Page 63 of The Last One to Let You Down

“We knew each other from when we were kids but got reintroduced at one, yes. I am trusting you with that information. Privacy is important to this community. Trust is essential because there aren’t any places for people like us around here. We have to make our own, and they are guarded pretty fiercely.”

“I won’t say anything,” Tom swore. “I promise.”

“Good.” Cypress winked playfully. “I’d hate to have a reason to spank you.”

“Is that supposed to discourage me from saying anything?” Tom laughed, tipping his wine glass back. “Because it’s not working quite the way you think.”

“No? Hmm.” Cypress glanced over Tom’s body. “I’m sure I can come up with something.”

“What if I call you Shirley again?”

“Oh, God. Yeah, that’ll probably do it.” Cypress let out a quick snort of laughter.

“So, spill. Why do they call you Shirley?”

“My grandpa started that,” Cypress replied with a wry smile. “When I was a little kid living in this giant ass house with no brothers or sisters to play with, trust that I was getting into everything. I went all through the upstairs and the attic, got into stuff downstairs in the flower shop.

“Grandpa asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was looking for clues. Guess I was getting my Scooby-Doo on or something. So, he started calling me ‘Sherlock.’ You know, ‘cause our last name is Holmes, and over the years it morphed into ‘Shirley.’

“When I first met Fox, his mother had come to the shop to pick up some flowers. His mother talks to my mother, and they want us to meet since we’re about the same age. I was ten, I think. He was twelve or thirteen. So, anyway, Grandpa hollers out for Shirley, and here I come, and Fox was so damn confused.”

“Oh, my God.” Tom laughed. “Did he think you were gonna be a girl?”

“Sure did.” Cypress grinned. “I can still see the damn look on his face. He told me later he thought I was the ugliest girl he’d ever seen.”

“That’s awful.” Tom shook his head, reaching for his wine. “So, you and Fox…?” He let the question hang, hoping his intent was obvious.

“He’s straight,” Cypress replied with a smirk. “We’ve never done a scene together, and no, we’ve definitely never had sex.”

“Isn’t it the same thing?”

“Not always. Scenes have safe words and a plan.”

“Ah.”

“Have you had sex with anyone you work with?”

Tom balked at the question, but he deserved it for being nosy about how well Cypress knew Fox. “Yes, and it was the worst mistake of my entire life.”

Cypress reached over to refill Tom’s glass. “That bad?”

“It was Junior.” Tom groaned and hid his face in his hand. “Gerald’s son.”

“Oh, no.” Cypress cackled.

“Oh, yeah.” Tom shifted his palm over so he could drink his wine and still hide. “It was awful, and he makes my life a living hell, so, yup.”

“Hey, hey,” Cypress soothed, gently prying Tom’s hand away. “There’s no shame in sex even if you regret your choice in partner. You’re allowed to make mistakes because that’s how we learn.”

“Like never ever fuckin’ sleep with anyone you work with?”

“Bet you won’t do it again.”

“Ha! No. Ugh.”

“Does he bother you at work?” Cypress asked casually, but there was a tightness in his jaw Tom hadn’t seen before.

“I think he’s done,” Tom was proud to say. “I finally stood up to him and told him to leave me alone.”