Page 39 of Trip

Lexi leaned over and pinched her. “I am cheesy a lot, thank you very kindly. And just because it’s cheesy, that doesn’t make it untrue.”

“Yeah, as long as it’s vegan cheese,” she grumped. “I swear, I absolutely love that man, but I am not giving up my meat.”

They laughed at that too. “He doesn’t want you to give up the meat, not altogether anyway.” All the ladies pushed their tongues against their cheeks and brought their closed fists to their mouths.

“Oh my God, staaaaahp. You guys are the worst.”

“No, we’re not. We’re the best. You just haven’t learned to appreciate us yet.” Andy tapped JJ’s nose with her index finger, and they laughed again. She was learning pretty quickly that when Lexi and Andy were in the same room, everything was a joke. Kinda like Taps, but they fed off each other and it just kept spiraling.

“We’ll convert you yet. It’s my personal mission now.”

“If anyone can convert you, it’s Billie. She makes a vegan taco bake that will make you slap your momma. I’m not even full vegan yet, and everyone knows I take tacos very seriously, but I prefer her bake to any of the tacos in town.”

Andy’s mouth gaped open. “Damn, that is high praise coming from Lexi, that’s for sure. As a matter of fact, I bet she has a tramp stamp that says’ tacos are life.’”

“Smartass.” Lexi stuck her tongue out. “I don’t yet, but now that you mention it, if you have the time...”

“Oh, hell no, hooker, I will never do that one for you.”

Again, they devolved to the level of teenage girls at a sleepover.

Since JJ had been meaning to talk to Andy about ink, now was as good of a time as any. “Speaking of tattoos, I was wondering if you could do something for me. I want to surprise Trip.”

As expected, they started clapping and awing over her words.

“Am I to assume you are getting a property tattoo? The men usually plan that one because, well, let’s just say we need to sanitize a bit extra afterward and leave it at that.” Andy hit on a bit of a sore spot without realizing it. Trip hadn’t brought it up, so neither had she.

“What does your agent think? Will it interfere with your modeling? I know men want to think the hot girl in lingerie is available.”

“No property tattoo, like you said, that’s an us thing. And as far as my agent goes, she can drop me as a client if it bothers her so much, but I doubt she will. I’ll probably just get booked for different types of shoots. Besides, I choose Trip and this family over modeling any day. So, if it came down to it, well...”

JJ let the words trail off. She’d always choose Trip over anything in life. She always had and couldn’t change even if she’d wanted to.

“So, spill, chica, what kind of work is Andy in for and where?” She blushed at Lexi’s question. Not that she was embarrassed exactly, it was just… okay, she was embarrassed now that they were all staring at her.

“Um, I was thinking of, well,” she lowered her voice and mumbled. “Handlebars across my shoulders.”

“What?” Andy and Billie questioned in unison. However, Lexi burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, that is priceless. Trip will love and hate it at the same time. You have to do it, you just have to, but please, let me record the big reveal, because I promise you it will go viral. Give me that social media clout I’ve been dying for. Bonus points if you reveal it to Trip in front of Taps.”

“What did we miss?”

JJ was just as lost as Billie and Andy were. “Wait, what? Why would Taps have anything to do with it?”

Lexi addressed Andy. “I guess you didn’t hear or maybe comprehend, but, your girl over here wants handlebars… on her shoulders. You know, for Trip to hold on to while he’s...” Lexi made a lewd gesture.

JJ looked from Lexi to Andy, back to Lexi, then Billie. What she saw could only be described by confusion followed by dawning understanding, followed by riotous laughter. Her friends were so busy laughing, she couldn’t get their attention for an explanation. Maybe that tattoo was played out like tramp stamps. Not that JJ cared. She always marched to the beat of her own drum. She thought maybe one of the club girls had the same thing but lord knows she’d seen enough of them to know that was a no.

“What’s so funny?” JJ turned to see a stunning, but holy shit, tall woman carrying a baker’s box. The woman was over six foot tall if she was an inch.

“That’s what I’d like to know. I’m the butt of the joke, but I don’t know the punch line.” JJ stood. “Hi, I’m Jessika, but everyone calls me JJ. You must be Evan. Need a hand?”

The offer came too late, Evan set her burden on the bar top and extended a hand. “I know exactly who you are. I’ve seen your work. I’ve gotta say, you’re prettier in person. Even if a bit shorter than I expected.”

JJ almost took offense, she was never called short before, but she saw the look in Evan’s eyes. Two can play at that game.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you too. I guess when one is descended from Amazonian women and ice giants, everyone is a bit shorter than expected.”

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