Page 112 of Keeper
When the laughter died down, I intervened on Molly’s behalf.
“Trust me, it wasn’t weird at all,” I said. “I was asking Molly if things were ever hard because of all the travel and all the lonely nights at home.”
“That’s right. Thank you, Ainsley.” Molly nodded. “She asked, so I told her the truth.”
Austen raised a palm. “Which is?”
“Obviously,” Molly continued, “the best way to keep the flame burning when your man’s on the road is a naughty phone call from time to time.”
“How come you never toldmethis?” Austen asked.
“You never asked! Besides, I thought it was common knowledge—girls? Did the rest of you know this or am I nuts?”
A silent majority of the girls bobbed their heads, agreeing that phone sex was the way to go.
“See? There you go,” Molly said. “So that’s what I told Ainsley: if you wanna keep your man thinking about you, call him when hecan’thave you. Call him when he’s thousands of miles away and tell him, in very explicit detail, how badly you need him at that very moment.”
“Damn, that’s kinda hot,”another girl muttered beneath her breath.
Molly nodded. “And if you think that’s hot, well—let’s just say, when Ryan finally comes home after a long trip, he doesn’t wasteanytime when he walks through that door.”
The girls wentooooooo!
“Sothat’show you cranked out five babies, huh?” Emma teased.
Everyone laughed so hard.
“I’m intrigued, though, I have to admit,” Austen said, stroking her chin. “Dane doesn’t like chatting on the phone for very long. If anything, he’s more of a dirty texter. But maybe I’ll call him up next time the boys are on the road and see what happens?”
“Can’t go wrong,” Molly said matter-of-factly.
“I’d try, but I think I’d be way too embarrassed,” Katerina said. “And I wouldn’t even know what to say. Poor Derek!”
“I wasdefinitelyembarrassed at first,” I said. “Especially because Tanner didn’t know why I was calling. And trust me, I had no idea what to say, either. But Molly’s absolutely right—once he figured out why I was calling, he got so into it, right away, and that mademeget into it, and before you knew it, we were both talking dirty.” I bit my lip.
“Oooh—so you’re saying it got dirty?” Molly asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
I felt my cheeks blush as I quietly admitted, “It was a little dirty, yeah.” My cheeks burned even hotter when I took it a step further and said, “But it was so hot, you guys.”
“You’re soprecious, Ainsley,” Molly said. “It’s no wonder Tanner’s falling so hard for you.”
“Okay, wait,” Austen said. “I think we’re burying the lede here. Molly gave Ainsley some interesting advice for when Tanner’s on the road. But he’snoton the road. Y’all are both right here.”
“Yeah, I’m confused,” Katerina said. “Aren’t you staying with Tanner?”
“No,” I said, “I’m staying at The Regents.”
The girls went,“Ohh.”
“But wait.” Austen’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t mean to be crass—”
“Not,” someone interjected.
“—because hey, phone sex sounds hot and all,” Austen continued, tipsy and stumbling over her words. “And I’m probably gonna try it myself soon. But! Instead of calling him up on the phone, wouldn’t you rather … y’know …”
Austen failed to finish her thought, and the girls simmered with amusement.
“Wouldn’t she rather what?”
