Page 71 of Come Back to Bed
“Tommy’s my best friend,” I say.
“Very nice to know she’s friends with people other than retired ladies who live in her building.”
“And dogs. I’m friends with a lot of dogs.”
“Right. And Netflix.” Tommy pats me on the back. “You’re friends with Netflix. I’m already bored of this conversation, so I’m gonna go talk to that hot gay guy over there.”
“You do that,” I say.
“Take good care of our girl’s vagina,” he says to Matt as he squeezes past him.
“I’m doing my best.”
I give Tommy the stink eye, and he blows me a kiss. I am horrified that Matt knows I discussed my vagina’s activities with Tommy. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to tell him. He dragged it out of me.”
“I don’t mind.”
“No, but we’re not supposed to—”
“Bernadette. I don’t mind.” He raises his chin at someone at the back of the room. “What the hell. That’s my buddy Rufus over there. Come meet him, he’s cool.”
“Oh, um. I’ll come over in a minute, you go ahead.”
“Okay.”
He walks away, just as Anita approaches. She gives him a predatory look, which he meets with a quick nod. I get an uneasy feeling in my gut. Why didn’t he just ignore her? I mean, she’s a stunning woman in a skin-tight black dress and bright red lipstick, sure, but did he have to acknowledge her existence?
“Bernadette! Baby doll!” she flings her arms around me.
I can’t not like this woman. Besides the fact that she’s one of my boss’s best friends and owns one of my favorite art galleries, she has always been kind and frank with me. So I will forgive her for eye-fucking my fuck-buddy-with-friend-benefits.
“Hi Anita.”
“You look hot! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.”
“Really? I just…”
“Was that your boyfriend you were talking to just now?”
“Matt? No—he’s my neighbor. My temporary neighbor. He’s Dolly Kemp’s nephew.”
“Interesting. Are you two dating?”
“No.”
She eyes me. “Oh really? Are you sure about that?”
My cheeks are on fire. I lower my voice. “We aren’t dating. We have…a no-strings arrangement.” Why did I tell her that? Why did I tell Anita that?!
She nudges me with her hip. “Well honey, you need to wrap some strings around that man and tie him down before someone else does.”
“No, we’re not…we’re different.”
“Different from what?”
“Each other.”
“Oh, come on. You’re not still hung up on the boss man, are you?”
