I don’t know if that would be the right move now.”
“It wouldn’t,” she said. “Your ass better stay where it is, or you can kiss that friendship goodbye.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “All jokes aside, Sug. If you need a place to stay, you can come knocking anytime.”
I wanted to think about literally anything else other than Oliver and me. “Hey, are you up for some shopping?” I asked. “I’ve gotten pretty good at trying new things after this whole ‘wardrobe being burnt to a crisp’ fiasco. Oh, and this is for you!” I reached inside my purse to get Lisa’s giftbag and then handed her the pink shirt.
She opened the gift and belly laughed when she read the letters printed on it. “Bra off. Hair up. Sweats on.” They were bold and white and freaking hilarious.
“Oh, my goodness!” she shrieked, holding the T-shirt up to her chest with a beaming smile. “That’s so me. I’ve been wanting this one. Thanks, girl!”
“Wait, I’ve got something for you, too.” She winked and produced a gift from beneath the table. Sneaky, sneaky. “Hurry up and open it!”
I tossed the paper from the giftbag only to find a brand-new notepad and matching pen (she’d clearly gotten on her mini vacay) with Aruba’s logo and the words, “Sun of a Beach.” I burst out laughing and reached over and hugged her.
“I love them. They’re perfect! Sun of a Beach. I’m dying…” I couldn’t stop laughing, and it was infectious. She cracked up, too, to the point people were staring. Who cared?
Once our cackling asses calmed down and put our gifts in our purses, I had to tell her about my new fashion ideas and get her expertise.
“I’m dying to get your opinion on some new looks I’ve had my eye on.”
“Girl, you know I’m never gonna say no to shopping,” she quipped, waving down the waitress for the checks. “But you have to do just one tiny little thing for me in return.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
Her eyes lit up with a devilish spark. “How big was it?”
“How big was wh—oooooohhhhh?” I giggled and rolled my eyes. “Let’s just say…if I was a man, and I was packing that kind of heat, I’d be a total slut, too.”
Lisa seemed pleased with a dreamy look in her eyes. “Yeah, men should be obligated to share that gift with as many people as possible before they settle down. Good thing he was your first. I don’t even want to think back on Shrimp-Tom.”
“Shrimp-Tom?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t remind me.”
“How big is Chad?”
“Oh, his is seven inches and a quarter. Soft.”
“You measured it?”
“Of course! How else would I know? You haven’t measured Oliver’s?”
“Um, no! Can you imagine the look on his face?” I asked and then added my mock-conversation, “Hey there, Oliver. Hang on. Stay still and don’t move. Yeah, stay vertical. I’ve got to get a measuring tape. Be right back!” I almost fell out of my chair fighting a case of the giggle-snorts and continued in my best Oliver impression:
“What, why?”
“Well, you know, need the details—people are gonna wonder!” I finished and held my belly as I giggle-snorted.
Laughing, we signed our checks and threw down some cash for a tip before walking down the sidewalk together, arm in arm. I couldn’t resist gushing about everything else I’d learned while she’d been away.
“Speaking of which, I totally found out his number. Like the number of people he slept with.”
“Thank the heavens!” She tossed her head back and squealed. “If I’d known you had all this juicy tea waiting for me, I would’ve made you pick me up from the airport just so I could get it all that much sooner. So…how many?”
19
Oliver
The rush of riding my bike down a long stretch of open highway was exactly what I needed to clear my head. For three blissful hours, all I could think about was the scenery around me and the ice-cold beer that waited for me at our destination.
I was relieved and ready for air-conditioning by the time the big red-and-white sign appeared on the horizon. Miles and Damon pulled into the parking lot with me following close behind. But the moment the roar of my engine cut off, I was met with that same sinking feeling in my gut. Fuck. Laney. I took off my helmet and raked a hand down my face. I needed to try and take my mind off her for a while, hang out with the guys, and maybe—Nah, fuck that.