Page 46 of Ice Block

“Oh God, Kara too. I mean, we’ve gone to a strip club together, but seeing one separately is against the rules.”

“Wait…you go to the strip clubtogether?” Hayes gasps, eyes wide, and I have to admit I, too, am curious about how this works.

Zack flashes a wicked smile as he taps the ashes off his cigar. “Yep. You want to get your woman all worked up before you go home? Take her to the strip club. The first time we went, I convinced her to go with me to watch a UFC fight because the place we normally went was packed. I remembered they show all the fights at The Beaver Tail, so we went. Turns out she was kind of into it.” He takes a smug drag from his cigar. “That’s how baby number three was conceived.”

“Holy shit. I never would have thought of that.” I look at him, perplexed. “And she doesn’t mind if girls are all over you?”

“Well, they aren’t really all over me with Kara herself rubbing me like a koala bear. But we’ve gotten a joint lap dance before.”

“Fuck man! That sounds hot as hell,” EJ shouts.

“I do not think I could get Olivia to go with me,” Larsy says with a tinge of disappointment. “She’s very…adventurous in the bedroom, but she’s pretty prim and proper in public. I think she would be mortified if anyone saw her at a strip club.”

I can’t help but laugh as I think about the insane amount of cocks Maggie has for the bachelorette party.

“What’s so funny?” Larsy asks.

“If what you said is true, Maggie was right. Olivia is probably horrified right now. The amount of dick decorations at their party is probably more than the legal limit allowed in this country. I wonder how that’s going.”

29

maggie

“Maggie Elizabeth James, no.No!You didnot,” Olivia screams when she walks into the bar space I’ve rented for tonight. And every inch is filled with some sort of dick-o-ration. Her cheeks are a bright shade of red, her embarrassment adorable to watch. She may hate this stuff, but everyone else loves it.

I wrap my arms around her, resting my cheek on her head. “Oh, come on, Liv! Have a little fun.”

“Mags. I know I only have one…you know…” she looks around, making sure no one is close enough to overhear, “penis…forever, but do I really need a sash that says that? Was all this really necessary?”

The way she whispers penis like we’re at church is hilarious.

“It is one hundred percent necessary, Olivia!” Kara screams, ripping the poor bride from my arms and walking deeper through the field of cocks. “Come on, girl! We’re gonna have fun and this mom is gonna party hard tonight!”

“Olivia!” Shelly says as she walks up to give Liv a hug. “Congrats! I hope you don’t mind me crashing your party, but I amdyingfor an excuse to get away from my family this week.”

“Oh my gosh, Shelly!” Olivia squeals, hugging her tight. “It’s so good to see you again! The second Maggie told me you were here this week, I told her to invite you. The more the merrier! Sorry for all the…um…decorations.”

“Girl, I love it. I’m really hoping my conservative family walks by to see all these dicks in their favorite bar at the resort.”

“Okay, everyone,” I announce, getting everyone to quiet down. “Now that the bride is here, help yourself to food and drink. Let’s get this party started!”

“Oh, tab’s on me!” Shelly shouts as everyone cheers. “Perks to owning the resort—order whatever you like!” The entire group whoops and rushes to the bar to see what top-shelf treasures await them.

My mouth falls open, my jaw nearly hitting the floor.Holy shit.“Shelly, you donothave to pay for all this!”

“Hell yes I do, Maggie. It’s the least I can do to make up for that campaign getting cancelled. And did I mention I love to piss my family off? They will shit their pants when they see this bill. Besides, I’m on my way out;pleaselet me do this for you.” She groans, digging a knuckle into her temple. “I can’t wait to get out of Harbor Glow and out on my own.”

“I’m right there with ya. I’m so sick of working for old ass men in advertising. Especially when they’re promoting all these female brands they have truly no understanding of. Speaking of brands, what are you going to call your company?”

“I haven’t got a clue…that’s what I’m going to pay you for,” she says with a wink. “After that sick campaign you came up with, I know you’ll help me come up with something amazing. What about you? Have you thought about your business name?”

My eyes widen. “Shit. No, I really haven’t thought about it.Probably something like Maggie James. I wish I could call it Maggie Fucking James.”

“Oh my God, you should do something like Maggie F James and have it be just an if you know you know type of thing.”

“Shelly, that’sgenius.I knew I loved you! Cheers to new beginnings!” We clink glasses and head over to the ridiculous amount of food. This is way more than what I ordered, but I have a feeling my friend, and hopefully new client, added to the menu.Working with Shelly is just the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Between this and the microbrewery, I may have enough to finally get out of Lakeshore Creative. Away from Chest Bush and Coffee Breath and Sausage Fingers, and all the other ridiculous people I work with. I can get out on my own and hire cool ass people when I get enough business. A spark flies across my chest.God, I really hope all this works out.

After everyone has eaten and had several drinks, we watch Olivia open her gifts. We all got her lingerie, which she acts like she doesn’t like, but I know for a fact she does. One day at brunch, she had a little too much to drink and told me she ordered crotchless panties, and Hayes goes crazy every time she wears them. She acts like she’s embarrassed about this, but she’s one of those quiet types you’d never expect to be a tiger in bed. We’ve also made sure she is thoroughly embarrassed by making her take shots from a very anatomically correct penis syringe. Finally, after the long afternoon on the boat earlier, and a lot of booze and penis shots, most of the gals head out, leaving just me, Olivia, Kara, and Shelly to clean up.

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