Page 48 of Right Side of Paradise

Interlude

Rico:

The fuck you put in these cookies?

Both pictures he’d sent were of the glass container me and Harley put the birthday cookies in. The only difference was that the second picture showed an empty bowl.

Me:

You liked them?

I was on a two-hour break between clients, walking to the gym a few storefronts down from the spa. Smiling like a fool.

Rico:

I need you to make more tonight.

Wait, when your ass learn to cook?

I snickered at his bluntness.

Me:

I don’t know how to cook. I know how to make THAT. I learned for your birthday

Rico:

You tryna get your dick sucked?

Me:

Rico, stop playing with me I just walked in the gym

Rico:

I can’t tell you I wanna suck your dick?

Me:

Not if you don’t wanna get me kicked out of this gym for having a hard on during my workout. You know Ms. Tabitha can’t hold water

The sixty-year-old woman who ran the gym was no doubt in better shape than me, but she ran her mouth from the time she woke up and didn’t stop until she closed her eyes at night. I wasn’t trying to be a topic of discussion for this tiny island.

Rico:

Come home. Me and Harlow can pick you up in ten

Me:

If I go home on this break, I’m not coming back to work

Rico:

Me:

…

Rico:

Fine. I got you after work though. Remember we going to Christian’s condo

Me:

I remember

Rico:

Have a good workout. I love you

Me:

I love you more