Page 76 of The Billionaire's Bride

I wince, and her features soften. "Oh, honey, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring back any flashbacks by talking about it."

"I’m stronger than that," I lie.

"No one is that strong, Ava. We can pretend to ourselves that things don’t affect us, but everything does. Even tripping and hurting ourselves when we are children leaves scars on our physical body. Our cells remember everything. The memories in our body stay with us, whether we like it or not. They change us; they have ramifications for how we act and react. The only thing we can do is manage the stories we tell ourselves about it."

"Wow," I stare at her, "that was profound."

"Right?" She shakes her head, "Sometimes, even I don’t know where I come up with this shit."

"You never do talk about your past, you know." I take in her features. "I go on and on about my family and you… You never tell me about yours."

"But we are not talking about me, are we?" She waggles her eyebrows. "You were talking about bedding both of them. How is it?"

"How is what?"

"You know, DP."

"DP?"

"Double penetration?"

"Oh." I stare at her. "OH." I redden. "No, no, no. I don’t know about that."

"No?"

"I mean, I don’t sleep with them at the same time." I wave my hand in the air, "How could you even think about that?"

"Aw," her lips turn down, "and here I was, hoping things were finally getting exciting."

"Trust me, I’ve had enough excitement just trying to keep up with two of them in my life at the same time." I shake my head, "Seriously, I am at my wits end."

"Whose dick is bigger?"

"What?" I redden, and she chuckles. Gah! She's always trying to catch me out, this one. I purse my lips, push my finger into my cheek and pretend to consider the question. "You do know, it’s not just about the size; it’s also the technique." I sniff.

"And?" She taps her feet on the ground, "Give, girlfriend, which one wins?"

I lower my chin. "Sadly, it seems they are neck and neck on both accounts."

She clicks her tongue, "Poor Ava, you have such a hard life." She shakes her head, "All that double dosage of cocks and lips and hands and legs and balls… Girl, you lead a tough life."

"Stop it." I choke. "Seriously, it’s not at all how you make it out to be."

"Oh, well," she takes another sip of the champagne, "things could be worse; you could have neither of them."

"Yeah, tried that, and it didn’t work, either." I grimace.

"Well, if you can’t beat ’em, join 'em."

"Okay, I am getting tired of trying to keep up with you here." I scowl, "What are you trying to say, Isla?"

"Just that you should have a good time, while you can, babe." She snatches my glass from me, then hands both flutes over to the hovering Mark.

She jerks her chin at the DJ, who nods, then speaks into the mic, "Can we have the newly wedded couple on the floor?"

Applause breaks out as my father leads Lina onto the floor. Throughout the dance, she stares up at him with adoration in her eyes. My father seems a little tired, and maybe sad. She places her palm against his cheek, leans up to say something. He chuckles and some of the weight around his shoulder dissipates. Maybe this really is a good thing. Maybe she’ll make him happy, and maybe she does deserve him, after all.

I watch as they glide around the dance floor. The song comes to an end, and everyone claps as my father leads Lina off the floor. He smiles at me and I blow him a kiss, then nod at Lina. They move over to talk with their friends and the DJ switches to a throbbing beat. "Okay everyone, time to get on the dance floor." The DJ speaks into the mic, "Let’s all celebrate the wedding of Lina and Christopher!"