He exaggerates the hug by keeping her in his arms longer and rocking them side to side.
“Okay you two,” Rian says, and I glance over at her. It’s then I notice that there’s a longing in her eyes. Not a jealousy per se, but almost as if she wishes she was in Sierra’s position.
Dylan releases his hold on Sierra and no one other than me seems to notice Rian’s comment or reaction.
Sierra takes a seat, and everyone rehashes their day. I’m quiet because they all know each other so well. Their conversations weave seamlessly from one to another. I sit back and become the observer instead of an active participant.
Sierra had to report a story about a thirty-year-old being evicted from his parents’ home by a judge. Rian wrote an entire chapter of math problems for the fifth grade textbook she’s working on right now. I always wondered what kind of people wrote those math problems. Seth had two clients, housewives who wanted to bring the fun back into their marriage. Dylan sits quietly and listens along with me.
My phone buzzes inside my purse and when I pull it out ‘Unknown Caller’ is on the screen, so I click deny and let it go to voicemail.
A second later, a text pops up.
Unknown Caller: How about dinner?
I smile already knowing who it is but wondering how he got my phone number.
Me: I thought there were rules?
Unknown Caller: I’m asking for professional advice. So technically it’s a business dinner.
Me: Oh well, that might change my answer.
Unknown Caller: To?
Me: Sure.
Unknown Caller: I feel as though you’d be disappointed if we did Italian because it wouldn’t live up to your mom’s cooking. How about Mexican?
Me: Okay. When and where?
Unknown Caller: Las Tacos 6:30?
Me: See you then.
Unknown Caller: Wait? What would you have said if it wasn’t business?
I laugh, my two thumbs already typing out my response.
Me: You have to ask to find out.
Three dots appear and then disappear.
“Who’s making you smile like that?” Sierra asks. Everyone’s head turns my way.
I tuck my phone back into my purse. “No one.”
“Liar.”
It vibrates inside my purse again, but I ignore it. “Just a guy from work.”
“Oh. Day one and he already has your phone number,” Dylan says. “I like the guy already.”
“It’s not like that, it’s work related. He wants to talk over an article.”
Seth straightens in his seat. “What do you do again?”
“I went to school for business, but I started this blog in college that did pretty well. Worked in finance for a bit and now I’m trying to get into journalism. It’s hard, so I’m stuck writing fluff pieces until I prove myself.”
Seth opens his mouth to say something and Dylan kicks his foot, causing his slushy to almost spill into his lap.
“Smooth,” Rian mumbles from next to me.
I look around hoping someone fills in the missing piece for me.
Sierra sighs. “Sigmund was a journalism major. That’s what Seth was going to say.”
“Oh.”
“But he works for some tech magazine,” Sierra says. “I doubt that interests you.”
I laugh. “Beats having to write about how to keep the sex alive in a long marriage.”
“Don’t get married,” Dylan says. “Problem solved.”
I’m pretty sure Rian whimpered next to me.
“My parents have been married for almost thirty years,” Seth chimes in. “It works for some people.” Seems the guy with the all-American looks comes from the all-American family.
“Do you really want to bring this topic up?” Dylan cocks an eyebrow.
Knox walks in and waves to someone at the back of the shop, taking the chair across from Dylan. “What’d I miss?”
“We’re just talking about how happily married Seth’s parents are,” Dylan says with mirth, though I don’t know why.
The other girls sigh.
“Someone has to fill me in,” I say.
Knox’s chuckle is deep as is his voice when he says, “Seth’s mom asked…” He glances across to Sierra. “A mutual… someone for a vibrator recommendation.”
Dylan bursts into laughter. Seth rolls his eyes, slurping up his drink. “You guys are assholes.”
I give him an exaggerated frown. “If it makes you feel any better, my mom asked me about masturbation once. Imagine that conversation.”
“At least she asked you and not your friend,” Seth grumbles.
“Oh, come on.” Dylan knocks him with his shoulder. “Your parents are happy, it just means exactly what I thought.”
“And what’s that?” Sierra asks, though I think she’s asking more for Rian than any of us.
“That your sex life dies with those two little words.”
“What two words?” Rian asks.
“I do.” Dylan leans back into the couch with smug satisfaction.
“My parents had four kids. Three boys and they still had me. Their sex life was healthy,” I argue. I’m not sure about the family dynamics of anyone else here except for Sierra and since her mom died so young, it might be a topic she’s uncomfortable talking about.
“You said yourself your mom was asking about clicking her kitty,” Dylan says. I ignore the visual that brings to mind.
“Masturbation has nothing to do with not having a healthy sex life,” I counter and the girls all nod in agreement.
Dylan’s feet fall to the floor and he leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “How do you figure?”
“Well, even if I’m in a serious relationship, I continue to masturbate.”
“Why would a girl do that?” Seth looks me dead in the eye like he can’t wrap his head around what I’m saying.
“Easy. She’s not getting it the right way,” Dylan says, a cocky smirk on his lips.
Sierra laughs and touches his arm and makes a loud buzzing sound. “Wrong answer.”
I lean forward and high five her.
The three guys look at us and then each other as though we’re full of it.
“It must be the same for you guys? Sometimes you just need to release some tension and five minutes or less is all you need,” I say.
Dylan winks. “Call me next time, I’ll get you off in three minutes.”
Almost everyone laughs, but the one person not joining in is sitting to the right of me. Now I’m sure Rian has a crush on Dylan.
“You can’t tell me that you guys don’t ever just play with your joystick for a minute and voila.” Sierra takes her time to look at each one of them. “I’m sure you prefer that over foreplay anyway.”
“First of all, not a joystick,” Knox says, his voice rumbling deep.
“If you’re gonna describe the manhood, at least make it a side stick like in the fighter planes,” Seth says.