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Chapter twenty-one

Maddox

T he clanging of dishes and the loud chatter of people enjoying a lazy Sunday brunch fill the charming, hipster breakfast joint as we follow the hostess upstairs to the rooftop. Bright white umbrellas and sprawling wooden tables greet us. Only a few other people are seated up here, away from the hustle and bustle. I shiver in my hoodie, regretting my flip-flop choice as a small cool gust of wind trails over us. The sun is still working to warm up the chilly morning.

All three of us fall into the cool, plush canvas cushions on the chairs in unison while the hostess lays down the menus that none of us will bother reading. We’re here for the mimosas and beignets. Sam will order extra eggs and bacon because we need to have protein before bad decisions. We smile and nod at the hostess, who tells us the server will be with us shortly. My mouth practically waters at the thought of the crispy, doughy goodness dipped in tart raspberry sauce and sugar glaze.

“So, while we wait for the server, tell us everything,” Callie hisses, leaning across the table.

“Okay. We hooked up twice.” I spill.

Sam and Callie squeal, kicking their legs with delight. This elicits looks from the other rooftop dwellers, and the three of us can’t control the cackling that follows. We compose ourselves just as the server appears to take our orders.

Sam orders for everyone. “Keep the mimosas flowing, three orders of beignets, two sides of eggs—scrambled, and two sides of the turkey bacon.”

I hand the waitress our menus.

“Do you want dipping sauces with the beignets?” she asks, accepting the menus.

“Yes! Beignets without raspberry sauce should be a crime,” I answer.

“You’ll have to excuse our friend, she’s had a long night,” Callie winks.

As the server walks away, we erupt with laughter.

“A long night?” I raise an eyebrow at her. “Thanks for sugar-coating that. It definitely came off like I broke a celibacy streak last night.”

“That’s right. You broke the streak! Did you ever find out who this delicious masked man with a daddy kink is?” Sam prods.

I beam, wiggling my body with an uncontrollable excitement, basking in the afterglow of my sessions with Colt. “You won’t believe me if I tell you.”

“Bitch, you better tell us right now. I can’t believe you made me drive your ass all the way here without spilling. It’s not fair to Sam. I called her on the car’s Bluetooth and everything. She was basically there with us. I’m dying,” Callie whines.

I look from Callie to Sam, then lean in close to the center of the table. They follow my lead, leaning in as I whisper, “If you scream, I’m pretty sure the other rooftop dwellers are going to demand our removal from their peaceful experience.”

“We promise not to be loud,” Sam hisses.

I pause dramatically until Sam threatens to kick me under the table.

“It was Colt!” I exclaim.

“No fucking way!” they both reply, trying their hardest not to shout.

“Details,” Sam demands, slamming her hand on the table.

“Hold that thought,” Callie points to the server carrying a tray with glasses and a pitcher filled with our mimosas.

The server places the glasses on the table and fills each one before setting the pitcher on the table and informing us the food will be out soon. We thank her, and she scurries off to check on the other tables.

Callie holds up her glass. “To Maddox, finally breaking her celibacy streak and trapping herself the man of her dreams.”

Sam holds her glass up. “To our bestie boo. We’re so proud of you for getting railed.”

I raise my glass. “To the world’s best friends who pushed me to take an enormous risk. I love you guys.”

“Awww, I love you guys,” Sam chimes in.

“I love you both too,” Callie adds.

We clink our glass together. “Cheers,” we say in unison.

Mister Grump-a-saurus at the table a few feet away and his wife narrow their eyes at us before continuing to whisper between themselves as we laugh.

“Give us all the juicy details. Does he have a big dick?” Sam asks.

“Does he have all the skills one might imagine he has?” Callie fires off before I can even attempt to respond to Sam.

I laugh. “He’s packing and very skilled.”

“I’m so fucking jealous,” Sam confesses.

“You’re jealous? You fucked your boss in someone else’s house. You do not get to be jealous,” I counter.

“We are never letting it go, Sam,” Callie warns in a teasing tone.

“I know. I know. I’m a whore-able person.” Sam snickers, and we all join in.

“Tell us more.” Callie begs.

Luckily, I’m saved by the server delivering our food, but as soon as she disappears to the other table, my friends are staring at me, waiting for all the juicy details. I take my time torturing them by topping off my mimosa and taking a slow drink.

“First of all, did either of you realize there’s an upstairs or a rooftop at the bar?” I ask.

They both shake their heads, so I continue between sweet, delicious bites of deep-fried goodness.

“Yeah, me either. I’m almost ashamed to admit I let him fuck me with a beer bottle, then spit in my mouth.“ Sam and Callie gasp, interrupting me.

“That’s so fucking hot, you lucky little bitch,” Callie says.

Sam only nods her agreement. I continue. “We ended up outside, and I climbed on top of this man who—hold on, ladies, you aren’t going to believe this—“ They lean in closer for the juicy details. “This man told me to touch his muscles because he likes it, then he told me to scream so loud the entire city knows he’s fucking me.”

“How does it feel to be God’s favorite?” Sam asks.

Callie’s jaw drops open in shock. She looks cathartic and is unable to recover as she grasps for her drink and misses the first time. She takes a huge swallow of mimosa and shouts, “Shut the fuck up! No, he did not say that!”

The cunt-a-saurus married to the grump-a-saurus at the next table glares at us and whisper-shouts, “Do you mind? Some of us are trying to enjoy our meal.”

Sam turns to look at her without missing a beat and spews, “Do you mind? Some of us are trying to enjoy life instead of being miserable.”

We laugh, turning back to our conversation. “This next part gets even crazier,” I say, preparing them for the huge reveal.

“We’re ready,” Callie says.

“After we finished, there was a gunshot. But that’s not all. There was a b-o-d-y in the alley. Colt’s uncle showed up, and let’s just say, I’m pretty sure they are into serious business .”

“What kind of business?” Sam asks.

“I think he’s in the mafia. Shit, judging by his uncle, I think they might be the Mafia. If you catch my drift.”

“Understood,” Callie nods.

“And then what?” Sam asks.

“And then we went back to his condo above the bar, and he fucked me in the shower. I woke up feeling like a troll—banged and dashed, messaged you guys, and here we are.”

“Oh-my-fucking-god,” Sam gasps. “That’s insane.”

“But also so hot,” Callie adds.

“Okay, but here’s my dilemma. How am I going to confess it’s me? And is the mafia thing a deterrent?”

“I suppose we can look past the mafia thing, especially since he’s hot and kinky,” Callie chimes in.

“I can also get on board with Team We Can Look Past the Mafia Thing, “ Sam agrees.

“And what do I do about my secret identity and agenda? I basically tricked him after he told me he didn’t want to meet. How am I going to confess it’s me?”

“You should just confess,” Sam sighs.

“When you’re ready,” Callie offers in encouragement.

“You guys are the best. One more thing I forgot to tell you—the second time, I came so hard I cried. Has that ever happened to either of you?”

“No, but I want to be you right now,” Callie replies.

“Same,” Sam sighs, “You lucky bitch.”