Page 81 of 3 Daddies to Go

“We like ‘em curvier,” I say.

Herbie’s face falls. “Please tell me you’re not talking about Kendall.”

His reaction is a surprise. Herbie loves Kendall. Shouldn’t he be happy for her and for us?

“What’s wrong with Kendall?”

“Nothing,” Herbie says. “That girl is perfect. You’re just going to hurt her like you do the other girls.”

“We’re not,” I assure him. “It’s not like that this time. We really like Kendall.”

Herbie laughs. “You really like her for now. You’ll head back to New York and find someone else, and Trudy and I will be here cleaning up your mess. I told you after the last time that I wouldn’t do it again.”

I cringe. Back when Herbie was still living in Atlanta, the four of us got together to hang out. We met a girl, and the guys and I did our thing. And after we left, she harassed Herbie for weeks. We bought her an apartment. She had no reason to be so pissed, but that didn’t stop it from happening. Herbie had to change his phone number and move because she wouldn’t stop showing up at his door looking for us.

“That was different. She was crazy. Kendall isn’t crazy.”

“You’re right. She’s not like the ones you usually go for. Kendall doesn’t deserve to be used and thrown away like all those other girls.”

The thought of leaving Kendall sends a shiver down my spine. It’s only been a week, but we’re tied to this girl. We can’t imagine our lives without her.

“It’s more than just sex with her.”

Herbie rolls his eyes.

“I’m telling you, this time is different. We’ve been going on dates with her, and they don’t always end in sex.”

“Really?”

We nod. “She’s fun to be around. And you’re right, she’s an amazing person. We wouldn’t use her and leave her. We genuinely like her.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” Herbie admits. “You always like the girls for a little while, and then you get bored and move on. Besides, you’re leaving for New York tonight. Then what?”

None of us answer.

Herbie nearly drops his beer.

“You haven’t told her you’re leaving, have you?”

We stare at the table.

“It hasn’t come up,” Tag admits.

“It hasn’t come up?” Herbie shouts. There are a few other patrons in the bar, and they’re all watching us. I try to ignore them. “You’re sleeping with this woman, and you haven’t mentioned that you’re leaving in ten hours?”

“It’s usually easy to leave,” I admit. “We drill the girl, buy her a gift, and take off.”

“You guys can be real assholes sometimes, you know that?” Herbie says. It’s not the first time we’ve heard this from him, and it won’t be the last. Herbie has never approved of our lifestyle.

“It’s different this time because we don’t want to leave Boone, but we have jobs in New York.”

Herbie shoots us a disgusted look.

“The problem isn’t that you’re leaving, it’s that you haven’ttoldher that you’re leaving.”

I throw up my hands, exasperated.

“It’s not that big of a deal, Herbie. We’ll tell her tonight.”