When I understood that, I asked my mama to bake cupcakes with me the night before Jade’s. My mama didn’t ask questions, but I think she knew.
 
 The next day, I brought a single cupcake to our secret spot—just the two of us. No crowd. No pressure. She’d loved every second of that quiet moment.
 
 I’ll have to tread lightly tomorrow and read her mood.
 
 “We can do page eighteen tomorrow.” She retracts her foot, sets the book on my lap, and is standing before I can even breathe. “And maybe we can do the whole entry.”
 
 The whole entry? My blood boils at the thought of what kinky fetish she added to it.
 
 “You know, if you’re up for it.” She struts away before I can respond, leaving my head even more jumbled.
 
 What the fuck is number eighteen?
 
 38: MINUS THE GOLDEN SHOWER
 
 JADE
 
 “WHO’S A GOOD girl?” Hart’s sultry, husky voice goes straight between my legs.
 
 Not literally.
 
 It’s not me he’s planting kisses on.
 
 It’s not my head he’s holding in his hands—not me, he’s caressing behind the ears.
 
 And I’m certainly not the one licking his face.
 
 “You’re such a good girl.” He’s just offering up the compliments today, isn’t he? “Yes, you are. What a good girl.”
 
 I’m not jealous.
 
 Not whatsoever.
 
 “Do you like that?” He gently rubs his fingers over the front of her neck.
 
 She tilts her head, chocolate brown hair rustling, clearly in heaven as she melts into the touch.
 
 My heartbeat accelerates.
 
 “You do like that, huh?” His hand slides down to her chest, and she leans into him even more, letting out a contented sigh.
 
 “I think she likes it a lot,” I say, my nipples tightening.
 
 He looks up at me then. Like he’s completely forgotten I’m standing right here.
 
 Watching.
 
 Waiting.
 
 Totally judging him.
 
 “Do you want a turn?”
 
 Oh, now he wants me to jump in the fun.
 
 “I think you’ve got it handled.”
 
 He sits back on his bent legs, his hand still on her. “Come on, she won’t bite.”