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“I’ll do it!” she said, smiling so wide it lit her eyes from the inside out. “My schedule’s flexible, and I can always write while it’s happening or after—"
“Hold on,” I replied, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to give her false hope. “My mom is nervous around new people. If she doesn’t like you, it’s not going to work.”
“She’s going to love me! I know she will.” Mara clapped her hands together. “Thank you so much, Jonas. You’re not going to regret this, I promise.”
God, I hoped she was right. “Come to supper at my parents’ house tomorrow night. If Mom likes you, we have a deal.”
4
Mara
Confession: Reverse cowgirl is my favorite position. Yee haw!
I held up my phone,staring at my friends’ faces on the screen. “I’m freaking out. This could be my last night to have sex for half ayear.”
Hen raised her eyebrows. “Who’s saying you won’t have sex with Jonas?”
I pointed my finger in my mouth. “He’s anaccountant.” Not that he was bad looking. In fact, he was kind of hot, but missionary wasn’t exactly my speed.
Birdie snort-laughed. “So because he’s an accountant, that means he’s bad in bed? Is there a list of approved professions?”
“Of course,” I replied, using my fingers to count. “Lumberjack, firefighter, police officer—basically any of your public service, man-in-uniform types—cabana boys—”
“Prostitutes,” Henrietta added, laughing. “They are professionals, after all.”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “It’s not that I can’t live without good sex... It’s just really fun.”
“Who says you have to stop hooking up when you’re fake dating Jonas?” Birdie asked. “Maybe you can just do it on the down-low, you know, if he’s okay with it?”
I shook my head, already knowing my answer. “I’m not going to go hang out with the guy’s mom while banging some other guy. Even I have boundaries.”
Birdie and Henrietta were quiet for a moment, and then Birdie said, “Guess you better call the cowboy for one last rodeo.”
I laughed. “He works at Petco.”
“Close enough,” she teased, then kissed her hand and waved. “I’ve gotta go. Cohen’s taking me on a date tonight.”
“Gah,” Hen said. “Where can I get one of him?”
“Go scratch some lottery tickets. Your chances of winning are higher,” I said, then blew a kiss. “Love you guys.”
We hung up, and Hayden was my first call. Or text, rather.
Mara: Want me to come over?
Within minutes, he replied.
Hayden: Bring the whipped cream.
He didn’t need to ask me twice, especially since this night was my last hurrah. I went to my room and put on the sexiest lingerie I had, a bright red silk set with too many straps that did nothing to cover what underwear was meant to. Then I slipped on a long silk robe and cinched it around my waist. It could pass for a dress. In the dark. Maybe.
Then I went to my fridge, grabbed the whipped cream I kept on hand for coffee and... other activities, and ran to my truck.
I had one night left, one night of sexual freedom, and I was going to make it count.
Hayden’s place was about twenty minutes away from mine, but I preferred going over there to him staying at my place. Having him over regularly just felt too... intimate. It was easier going there and making sure to never leave anything at his place. No muss, no fuss.
I pulled up to his place and glanced around the neighborhood, knowing it would be the last time I saw it for a while. The houses were smaller here than in my part of Brentwood, but they were spaced far apart with big lawns and massive trees giving the hint of privacy.