Page 136

“Cheers to that,” Nicole lifted her water glass, clinking it against Violet’s and making us all laugh, “Sometimes it’s best to take time for yourself. Romance isn’t always for everyone.”

“Preach,” Violet agreed before taking a large gulp of her water, then tilted her head in thought, “…I wouldn’t hate to eventually ride some dick again, though.”

Mary and Nicole grimaced, while Jamie, Signe, and I laughed. Mine was quieter, and I was able to collect myself before the others did.

“Just upgrade to a dildo,” Mary waved her hand at Violet, “Don’t settle for some mediocre man who probably doesn’t know how to get you off.”

I nodded, turning toward Violet, “I was with a man for years who never figured out how to get me off,” I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile, “But I eventually found someone who proved that, if he wanted to, he would.”

“Gross,” Mary grunted, puffing her cheeks out as if she was holding back.

“Sorry.” I blushed, realizing that Mary probably didn’t want to hear how easily Leo got me over the edge.

Violet’s phone started buzzing on the tabletop, and we all ate our food while she flipped it over and checked her messages. She was sipping from her water when her brows suddenly lowered, “Oh.”

“What?” Mary asked around her mouthful of food.

“I think, um…” Violet’s lips pulled back into a smile, “I think Brandon’s brother thinks I’m a guy.” She angled her phone face out to show us an email from Graham Moore. I momentarily ignored all the pictures he attached to the email, showing what I assumed would be the house Violet and her daughter would be living in, and read the text at the top of the email instead.

“Did he really start the email off with a ‘Hey man’?” Jamie giggled. She reached a hand out to angle the phone more towards her so she could read it all, “Here’s some pictures of the space. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Signe was smiling as she asked, “Why does he think you’re a guy?”

Violet shrugged, “No idea.”

“Sexism,” Nicole said, “He’s just assuming that his tech support is a guy because it’s a male-dominated field.”

All of the women at the table collectively shared a groan.

“…[email protected] is a masculine-looking email, too,” Jamie tilted her head, sitting back so Violet could look at her phone again. She quirked her lips to the side as she studied the screen.

“You should respond with ‘Hey girl’.” Mary grinned at her suggestion.

Violet laughed, “I think I’m not going to address it at all. Let him be surprised when I show up,” she waved a hand over herself, gesturing to her general appearance, “Instead of a bro coming to help him out, he’s about to live side-by-side next to a blue-haired, tattooed mamma with tig-ol-bitties.” She then made a gesture that looked like she was about to cup her own breasts, which were significantly fuller than mine.

“Mommyindeed,” Signe wiggled her eyebrows, “You’re going to keep up the ruse?”

“Yeah,” Violet grinned, “Something about fucking with a presumptuous man gives me a thrill.” She thumbed back a response on her phone, reading it aloud as she typed, “Hey man, thanks for the photos. Looks like a nice place. While I have you, do you know of any good sports bars in the area? …Now I just gotta remove my email signature and replace that ish with a simple gender-neutral-looking letter V.”

Signe snorted while Mary threw her head back and cackled.

Violet shimmied excitedly in her seat, before pocketing her phone.

Then it was my phone’s turn to buzz because Leo was FaceTiming me.

Except it wasn’t Leo’s face that filled the screen when I answered the call.

It was Taylor Desmond.

“Hey J.” They grinned, their septum piercing shimmered in the low light of the sunset. Their cheeks were flushed and their dark hair was pulled back with a thin headband. Before I could properly say hello, Leo shoved his face next to Taylor’s, wearing a matching headband to keep his hair out of his face. His cheeks were also flushed from exertion, his breath puffed out of him as he gave me a wide smile.

“Hey.” I smiled at him.

“Why weren’t you at the game, J?” Taylor pouted, jutting their bottom lip out, “Leo needs a good luck charm.”

I blushed, glancing up at my friends at the table. Jamie, Violet, and Signe were chatting to themselves as they dug into their meals. Mary and Nicole were watching me take this call.

“I’m with my friends.”