maybe it was Scott Danger? I—”
Tiffany stops when she sees me take off my necklace and put it in my handbag. I’ve been wearing it since he gave it to me, not only to lend a sense of reality to this time, but also to get used to the weight. That . . . and hell, it was sexy as fuck to watch it swing as Scott fucked me from behind after that stellar blow job. The quickie on the breakfast table had only taken a few strokes to make me come, the diamond sparkling in time to his cock setting my pussy on fire.
But that was around Scott’s apartment, not Stella’s. She doesn’t necessarily have to put chicken wire up around the stage when bands come to play, but I’m not gonna risk it. It’s too beautiful and means too much.
“Holy fuck,” Tiff exclaims. “A gift from Mr. Danger?”
There’s a piece of me that wants to hide it from Tiff, worried about what she’ll think of the extravagance, about what that might say about me. The other part of me wants to stand up on the bar and show it off to all of Stella’s, yelling, “Look what Scott Danger gave me! Me! Little ol’ Madison Parker!”
Knowing she won’t let this go, I slowly pull the necklace back out of its special storage bag and hold it up for her inspection.
“Well gawt-damn, honey, that is one helluva ‘thank you’ from a fine-ass man!” Seeing the uncertain look on my face, she adds steel to her voice. “Girl, have fun and let him buy you what he wants,” Tiff says, pointing at me. “Ain’t no harm in that unless there’s something else you need to share with the class?” One of the many reasons I love this girl. She’s all onboard with me getting ridiculous gifts if they’re offered, but if there’s a catch that makes me uncomfortable, she’d throw that necklace right back at Scott or use it to garrote him. All for me.
Then she stops and stares at me, horror-stricken. “You’re not going to bail, are you? Leave us peons down here in the beer drippings?”
“Of course not!” I reply, surrounding Tiff in a big hug. “You and Stella are family.”
Tiff pulls back, her face still close to mine. “Girl, I was kidding. You do you. And if you get a chance to get out, get up, you’d better fucking take it if it’s what you want. I’ll be here for you, just like always . . . happy or sad, rich or poor, good or bad. Although let’s be honest, if we’re picking, go for happy, rich, and bad.”
“Don’t you mean happy, rich, and good?” I say with a smile.
Tiff smirks. “What’s the fun in that?”
“Tiffany Donna Myers—”
Her voice picks up and she gives me a smile. “Besides, we can’t be roomies forever. The first time you walk in while I’m having a muck bang and getting screwed at the same time, you’ll be out of there.”
“Will you stop it?” I ask, and Tiffany chuckles.
“What? All that Cheez Whiz spread all over his body that I lick off and then—”
Luckily, before I can puke, Stella pokes her head in the door, looking like she’s been through a washing machine, she’s sweating so damn much. “So glad you’re here. Carl is already drunk and barely standing on his feet. Need you out there, and don’t worry about his drawer.”
“You look hot,” I comment, putting my bag in my locker. Some women would take it as a compliment, but Stella knows what I mean.
“Ugh, the blasted medicine isn’t working a lick. These hot flashes are killing me,” Stella moans.
Daryl walks in, a heavy crate over his shoulder like he’s carrying an old-fashioned eighties boombox. “What’s killing you, Momma?”
“Oh, nothing. I’ll be fine, Son,” Stella replies, wiping at her forehead. “But Carl out there getting shitfaced doesn’t help things.”
“Want me to take him out back and knock some sense into him? I’m sure I could set him straight,” Daryl offers.
Always perfectly on-time, Devin pokes his head out of the kitchen. “Not sure your fine ass is gonna set anybody straight. Rawwr,” he teases, grabbing the air in front of him like he’s grabbing ass.
Daryl laughs, flipping Devin the bird. “You wish, motherfucker.”
Devin smirks. “I’m literally not a mother fucker. Daddies maybe, but no MILFs in my history fo’ shur.”
Stella fans herself, looking embarrassed. “Boys, stop. You’re making my hot flash even worse.”
Devin busts out in one quick laugh, preening even