“Like, for your period?”
She blinked at me. “Or for when you’re going to have semen coming out of your pussy for the next couple of hours.”
I jumped to my feet. “Purse. I’m on it.”
I turned on the light and hurried out to where Madeline had left her purse by Blake and Caleb.
“Hey, where are you going?” Blake said.
I snatched the purse up and said, “I’ll be right back.”
When I got back to the office, Madeline was standing up and wiping her thighs.
She looked up when she saw me. “Could you get me a wet towel? I’d go to the restroom, but I’m not wearing any pants.”
I grabbed a towel from the closet. “Be right back.”
I could have gone to the bar again but chose the restroom instead. I didn’t want Caleb and Blake to question why I was going back and forth.
I brought the towel back. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”
Madeline took it from me. “No, I think I’m good now.”
“Are you okay?” I asked. I really wanted to know if she was mad at me, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to ask that.
“I’ll be fine. But the two of us need to get tested right away, okay?”
“I’ll make an appointment with my doctor tomorrow morning when the clinic opens,” I promised.
“Same.” She tilted her head toward the door. “Now, get out of here, so I can finish cleaning up in private.”
I nodded and left her alone.
I needed a drink after everything that had happened. When I got back behind the bar, I lined up three shot glasses and filled them all with my favorite whiskey.
I set two of them in front of my friends and downed my own.
Blake tipped his head back and swallowed his down, but Caleb stared at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Now that the adrenaline had worn off, everything was becoming clearer, and I was a little freaked out.
“Depends on your definition of okay.” I chuckled. Just an impromptu sex session in my place of business that was my livelihood and a pregnancy and STI scare. I supposed I was okay. The customers weren’t the wiser, and Madeline was on birth control. I sighed. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Everything okay with Madeline?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Because you keep looking back toward your office,” Caleb said.
“Dude, you’re not boning your bestie, are you?” Blake asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Jesus, Blake, a little class?”
“Thank God,” he said.
“Why do you say that?” Caleb asked.
“Because friends with benefits almost never works. One of them usually gets too emotionally involved, and then the friendship is over because the other doesn’t want to get serious. I know two couples it worked for. In one, they both sincerely didn’t want to get serious. They’re both married to other people, and they’re still friends. The other, they both wanted to take their relationship to the next level, and they’re married. But I find both of those are the exception, not the rule.”
“How many people do you know?” Caleb asked.
“A lot. I lived in Vegas, remember? The capital of drunk friends getting married and then calling things off.” Blake looked at me. “All I’m saying is, the two of you have been friends forever. Do you really want to ruin that for some nookie?”
“That’s surprisingly wise, coming from you,” I joked because I didn’t want to think about what he’d said.
Madeline was my best friend, and I didn’t want to lose her just because we were both a little horny.
What have I done?
Madeline came back, looking the same as when she’d left the three of us earlier.
“Everything good?” I asked her.
“Yep,” she said, getting back on her stool. “Can I get some water?”
“Coming right up.”
“So, what did you and Griffin talk about?” Blake asked her, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said with a smile.
“Duh. That’s why I’m asking.”
She looked at him over the water I’d poured for her. “And that’s the way we’re going to keep it.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Hey, Madeline, did you get anything good for your birthday?” Caleb said. He was probably trying to change the subject, so Blake would stop bothering her.
“Yes. Lots of money and gift cards. Everyone knows me so well.”
“We know she likes to pick out her own things,” I added.
“Exactly. This is why I have to tell Griffin what to buy me every year.”
“And what did he get you this year?” Caleb asked.
“I couldn’t believe it. He got me—”
“I got her a gift card too.”
She frowned in confusion and looked at me.
I didn’t have the balls to meet her eyes. “In my defense, she didn’t tell me what to get her even though I had asked.” I shrugged. “So, she got a gift card.”
“Boo,” Blake said. “So boring.”
“I know,” I admitted.
I could feel Madeline’s eyes on me, but I avoided them as much as possible. I couldn’t tell her that Blake had worried me. And I didn’t know how to tell her that I thought we shouldn’t sleep together anymore before things went too far. Not after we just had sex. It felt like I was using her even if she had initiated it. I hadn’t exactly put a stop to it.
I licked my lips and caught a taste of Madeline on the upper one. I wished I had taken more time going down on her since it wasn’t going to happen again.
Twenty-Two
Madeline
Friday evening, I was sitting on a plush white sofa, drinking champagne, while I watched Christina do a fitting of her wedding dress.
Her sister and maid of honor, Hope, was running the show, so I was sitting and listening to her go over wedding things.
It sounded exhausting, and if I ever got married, I was going to have a small wedding or get married at the courthouse.
“After Troy’s brother and me, it’ll be you and Griffin, then—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupted Hope. “What are you talking about?”
“The procession line.”
“I told Hope that Troy and I wanted you and Griffin after the maid of honor and best man. If it wasn’t for the two of you, we wouldn’t have met.”
I grinned. “I love it.” And I loved that I wouldn’t have to walk down the aisle with a stranger.
Hope listed off everyone else as Christina did a couple of twirls in her dress. “Did I get everything correct?” she asked.
“Yes.” Christina turned to look at her sister. “But what if Mom asks to look at the list?”
Hope pulled out another sheet from her binder and grinned. “I got that covered.”
“Can I see?” I asked.
She handed over both lists, and I scanned the names. The first list said I was second after Hope. This one said I was following behind Chantel. “Who’s Chantel?”