Page 51 of Only Forever

“It’s the boss thing,” Ellery guesses.

Beckett being my boss is an issue, but it’s not the primary issue at the moment. I consider how to answer. Do I continue to mislead my sisters, or do I confess to what the issue is?

“We might as well get comfortable,” Ashlyn says as she settles into my recliner. “Lilac’s not done giving us the runaround.”

Aspen lifts Ellery’s feet and makes herself comfortable on the sofa while Juniper sprawls on the floor.

I scan the room. “You’re not going away until I tell you why I’m working at home?” A chorus of no’s. “And you won’t accept my need for privacy?”

Ashlyn snorts while my other sisters giggle at my question.

Based on their responses, misdirection will not work on them today.

“Fine. We didn’t have sex.”

“I’m confused.” Ashlyn’s nose scrunches. “Didn’t she say they had sex less than five minutes ago?”

“Could he not finish?” Aspen asks. “Because it can happen with older men.”

“Beckett is thirty-eight. He’s not an ‘older man’. And he finished just fine.”

“Did he not get you off?” Juniper asks. “Sometimes you have to coach a man in what gets you off.”

“I don’t need to coach Rowan. He knows exactly what I enjoy in the bedroom. How hard. How soft. How much tongue.”

I ignore Ashlyn. “The encounter was completely satisfactory to me.”

“Just tell us!” Ellery demands. “The suspense is killing me.”

I decide to give in as I do not have all night to discuss my sex life with my sisters.

“We didn’t have sex. We made love.”

Cheers erupt, and Ashlyn jumps to her feet and starts dancing.

“Yeah! I told you my work here is done,” Aspen exclaims with her fist in the air.

Ellery pounds Aspen’s fist. “This is awesome. I thought pairing off Lilac was asking for the impossible.”

“Miracles happen,” chimes Juniper.

“Enough!” I shout and everyone quiets down. Ashlyn stops dancing with her foot dangling in the air. “I am not in love, and I am not paired off. What I am is in trouble.”

“What do you mean?” Aspen asks as she settles back on the sofa.

“Are you pregnant?” Ellery asks. “There’s no shame in getting pregnant after a one-night stand.”

I don’t dignify her question with a response. “Did you forget Beckett is my boss? I can’t make love to my boss.”

“Agree to disagree,” Ashlyn says as she resumes dancing. “It happens all the time.”

“And how many of those women lose their jobs and ruin their careers?”

“I don’t know. Should we do some research?” Juniper pulls out her phone and switches it on.

“My question was rhetorical.”

“Shit,” Ellery swears. “If Lilac’s using rhetorical questions, we’re in trouble.”

---