Page 116 of Slay Ride

Meanwhile, I want him to keep going. Openly mentioning our inside sex jokes is such a turn on, especially when I know there’s no way Kindra can make the connection. I mean, who just sits around and suspects their friend has shoved a turkey leg in their ass?

“Did you girls get your little sex cubicles set up?” Kindra directs the question toward me and Eve.

“Play area,” I say, “and yes, we did. We even pulled down some fancy serving bowls and stuffed them with condoms.”

“How very practical of you,” Kindra says as she takes another bite of turkey. She lowers her voice and leans closer to me. “Are you sure you’re okay with sitting beside Bennett for the entire flight? I can insist we take another if?—”

I shake my head and place a hand on her thigh. “I appreciate the concern, but seriously, we’re good. He’s actually not that bad.”

Kindra snatches her napkin from her lap, dabs her mouth, then grips my hand and rises. “We need to use the ladies’ room. Please excuse us.”

She pulls me out of my seat and drags me from the dining room, and I’m useless to fight her off. She’s in sensible flats, and I’m doing the best I can in heels. I stumble behind her and try to keep up.

We finally reach the massive bathroom, and she pushes me inside.

“He’s actually not that bad?” she says. “Not that bad? Cat, listen to yourself. You’re talking about the man who fucked a pineapple wedged inside a dresser drawer.” She pauses to grit her teeth and shake her head. “Then he sucked it clean!”

Her words should disgust me, but now I’m just jealous of the pineapple. He hasn’t sucked me clean.

Yet.

Kindra snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yes!” I swat her hand away. “So he has some weird sexual urges. So what?”

“He’s mean. He views women as disposable objects. He isn’t fit to lick the dirt from the bottom of your shoes, let alone lick your pussy. Do I really need to keep going?”

No, she doesn’t, because her words are making me hate her, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to choose between the man I care for and my best friend.

“What if he’s not any of those things?” I ask. “What if he’s actually a nice guy?”

Kindra huffs and steps toward the sink, where she reaches into her clutch and pulls out a tube of lipstick. “If he’s such a great guy, why haven’t we seen any indication in the months we’ve known him?”

Because he’s scared. Because vulnerability isn’t easy for him. Because it’s just not his way.

And none of the reasons will be enough for her.

I sigh. “I don’t know, Kindra, but maybe he’s not who we think he is. I’ve seen a different side of him on this trip, and I?—”

“No.” She lowers the lipstick. “Absolutely not. Look, I get it. He’s hot, muscular, tattooed—a total catch. But Bennett is like an apple. It might look shiny and delicious on the outside, but when you get to the core, it’s rotten and infested with parasites.”

I roll my eyes. “Bennett doesn’t have worms.”

“He might. You never know.” She leans over the sink and applies a daring shade of burgundy that only she could pull off. “All I’m saying is that you need to steer clear of him. If he gets his filthy hooks into you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Well, she’d best learn how, because his hooks—and his dick—have been buried deep inside me.

She slides the lipstick into her clutch and turns to face me again. “Is this because of me? Have you become friendly with the devil because I’ve been so busy with the retreat?”

Tears spring into her eyes, and I rush to comfort her before she fucks up her makeup.

“What? No! And stop with the waterworks.” I snatch some tissue from the holder on the sink and dab her eyes. “I knew you wouldn’t have time to babysit me on the retreat, and I still wanted to come. I’ve had an amazing time so far, much better than you even realize, and I’ve made other friends. I dare say Eve has weaseled her way into our inner circle.”

Kindra smiles, sniffles, and takes the tissue from me. “That she has. But you’re still my bestie, right?”

“Of course.”

It’s so unlike Kindra to display emotion this way, and it’s all because she’s so concerned with whatever has occurred between me and Bennett. I wanted to come clean to her tonight, but now . . . Now, I don’t see how I can.

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