Page 64 of All Twerk, No Play

Mallory nodded. “And the other top suggestion?”

I swallowed. “They want me to open a gym.”

She scraped her hair back into a top knot. “You don’t want to?”

I chose then to turn on Victoria’s Vitamix to make more salsa. I’d found the unopened box last night after she passed out, then this morning I stopped by my apartment for ingredients, knowing she’d need salty sustenance.

Their plan made a strong case for opening a gym, including potential commercial property listings. The report weighed the pros and cons of different locations and sizes … but as she extolled the virtues of a brick and mortar shop for consistent revenue, all I could see was the sign on my stepdad’s vacant storefront: Retail Property Available, contact Sinclair Larsson.

The whirring blades only bought me so much time. When it stopped, I simply said, “It’s such a commitment.”

Mallory’s tooth scraped over her lip as she glanced behind me at the closed bedroom door. “They convinced me to expand, and I’m terrified.” I breathed a sigh of corresponding relief at her confession, spurring her on. “My first lease scared me enough. Now it’s triple the space, more staff to manage and twice the rent. It should be way more, but Victoria’s giving me the space for a bargain. Even with their offices right upstairs, I’m terrified I’ll fuck it up.” Mallory’s gaze shifted towards Victoria’s balcony. “When she’s there walking me through her vision, I have no doubts. I can see everything she wants me to be.” When she spoke again, I had to lean closer to hear. “Then she leaves and I wonder what the fuck I’ve agreed to.”

“Oh my god Mal, you have to see this!” Kate yelled, strutting into the kitchen wearing one of Victoria’s pencil skirts, a tailored blazer over a silk blouse, and sky-high black heels with a bright red sole. Mallory made a twisting motion with her finger. Kate spun in a slow circle like a ballerina in a music box, then pointed at Mallory. “Now ask me for money.”

Mallory didn’t blink, holding out her palm. “May I please have money?”

“No!” Kate exclaimed. “Fuck you, peasant!”

The two of them doubled over as Kate smoothed the fabric over her hips. “She said I can borrow it if I ever need to meet with investors. A power suit to intimidate them.”

“Powers suits aren’t for intimidating others into giving you what you want,” Victoria leaned in the door frame as she watched Kate’s strut. “They're for giving you enough confidence to take it for yourself.”

Mallory made an hourglass hand motion as she sang the opening lines to ‘Bang Bang’—or tried to sing, but holy crap, she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. Kate was delighted with the song choice, but looked to me to save her ears. I took over seamlessly, singing the next line about a booty like a Cadillac as Mallory hopped down from the counter to smack Kate’s ass.

“Respect the dress,” Victoria said from the doorway, lips pursed to hide her amusement.

I pulled up the song on my phone, and Mallory smirked when it automatically connected to Victoria’s Bluetooth speaker. Kate grabbed my hand and we danced around Victoria’s kitchen like it was a big band song, spinning her out and flipping her under my arm. Mallory grabbed Kate during a twirl and nudged me towards Victoria as the song promised that a good girl could blow your mind.

I stood in front of Victoria, palm outstretched. She hesitated, glancing past me to Mallory and Kate. When I mouthed, ‘Friends?’ she slipped her fingertips into mine.

I closed my hand around hers, letting the flow of the song guide our rhythm. I kept a few inches between our bodies, knowing two gossipy busybodies watched every movement … but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to dance with her again. Not when she finally let me in.

By the final verse she’d shifted closer, sliding her hands from their respectable grip in my hands up my shoulders to hold around my neck. When the song ended I spun her to her comfort zone near her bedroom door. She smoothed a flyaway, then flicked her gaze to Kate. “Yes to that dress, let’s try another.”

“Next!” Kate yelled like a diva, strutting back to the closet. Victoria caught my gaze, laughter shining behind her eyes before pivoting to find Kate’s next outfit.

After the door shut, Mallory let out a low whistle. “She likes you.”

I shrugged, pulling the tortillas out of the oven and sliding them into the simmering salsa.

“That face, like you’re in on a joke? I’ve only seen her give that look to my brother.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well they dated for like a million years, so—”

“No, not Alex. They’re so competitive, she never truly lets her guard down. The only time I’ve seen her goof around is with Nick.” She smiled fondly. “I always thought she picked the wrong brother.”

She’d kicked me out of her bed this morning when he called. Was he also a douchebag, but fluent in Greek? Last night she’d mentioned another pretentious guy I’d hate, so that seemed to be her type.

“I was only 17 when I met her, she seemed so fucking grown up at 26. I think I fell in love with her when she made Alex shut up with a single look.” I couldn’t restrain my laugh, and she smirked back, pulling her knee up to her chest. “I didn’t know women were allowed to be that smart, hot, and powerful. I wanted to be her when I grew up. Then Skidmore kindly asked me not to return for a second semester …” Mallory laughed before her face took on an awe-filled expression. “And now she’s here and I don’t get it. Saratoga’s small potatoes, why isn’t she taking over Tokyo like Godzilla?”

Remembering Victoria’s drunken melancholy about her disappointed family, and her firm resolve this morning calling Alex her best friend—even though she sounded full of shit—I quietly shared my theory: “I think your brother might be the closest thing she has to family.”

Her eyes softened as she wrapped an arm around her knee. And I thought about the way her voice cracked when she mentioned Nick, the excited look on her face when she saw his name on her phone… and through a pang of jealousy, I added, “Brothers. She seems close to Nick too.”

Mallory bit her lip cautiously. “Did she tell you what Nick does for a living?”

Kate’s holler echoed. “Cruz! Get your ass over here, we need a man’s opinion.”

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