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“What brought about this change is what I want to know?” Eriss asked, turning sideways in her lounge, crossing one thigh over the other with a cheeky grin.
“Weeell . . . I just came to my senses, is all.”
I knew if I shared the attraction to Casimir, my friends would never let me live that down. Not to mention, he was married and my client, a double taboo.
“Okay, Miss Psychologist. I know you’re great and all, but spill the beans. What made you have a change of heart? We’ve spent the last five years trying to pull you back into the world, and you’ve resisted every effort that Raegan and I have made. I just want to know who brought about the sudden change. What’s his name? And please don’t spill some psychological mumbo jumbo to me,” Eriss warned, wagging a finger at me.
I released a heavy sigh. “There’s nothing to tell, Eriss. I just sat down and had a heart-to-heart with myself. Listening to my clients all day, I realized I really don’t have serious problems, and I must stop being afraid to live. So, yes . . . I want to date again.”
“I’m so proud of you, Giselle. It takes a lot of courage to make this decision and step back into the dating world again. Who knows? Your Mr. Right might be just waiting in the wings.”
“No, Eriss. I’m not a character in one of the romance books you read. I simply want to enjoy my life. That’s all,” I affirmed.
“Girl, I know a thing or two about that. Besides, who has time to settle down with some joker who’s only out for one thing anyway? Here you are, being faithful to him, and he’s out doing your girl and everyone else that spreads for him. No, ma’am, . . . keep ’em closed, have fun, and just do you. That’s my motto, Eriss.” Raegan chimed in, holding her Margarita up in the air as if she were toasting someone.
Eriss rolled her eyes. “That would be your motto. How does Gavin feel about that, Mrs. Meadows?”
Raegan smirked, tossed her drink down her throat, and collapsed against the lounge chair, closing her eyes.
“That’s what I thought,” Eriss concluded, turning back to me.
I shook my head and giggled at my best friends. “Seriously, Eriss. I’m not thinking about love. My heart can’t take it. Right now, I just want to get out and live again. Do a little socializing. I’m not thinking about marriage, serious relationships, or even sex for that matter, just—”
“Now, wait a second!” Raegan shouted, sitting back up and pushing her rose-colored sunglasses on top of her head. “That’s your problem, girl. You need some sexual healing. Just a little something to clean out those cobwebs, and you’ll be all right again. You know . . . find a chimney sweeper,” she said, holding her arms above her head and working her hips side-to-side.
Eriss grabbed a pillow from behind her and tossed it at Raegan.
“Hey, you know I’m telling the truth,” Raegan declared.
“She can’t be out there with guys like that. She needs one man to come and love and take care of her,” Eriss disputed.
“Hey, I didn’t say she had to be with several guys. She just needs one good one to sweep her chimney. What do you think keeps me faithfully committed to my husband? Not just love, but that pipe he’s laying down every night.”
“Every night, Raegan?” I asked, twisting my lips.
“Damn near.”
“Okay, what about that time of the month?”
“Honey, it’s all about him then. I grab that microphone, blow into it, and make him sing like James Brown.”
Raegan jumped up from her chair, swiveled her hips, and dropped to one knee. “He be up in there singing ‘Baby, please don’t go. I love you soooo,’” she crooned in her soprano voice.
I hollered with laughter. I laughed so hard tears fell from my eyes, and Eriss joined in too.
When we finished laughing, I looked at my friends. “Seriously, girls, I just want some time to get out and have some fun and do me. No restrictions, no regulations. Just me. That’sall I need right now. When it’s time for more, I’ll move forward another step.”
“The doctor has spoken and prescribed her remedy. I will not interfere,” Raegan proclaimed, holding up a hand in a declaration of oath, with the other on her heart.
“Thank you, Raegan,” I stated, smiling at my old friend. We turned to Eriss.
“I just really want you to find love and happiness again, sweetie. You were meant to be a wife. You were so amazing in your relationship with Elijah. I always admired what you two had,” Eriss stated.
“Yeah, well, everything wasn’t so perfect now, was it?” I asked in a soft voice. I tilted my head back and willed the tears to remain in check.
Eriss reached out and grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry, sweetie. You’re right. I will leave well enough alone and trust you to manage your life.” She pressed her lips into a tight smile and squeezed my hand tightly.
“Thank you,” I whispered, choking down the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.