Page 42 of Bought
“Course it is! Who the heck else would it be?” She pushes past me, smelling like last night’s drinks and regret.
“Sorry, Cass said you had yourself a cheeky little sleepover and went straight to work this morning. Want me to make you a cup of tea?”
“What’s with you Brits, always thinking tea will solve problems?” She slumps into her usual kitchen chair. “But I’ll take a coffee, thanks.”
She presses her makeup-stained face into her hands. Her golden-brown curls are piled on top of her head with a green scrunchie, the thick knot bouncing as she shakes her head. “What a crappy day.”
I put the kettle on for instant coffee. “What’s wrong?” I slip into the seat across from her.
“Ugh.” She groans. “Seriously, worst day ever.”
“Start with last night,” I say.
“I went to Corner Pocket to play pool with that new guy I told you about.”
“Dylan? The bloke with the motorcycle?”
“Yeah, the guy with the long hair and the killer bike. Remind me to tell Cass how much he reminds me of Hot Fred.”
“Will do,” I promise. “First, tell me more about this awful day of yours.”
“I had one too many drinks, went back to Dylan’s place, made out all night, then woke up way too late. I was faced with two choices. Either call in sick or do the walk of shame.”
“Showing up at work in last night’s clothes?” I guess.
“And underwear. And makeup," she says, rolling her head back in shame. “And I’d already used up all my sick days taking care of Gran!”
"So,” I laugh, “you had to choose option B.”
The kettle screams. I pop up to make her coffee. Black with extra sugar, like her grandmother used to make it for her. Gran died a few weeks before Cass called her, leaving this place to Bambi.
Cass, Ryan, and I are currently sleeping in her grandmother’s old bedroom.
I push her favorite blue mug with the elephant in front of her. “Go on.”
“Thanks.” She cups her hands around the mug to warm them. “So, then my boss said I smelled like a match would light me on fire, I looked like a Halloween costume gone wrong, and that I could go home because I was dismissed for the day. Unpaid.”
“Did you get fired?” I ask.
Staring into her coffee, she brushes away a tear before it can fall. “I don’t know. She didn’t really say either way. Just told me to leave.”
“I’m sorry. That’s rough.” I grab a package of chocolate biscuits and pass it to her. “Was this Dylan worth it?”
“God! Yes! Three times, worth it!”
My cheeks flush as I laugh, embarrassed. It’s looking like I’ll never know what sex feels like. However, I did have one amazing orgasm last night.
The sound of tiny feet pitter-patters across the linoleum floor.
“Whoops.” I stand to greet Ryan, warning Bambi, “No more of that talk. Little ears incoming.”
“Are we having mac and cheese?” Ryan stops when he sees Bambi at the table, calling her name and running into her arms for a hug. “Bambi!”
“Rye-Rye!” She holds him close, smiling. She settles Ryan onto her lap. He contentedly sucks his thumb. Back home, we tried to get him to stop, but given what he’s been through, we don’t mind right now.
“Coffee and hugs make everything better,” I say.
He pulls his thumb out of his mouth just long enough to shout, “And mac and cheese!”
