Page 99 of Burn for You

“At mine?” I ask.

“We are about due for a proper girls' night, don’t you think?”

I smile. “You read my mind. I’ll be home in ten, what about Marina?”

“I’ll call, you just get your ass over here, I’m freezing.”

I laugh as I imagine her standing there jiggling her legs as she waits outside. “See you soon.”

When I walk around the bend to Rosemary Cottage, I see Marina’s bike parked up outside, the helmet slung over one of the handlebars. I still can’t believe she rides that thing. I’m surprised she’s never been in a life-or-death crash. One hour on that thing and I’d be in the hospital.

The girls aren’t waiting outside, though. The lights are on in the kitchen, and I can see their shadows sitting on the couch through the window.

I turn the knob of the door, not needing my key, and push it open. “Glad you made yourselves at home.”

Marina grins at me. “There’s a hot chocolate on the counter for you.”

“Oh, thank god.” I drop my bag on the floor and make a beeline for the kitchen.

I wrap my hands around the warm cup and bring it to my lips, the mini marshmallows leaving a sweet taste in my mouth.

Exactly what I needed after a long shift.

I take my mug and walk over to them, situating myself in the armchair since these two have spread themselves across my couch.

I pull a blanket across my legs, just as my phone buzzes from my back pocket.

“So, where have you been?” Isla says. “I feel like you’ve barely been around.”

I place my mug on the table and reach into my back pocket, pulling out my phone. “I’ve just been busy…”

There’s a message on my phone from Rafael:

How do you feel about adding to that ridiculous mug collection of yours?

My lip tugs into a smile when I see the attachment he sent me.It’s an advertisement for a beginner’s pottery class tomorrow morning.

“Busy with whoever just texted you?” Isla asks with a smile in her voice, and my head snaps up to see both her and Marina looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to reveal who’s got me smiling at my phone like a teenager, even though chances are, considering the topic of our last girls’ night, they already know.

“Oh, um…” If Rafael and I are to stop pretending, that probably starts with telling my friends. “It’s Rafael.”

Marina’s grin widens, and she nudges Isla in the side.

“Wait, really?” Isla’s eyes go wide.

“Who else would she be ignoring us for?”

I scoff. “I’m not ignoring you.”

“May?” Isla asks, still waiting for me to confirm it.

I shrug. “Yeah, we’re…seeing each other, I guess.”

“Like for real?” She sits forward. “Not just earth-shattering orgasms?”

I laugh. “Yeah, for real.” Her eyes start glistening. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not.” She waves her hands, pushing air into her eyeballs to make them dry up.

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