"The girl from The Museum of Sex." His eyes fill with epiphany. "The one who fucked up your head. So you couldn't enjoy normal anymore. Of course. All the better."
"You really are an arsehole. You know that?"
He raises his glass again. When I toast, he continues. "Good for you, Ty. Thinking with your cock. Making men everywhere proud."
The girls reappear at the table.
"Hey." Indie bites her lip. "I'm going to take her home."
"I can get myself home," Sienna says. "Or Cam could help."
"Nope." She squeezes my hand. Pulls me into a quick kiss. "Call me in the morning. You can make good on your promise tomorrow."
"Oh my god, we all know that means sex!" Sienna laughs. "Just go do it now. Stop pretending like you're sly." She motions for me to come with her. "Come on, Ty. Ride home with us. Then take Indie back to your place. We all know you want to."
Cam raises a brow. "I'm not seeing a flaw in this plan."
"Tomorrow." I kiss Indie goodbye again.
Sienna pouts, but she still follows her sister out of the restaurant.
Cam shoots me a curious look. "You're cruel, teasing her like that."
"She likes when I'm cruel."
"Fuck. I hope you hold on to her. You're never going to find someone who suits you better."
After I pay, Cam insists on taking me out for another drink.
He wants to go dancing. To meet other women. To tease me about finally being monogamous.
I should say yes. Go somewhere he can't interrogate me. But I don't.
I go to a quiet bar around the corner. Let him buy the first round.
Then a second.
Tell him too much about Indie and how I want her and how fucked up I felt with Rory. How fucked I still feel because of the way she looked at me.
He toasts to it, of course. We're all fucked up, Ty. As long as she's satisfied, what else matters?
I hold on to that thought as we part.
As I head home.
Text Indie.
Ty: Is Sienna okay?
Indigo: Drunk, but okay. She fell asleep during our second episode of 90 Day Fiancée.
Ty: How do you watch that show?
Indigo: It's very dramatic.
Ty: It's ridiculous.
Indigo: So are you.
Ty: I'm not sure that has any relevance.
Indigo: It's fun watching with her. I can't explain it. Making fun of something, but loving it anyway. It feels right.
Ty: I'm glad you have her.
Indigo: Thanks.
Ty: Even if you kill my cousin to protect her.
Indigo: You won't try to stop me?
Ty: I wanted him aware of your lethal power. He knows the risks.
Indigo: Do you think he would?
Ty: Honestly, I don't know. He's like Sienna. Pushes buttons for the fun of it.
Indigo: You do that too. With me.
Ty: And you don't?
Indigo: That's what you're doing now. Teasing me. Or is this a booty call?
Ty: Would you leave your drunk sister alone?
Indigo: Of course not.
Ty: Do you think I don't know you enough to know that?
Indigo: Maybe you're inviting yourself here.
Ty: No. I like making you wait.
Indigo: So you will? Tomorrow?
Ty: I'll do what?
Indigo: Come in my mouth.
Fuck. I'm too pissed to stay in control.
I want to go over there. Order her onto her knees. Tug at her hair as she wraps her lips around my cock.
I want to throw her on the bed. Climb between her legs. Lick her until she's screaming my name.
Ty: Maybe.
Indigo: Okay. Fine. I'll just think about it tonight.
Ty: You'll think about it?
Indigo: When I fuck myself.
My balls tighten.
Ty: Are you thinking of it now?
Indigo: Yes.
Ty: Show me.
Indigo: Show you?
Ty: Send me a picture. Of your face.
Indigo: My face?
Ty: I wouldn't mind if it includes your tits. But I'm not after that.
Indigo: What are you after?
Ty: The need in your expression.
Indigo: I'm not sure if I should be flattered or offended.
Ty: I love your tits.
Indigo: Okay. You saved it.
Ty: You're pissed too?
Indigo: A little.
My phone buzzes with a picture message.
Indigo, lying on her dark purple sheets, hair falling over her blue eyes, lips parting with a sigh.
Then another.
From her head to her belly button.
Wearing only her necklace.
Fuck, she looks gorgeous draped in those dark sheets.
I need to be there watching pleasure spill over her expression.
Ty: Do it now.
Indigo: Do what now, sir?
Ty: Fuck yourself.
Indigo: If you promise.
Ty: This isn't a negotiation. Do it now. Or you won't get what you want.
Indigo: Right now?
Ty: Yes.
Indigo: Does that mean I'll get what I want if I do it?
It does. And she knows it.
She knows how to play me too fucking well.
Ty: Don't make me ask again.
Indigo: Yes, sir.
My cock whines.
The line goes quiet for a few minutes. Then my cell buzzes with a message.
Indigo: Not as good as the real thing. At least, not what I remember. Good night, Ty.
Ty: Good night.
She's too good at this.
All night, she's all I think about.
The part of her wine lips. The flush of her cheeks. The sound of her laugh.
Tomorrow night isn't soon enough.
I need to find a reserve of patience somehow.
I'm the one who makes her wait.
Not the other way around.
No matter how well she pushes my buttons.
Chapter Twenty-One
Indigo
All morning, Sienna alternates between asking me to turn down the sun and asking me to turn down my music.
I tease her by raising the volume on the music. But I keep the playlist to albums she enjoys.
Okay, albums she doesn't hate. Lorde, Fiona Apple, Amy Winehouse.
She threatens to destroy my computer if I play Back to Black one more time, but we both know she won't. I play it twice a day, most days, and she always taps along to Tears Dry on Their Own.
Besides, I need to make her hangover painful. So she thinks twice before drinking heavily again.
I meant to cut her off at one drink, but maybe this is better. She overdid it in a safe place, with me watching over her. And now she's feeling an agony that will encourage future moderation.
She starts school soon.
She lives her own life soon.
I stop seeing her every day soon.
I'm proud of her. I want her to soar. I want her to stay the strong, independent woman she is—
But, fuck, I'm going to miss her so badly.
So I savor every one of her complaints. And I drag her for an afternoon coffee. And I even give her a few details about Ty.
Nothing important. Nothing that needs to stay mine.
Only enough to tune all my thoughts to him.
His text is on my cell. He's picking me up at eight. He's not asking, really. But I know I can say no.
I know he'll respect it.
But there isn’t a single part of me that wants to deny him.