Page 10 of Your Biggest Downfall
I had a patchwork sleeve on one arm and then the start of something floral on the other. It was supposed to be a full sleeve, but I’d given up when my bank account told me I was only an intern and not a full-time employee.
“I’ll probably wear one of those flowy tops she has and maybe a pair of jeans.”
It was still pretty cold at night here in the city, but we didn’t have to travel far for the party, so I could wear something sleeveless and get away with it.
“Maybe something with glitter?” Mae added, and I chuckled.
“I love you both. What would I do without you?”
“We love you, mija.”
“I think I have time for one episode before I have to go. Mae, you in? We’re on the same team. Let’s try to beat Mami.”
Mae sat down next to us, throwing her feet up on the table. I looked between the two women who raised me, and my heart swelled with love. After the shitty day I’d had, this was exactly what I needed. It was exactly who I needed to be surrounded by.
“I cannot believe that snack has finally convinced you to go to one of his parties.” Luna, my best friend, squealed when I got home.
We lived in a second-story walk-up, and she’d cornered me the moment I got in. Technically, our apartment was only one bedroom, so I slept in the living room and Luna slept in the bedroom.
Luna was the total opposite of me, which made our friendship even more laughable. She had long blonde hair that cascaded down her back. She was curvy, where I was flat chested. She was loud, fun, and always down to party, and I was far more naive than her.
But she was my ride or die. We’d been friends, each other’s only friends, for so long that she became my sister.
“Listen, I felt bad that I had a good cry on this guy’s shoulder?—”
“Which is so unlike you,” Luna added.
“Exactly. So when he invited me, I figured why the hell not.”
Luna knew that Austin and I were friendly at work since he appeared on most of the team’s social media posts, but outside of that, I never told a soul about what happened that night.
“Good. You should go out. Get drunk. Forget about all the shit with your job, your mom, and your continued singleness.”
“Ugh,” I laughed and went to her room, where I opened her closet. I needed sunglasses if I was going to be in here. Everything was bright, loud, and glittered. “I want to borrow that gold crop top.” I swiped through her clothes to try and find it.
“The one held up in the back by only a gold chain?” she asked.
“That’s the one,” I said, and when I found it, I pulled it out.
It was sexy while still being subtle. It was perfect to add to a pair of jeans and my black Docs.
“Thank you!” I held it up against my body and laughed when Luna slapped me on the butt.
“Should I call you Mommy tonight?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes as I threw off my shirt and bra. I clipped the gold chain on the back and adjusted the top so it was as comfortable as it was going to get.
Luna looked me up and down from her doorframe before whistling. “I told you, Nov, you ever decide you want to have a threesome, I would be so down.”
“Shut up,” I laughed.
Luna had always told me that was one of her kinks. We were the same in that we individually liked to explore our sexuality—well, her more than me, considering I was still a virgin. She’d been joking about having a threesome with me for years, but there was no way I’d jump right into the kink pool.
“What’s with this new attitude? Normally you’d be complaining about wanting to go to a party. Is it because the hot hockey guy wants you to come?”
“No,” I huffed, taking off my work pants and putting on my loose jeans that hung low on my hips. “I’m tired of all this, Luna. I’m tired of Mami being sick, and I feel like I’m not doing enough there. I hate that my job still keeps me as an intern?—”
“I told you that you need to have a bigger voice to that annoying-ass boss you have.”
