Page 78 of On The Beach

"Who are you?" Mia was flabbergasted.

"I'm his Honey-Bunsen Burner. Aren't I, my Pookie Bear?"

"You certainly are," Mick cleared his throat, trying not to laugh out loud, "My…littleMitochondria."

"Oh, Mick." I kissed him, and he kissed me right back, his hands on my ass. "My Mister Hunkalot."

"My Pumpkin Pie." Mick nuzzled my cheek.

"My Sunshine Sprout." I was losing steam here with the cute endearments.

"Nicholas," Mia snapped. "Can you explain what's going on?"

"Oh, babe, sorry. It's just when my Cuddle Buns is around, I forget everything."

"Cuddle Buns?" Mia was surprised as hell.

Well, stand in line, skanky ex, I'm with ya!Babycakes was one thing, but Mick had upped the ante with Pumpkin Pie and Cuddle Buns.

"You know, maybe she's talking to you after all these years because she knows you're on the brink of something huge," I suggested naïvely.

Mia's eyebrows shot up, her eyes darting between us. "On the brink of what?"

"Oh," I continued, leaning into Mick like we were in the happiest, most smug couple bubble, "My Sweet Seaweed here is working on the next big biopharma breakthrough. I'm amazed by what he's doing. It's going to change lives."

Mick stifled a laugh, biting his lip to keep his expression composed. "Yeah, it's going to," he chimed, looking straight at Mia with smug satisfaction.

Mia's eyes narrowed, her expression faltering. "I thought you…left all that."

I let out a light laugh. "Oh, no. My Butter Biscuit is back and better than ever. You should see the way the team looks up to him."

"Like a washed-up failure?" Mia demanded maliciously.

I wanted to rip her hair out by the roots. How dare she? Instead, I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not even close. They think he's," I dropped my voice to a whisper, "hot. Probably because we can't keep our hands off of each other, and sometimes…we do itinthe lab. And you know Mick, you've had sex with him; he's divine with his tongue and hands. I come so hard. Did you come hard with him?" My tone was inviting:tell me everything, girlfriend.

"You're disgusting."

"I am"—I winked at Mia—"his dirty girl. Aren't I, my Sandy Snickerdoodle?"

Mick rested his forehead against mine, his eyes watering as he struggled to contain his laughter. "You're killing me, Babycakes."

There was a beat of silence.

Mia's face had been carefully guarded, but I could see the uncertainty there, the crack in her arrogance. She looked at Mick, clearly reevaluating whatever conclusion she'd jumped to before she tossed her hair over her shoulder. Seriously? That old hair toss thing? It was so passe.

"Well, good luck with…all that." She gave us a thin-lipped smile before stalking off.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Mick burst out laughing, his whole face lighting up with genuine amusement. "Captain Hunkalot?"

"I was grasping at straws," I admitted.

"I think my favorite was Sandy Snickerdoodle," Anna exclaimed.

"I liked them all…but especially when you said you're his dirty girl." Jess was wiping tears.

"This was so precious," Leela agreed. "Belle, I have misjudged you. I thought you were boring as fuck, but…you just needed a Pookie Bear to bring out thenastyin you."

Mick kissed the side of my head. "Thank you, Belle."

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