Page 66 of A Good Girl's Guide to Dominance
It keeps repeating in my head, even as I get up to allow Rome to wipe the oil off of my back with a large towel. If he and I will remain the same regardless of who knows about us, then why is he so concerned about other people finding out? He asked the questions himself, and didn't understand that they worked against his argument to keep us a secret. So, as the movie comes on and Rome pours red wine into a crystal glass for me, I sit back against the headboard and repeat the three questions over and over again. The only change is that I'm asking them from the side of the argument that supports us being out in the open instead of hiding, and that makes all the difference in the world.
What difference does it make if they know or not? Even if they knew, nothing would change between us. So why worry about it? Why worry about them?
Thirty-Five
“This is great. Now all we need to do is get with Jackie and have her start working on the social media advertisements, and we’ll be ahead of schedule.”
Jeremiah stands behind me looking over my shoulder at another cardboard mockup of a billboard we plan to run for the Golden Diamond campaign. Now that construction for the casino is well underway, we need to get going on ad placements on the internet so that people outside of Philly can hear about what we’ve got coming. As usual, Jeremiah has done a phenomenal job creating another billboard that will catch people’s attention as much as his savvy fashion.
“Jackie? You know I can't stand her,” Jeremiah huffs, shaking his head as he steps to the front of my desk, his white button up completely devoid of wrinkles like he just stepped out of the dry cleaners.
I scoff as I nod in agreement. “Nobody likes her, but if we get this done now, I don't have to worry about Sierra coming in here and asking me for it. We can beat her to the punch, and I canrest easier at night knowing I made her feel dumb for requesting something we’ve already finished.”
Jeremiah nods, but I see the irritation in his eyes. “Fine, whatever. But it’s just after lunch time, and if I throw up everything I ate because Jackie’s breath is in there smelling like boiled bologna, I absolutely am going to blame you.”
“That’s fair,” I reply with a laugh. “Just hold your breath as you give her the design.”
“Girl, you're trying to make me pass out.”
“Is it not worth it to avoid her breath?”
“Ugh. You're the worst,” Jeremiah says, his annoyance finally giving way to his smile. “Anyway, how are things going for you? How is sleeping with the boss treating you? Good still?”
I push my locs back over my shoulder as I glance outside my door to make sure no one is near. Simon and Sierra stand over by the bullpen, but I think they’re far enough away to have this discussion as long as I speak quietly.
“It’s good,” I answer in nearly a whisper. “I spent the night at his place again last night.”
“Oh, so then you're exhausted,” Jeremiah quips.
“Actually, I'm not. We didn't get into anything like that. He gave me a back massage, followed by a shoulder massage, followed by a foot massage as we watchedHow to Lose a Guy in Ten Daysand drank wine. Then I fell asleep in his arms and woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. We ate the breakfast he made for us and came to work—in separate vehicles of course. It was an amazing night that didn't need sex.”
Jeremiah doesn't respond. His eyes bore into me without even blinking, making him look like a well-dressed mannequin. He stares at me for so long that I get nervous he might actually be stuck.
“Did you just glitch to death?” I joke.
“Shut up,” he finally says, snapping out of it. “You spent the night gettingmassaged? Are you kidding me? That man down the hall—that unfairly attractive man sitting in the office over there—ties you up in his playroom and makes you orgasm over and over again regularly, and then pampers you all night? Are youfreakingkidding me, Nia?”
“Damn,” I exclaim with a frown and furrowed brows. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Your life is perfect and mine isn’t, that’s what’s wrong with it,” Jeremiah says, screaming and whispering at the same time. “You're living the goddamn dream. Do you know that? What you just told me doesn't even sound real. That shit sounds like Nasir Booker wrote it.”
My smile is wide and proud as I lean back in my chair and put my hands behind my head like I'm relaxing on a beach. “I can't help it if my life is so dope that it sounds like fiction. That’s what happens when you don't settle for the mediocrity that runs rampant in the dating pool. I spent enough time kissing frogs. Now I have a kinky prince. Don't hate.”
“No, I do,” he fires back. “I hate you. I love you and I'm happy for you, but I hate you. Is that why you couldn't come to Jaz’s? You were too busy getting rubbed down?”
I roll my eyes as I sit up straight, the memory of my conversation with Jaz returning to the front of my mind and obliterating my good mood.
“Don't start,” I tell Jeremiah. “You sound just like Jaz.”
“Girl, she was clearly pissed last night,” he explains. “She didn't say much, but we all know that face Jaz gets when she's upset. It was on full display.”
“Ugh, whatever. I can't control how Jaz feels, but hating on me for having a man is not what I expected from my best friend since I was seven.”
“I don't think she's hating,” Jeremiah says. “I just think she's not used to this and she misses having you around.”
“I’ll still be around, but we’re just getting underway and it’s still a secret from most people. Once we’re out in the open and I introduce him to her and Michael, then we’ll come hang out together. But the days of poor old Nia sitting in the corner all alone, scrolling FET while the couples mingle are over, and I don't intend on going back to that. So, she’s just going to have to get over it.”
“Well, personally, I think you should talk to her. Don't let this fester and grow into a monster that eats your friendship.”
