Page 40 of Pride and Protest

“Oh, I like that! We didn’t catch your name, caller.”

“Just G.”

“Well, Just G., I think you just filled our last slot. The Philippines will be our big finish.”

The more Liza thought of her and Dorsey’s night out, the more she knew that she and Dorsey had both lost their damn minds. She didn’tactuallyhave to maintain a cordial relationship with Dorsey. After his project failed, he would be off to ravage another city. But WIC was a freedom fighter in the trenches with her. Dorsey had to know that. His single text burned in her brain for two days. Until finally she relented and texted him back.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

My dad used to live in Texas

I came down for a summer and we made sundaes together

It’s only available in certain areas but

The taste makes me feel better

Noted

Typical one-word nonanswer. While Liza saw the intellectual reason she should distance herself from Dorsey, her body acted of its own accord. At night, she burned with the memory of his touch. She wondered if she would die with the knowledge of the feel of Dorsey’s hard dick against her thigh.

WIC had called her every day since he’d seen her that night.Her right mind said that she was glad to be back on WIC’s radar. It took seeing her out that night to jog his memory. Good. She was starting to think she had imagined their banter. Her phone rang, and she picked it up. WIC again.

“Hey, Liza.”

“This is she.” She tried to sound breathy and cool.

“Oh, hey girl, I wanted to check on you again.”

“Aw, WIC, you’re such a sweet man.”

“Gotta make our queens feel likequeens, don’t we?”

Liza couldn’t stop the flash of Dorsey’s dark gaze at the hotel. He had started off the evening quietly, but it wasn’t noncommunicative silence. His eyes washing over her, his sweet blushes, his flustered speech, made her feel... lovely.

You. Get out, she told an imaginary Dorsey.This is WIC’s time.

“Did I lose you?” WIC asked.

“Oh no, sorry, right here,” Liza said as she scrolled through job boards. WCO was looking for a project manager. She would give an eye to work there. Should she ask Dorsey to put in a good word? No, she would rather die.

He laughed. “No, seriously, you are intimidating. I had to step my game up before I approached you.”

Liza was lightheaded. Her single biggest flaw was how much she loved to be gassed up by men. A Leo through and through.

“Flattery will get you everywhere with me, WIC. Keep it coming.”

There was a bubbly silence. At any moment, either of them would break out into giggles.

“So what do I have to do to get you down to a place like the Hotel Washington?” WIC said.

“Ask,” Liza replied.

“You mean I don’t have to be financially set up like a Fitzgerald to get you to pay attention to me?” Wait... she had given him her numberagesago.

“Quite the opposite, actually.”

“Do you know Dorsey like that? You both looked cozy.”