Page 117 of Whips and Chains
“It’s one block, in broad daylight. I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t seem sure, but I needed some girl time, and he and Dax had business things to sort out.
The moment Nyah and I got outside, I pounced on her. “What the hell is going on with you and Dax? You two are acting like an old married couple.”
Her smile was so wide it looked like it had to hurt. “I know! I’ve never met anyone like him. I did exactly what I said I was going to and just dropped by his store the day after that night we had at Psychos, and we basically haven’t been apart since, other than for me to go to work.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s so nice! Like, actually a really decent human being, you know? Who doesn’t kill people for sport like all of my exes, and every other man I ever knew back home. In just the space of a few days he’s boughtme flowers and taken me out to dinner.” She clutched my arm tighter. “And the things he has done to me when we’re alone and naked. Holy shit, Vi. I think I’m going to marry this man.”
I laughed at her, but at the same time I was so happy for her. She was thick in the early excitement of a new relationship, and it looked good on her. And on him. When I glanced back over my shoulder, both men were watching us walk away.
I couldn’t help my smile as Nyah and I rounded the corner.
“What about you?” she asked, side-eying me. “You and Motorcycle Man are cozy all of a sudden. Don’t think I didn’t see you get off the back of that man’s bike, Violet Garrisen.” She grinned. “I know what that means to guys like him. Shall we make it a double wedding?”
I shook my head at her exuberance. “No weddings.”
She pouted. “Aw. Why not?”
I bit my lip but I couldn’t keep the words in. “Because the law kind of frowns on marrying more than one person at a time, and last night, I had a threesome with him and Whip, and both of them are saying I don’t have to choose, and so now…” I blew out a long breath. “Now, I don’t even know.”
Her eyes widened, but then she laughed and raised her hand for a high five. “Not to mention you and X getting down and dirty in that cam room at Psychos the other night. Is he on board with you having three boyfriends as well?”
I raised a shoulder. “I don’t really know but I kind of think so?”
We both burst into hysterical laughter.
We’d reached Clean Sweep, and I pushed on the door, holding it open for her. “This is so insane.”
Francine glanced up from behind her desk. “What’s insane?”
I pressed my lips together, embarrassment rising up my neck. “Nothing.”
But Nyah was too overexcited to keep the news to herself. “Violet has three boyfriends.”
I elbowed her. “Nyah!”
She laughed. “Girl, stop being so modest. If I had three boyfriends, I’d be telling everyone I know. Wouldn’t you, Francine?”
I waited for it. The judgment I knew was coming. It was one thing for me to tell Nyah about the man-hopping I’d been doing the last few weeks, but Francine was older. Maybe the same age as my foster mom.
And every insecurity that woman had ever put into my head was right there on the surface, while I waited for another woman just like her to pass judgment on me.
I didn’t want to hear it and yet I felt like I had been trained to stand there and take whatever disapproval Francine threw my way. To be the good girl who respected her elders.
But Francine’s disapproval didn’t come. She just leaned back on her chair. “Whatever makes you happy, Violet.”
Nyah nodded. “Agreed!”
But I couldn’t let it go that easily. “Really?” I cocked my head to one side. “You don’t think it’s weird I’m dating three men at once?”
I just couldn’t imagine someone of her age thinking this lifestyle was acceptable.
But Francine just went back to her pile of paperwork. “I might be older than you ladies, but I’m not dead. And who you date, Violet, isn’t any of my business.”
Nyah leaned on the edge of her desk. “I bet you have a hot man waiting for you at home, huh, Francine?”
I nudged her. “That’s not your business either.”
But Francine was smiling down at her paperwork.
