s the only one in a happy marriage.”

“You know, I don’t appreciate your jabs, Tina,” Maria says, glaring at her friend. “If you have something on your chest, why not come out and say it?”

Tina frowns. “I haven’t said anything you didn’t confess to yourself. You’re married to a sixty-year-old man who doesn’t satisfy you. There’s nothing happy about that.”

Maria slams her wine glass on the table and to my shock, jumps up to her feet and walks away. I glance at Louisa with alarm. It’s my first time hanging out with her friends, so I’m a little wary of this outburst. Louisa smiles reassuringly at me before glancing at Tina, who continues to sip her wine like nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Bella does the same.

Louisa eyes them both before settling on Tina. “Is there something I should know?”

Tina chuckles. “She’ll come around. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You rubbed it in her face,” Louisa scolds. “Come on.”

Tina rolls her eyes. “Fine. I'll apologize.” She stands and walks away.

Bella waits until she’s out of earshot before patting my hand. “They’re always like that. Don’t worry about it.”

Before I can respond, I get a much-appreciated text message from Valentino.

I’m outside.

Chapter Thirty

FRANCESCA

“Louisa, I have to go.” I lean in to kiss her cheek.

She frowns. “What? We arrived together.”

“It’s okay. Stay with your friends. Valentino is outside. Let’s do this some other time.”

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