Page 64 of Just a Friend for the Lion
Dina drops her spoon. “Holy. Shit.”
“Yeah.” My voice cracks. “And I’m so dumb, because right after he told me he didn’t mean to.”
Carina clutches her chest. “Oh no. MJ, you are not dumb!”
“So, I went to confront him to see what it actually meant. And I go to his garage, then I find out that he’s got some kind of Pride thing going on, and that he’s out servicing some Lionesses.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I guess mating a normal like me is, like, forbidden fruit or whatever the fuck. And that he might’ve only marked me ‘cause he saw other guys talking to me and got jealous.”
Carina groans.
“I’ll tell Horace to kill him,” Carina says, unhelpfully.
“Doug, too. He can definitely find someplace to bury the body. Dogs are good at that.”
“Um, thank you both, but no homicide, please. Fact is I let the Lion play with my kitty, but he played me instead.”
Dina snorts. “Pretty sure he ate you first.”
“Cats do like their cream,” Carina supplied unhelpfully.
“I want you to know I hate you both.”
“Nah, you love us,” Dina replies with a grin.
Carina scoots closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“MJ, look, I know we tease, but for real, you didn’t do anything wrong. If anything, he’s the one who messed up. And if he’s not man—or Lion—enough to own what he did and choose you without pressure from his precious Pride, then he’s not worth your time.”
“I just,” I say and sniffle, blinking fast. “I thought maybe he wanted more. And now I feel like the only thing that pussy wanted was a taste offorbidden cream.”
Dina covers her mouth.
“You did not just say that.”
Carina is speechless for once.
I shrug helplessly.
“If the mane fits.”
But that’s just the thing, I thought it did fit—me, that is.
Chapter 21
MJ
Chocolate Pity Party Continued
“Here’s a new batch!” Dina sing-songs, marching into the living room like a proud baker-queen, a plate piled high with fresh, steaming zeppoles balanced in her hands.
The smell hits me first—fried dough heaven with a sweet undertone of melted chocolate.
“I stuffed these with peanut butter and raspberry jam this time,” she declares, practically glowing with self-satisfaction.
Carina groans from the couch, one hand on her very pregnant belly.
