Page 3 of French Martini

“Like what?”

Jerryn snickers, but focuses on the eggs he’s scrambling.

“Like you know a secret.”

“Nope,” Bane says. “Oakley said he slept well too.”

I purse my lips as I steal a roasted potato from a platter. “What else did he say?”

“Nothing,” Jerryn says. “He was tight-lipped. Did you make him sign an NDA?”

I roll my eyes and chew on the tasty potato. “Smells good.”

“Changing the subject.” Bane nods. “We’re not here to tease you, Low. We’re proud of you.”

“Proud of me?” I scoff. “For what?”

“Hooking up finally. Oakley’s a tall drink of water. I was starting to think you were made of stone not to snag that man.”

“We didn’t hook up.”

Jerryn turns to me, his brow creased. “But he stayed the night?”

Blowing out a breath, I shake my head, feeling sheepish that I spent the evening making out like a teenager. “We just kissed. A lot.”

Bane looks confused while Jerryn’s expression softens.

“That’s sweet,” Jerryn says. “Very wholesome.”

“I was tired,” I say in a failed attempt at defending myself.

“Hey.” Bane squeezes my shoulder. “You don’t have to be weird with us, man. We’re your friends.”

“I know that.” I steal another potato, lowering my defenses. “It was a weird night. I didn’t mean to cross the line with Oakley, but it was New Year’s Eve and he was… you know.”

“Gorgeous?” Jerryn offers.

“Sexy?” Bane says.

I nod. “Yes, those things. And I was…” I wave my hand in the air.

“Horny?” Bane says.

“Lonely.” Jerryn’s voice is soft.

The word pierces my chest like an arrow, but I nod. “I guess so. I haven’t been with anyone since Alain. Not even a kiss. There was this cute guy flirting with him and it made me mad. I guess it all got to me last night, and now I have to deal with the fallout.”

“What fallout?” Bane asks.

“I made out with Oakley.”

“We got that part. Why is that a problem?”

“I crossed a line, Bane. I have to figure out how to get us back to the place where I wasn’t throwing myself all over him.”

“Oakley’s a grown-ass man, Low. He’s not some college kid who doesn’t know how to navigate life yet, and he knows you.”

“Yeah, he knows you,” Jerryn adds.

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