Page 3 of Below the Surface

“Well, I’ll stick to the narrative, thanks.”

Kelsey sighs, sips her martini, and sighs again.

“What?” I ask.

“Cam isn’t like that,” she tells me.

I am spinning again. I sip from my martini.

“Dominant,” Kelsey clarifies. “Not romantically or sexually.”

The constant spinning of my head becomes violent coughing from my lungs. Is Kelsey trying to kill me?

Kelsey giggles. “Sorry. Guess that took you off guard, too.”

“I seriously don’t know where this is all coming from.”

Kelsey takes another sip from her glass and sets it aside. “I don’t go around sharing what I know about my friends’ sexual proclivities, Piper. You know that’s true.”

I nod.

“But in this case—Look, Cam has never been interested in my lifestyle. I took her to a club once when we were in college. She barely spoke to me for three days afterward. I thought she was pissed. It unnerved her. It took a couple of weeks before we talked about it. She never wanted to go back. But?—”

“But?”

“Aw, shit. It’s hard for Cam. Everyone sees her as this powerful woman who takes charge.”

“Uh—because she is.”

“Yeah. Maybe. At the office—in her work—she is. But not with women, Piper. Cam is super shy. She needs someone to lead in that part of her life—in every department.”

The picture is beginning to come into focus for me. I need another drink.

“She likes you, Piper.”

I move to mix another round of martinis.

“I think you’d be good for her. She’d be good for you.”

I nod.

“Piper?”

My heart is beating a little faster than usual. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m intrigued or uncomfortable. I top off Kelsey’s martini, then fill my glass and sip silently for a minute.

“I stepped in it,” Kelsey says.

“No. I don’t know what to say. And I’m not sure how I feel about this conversation.”

“If I don’t lay it out for you, you’ll never approach Cam.”

“Kelsey, I’m not sure I want to pursue anything with Cameron beyond friendship. Don’t say anything yet. Listen to me. If I ever get involved with someone again, it won’t be based on sex or play.”

“Maybe not. No offense, Piper, that will eventually become an issue. Are you telling me you’re willing to have a completely sexless relationship?”

“No. That isn’t what I’m saying at all.”

“Okay? So, you don’t want to be anyone’s mistress?”

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