Page 78 of Whatever Lola Wants

“Humiliating moments aside, I am too.”

“I hope that means you’re thinking of staying?” Anna prodded.

“I’d like to, if I can land a job.”

“You’re a teacher, right?” Lola asked, and Ginger nodded. “What’s your subject?”

“English. Composition, literature, that kind of thing.”

“High school?”

Ginger nodded. “And community college. I don’t have a doctorate, but I have a master’s degree.”

“I bet you’ll be able to find something,” Anna put in. “If not in the public schools, then at one of the community colleges. And private tutoring would be a possibility, too.”

“I hope so.” Ginger turned her glass in circles. “Whatever happens here in Chicago, I’m not going back to Ohio.”

Lola frowned. “Are things so bad there?”

“Not bad,” Ginger said. “Just crowded. Too much family. We’re in each other’s pockets all the time. You have no idea how nice it is to have an entire apartment all to myself.”

“I remember those days. I have four brothers,” Lola explained at Ginger’s questioning look.

“Oh.” Ginger grimaced. “I don’t know if that’s better or worse than four sisters.”

“The drama’s about the same, but they smell worse,” Lola put in.

“Well, I hope you stay here,” Anna said and snagged the last of the fries from Ginger’s plate.

“So do I,” Lola put in, and raised her glass. “To Ginger, and Chicago. May they find true love.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Anna said and clicked her glass with the others as Ginger chuckled.

“Well, if I can look Lola’s boyfriend in the face without dying of embarrassment, I’d say it’s a definite possibility.”

Anna started giggling again. “Oh, I can’t wait to until Grant gets back from California tonight. He’s going to laugh his ass off when he hears this.”

Lola pointed a finger. “You can’t tell him anything.”

“What?” Anna blinked. “Why not?”

“Why do you think? Simon said if it got around, he’d take it out on my ass. And he didn’t mean a spanking.”

“Ulk,” Ginger said.

“And if he does, I’ll find a way to take it out on you.”

“Dammit.” Anna glowered. “All right, I won’t say anything. But you owe me, because it’s going to physically hurt me to keep this one in.”

“What club?” Ginger asked.

“Um.” Lola and Anna shared a glance before turning to Ginger. “Well, you remember what Simon and I were doing when you walked in?”

“Yes. Oh. Ohhhhh.” Ginger gulped down the last of her beer. “A BDSM club?”

Lola considered her. “Yeah. You’re familiar with BDSM?”

Ginger shrugged, blushing again. “Only theoretically. I read a lot.”

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