Don’t worry. It’s your birthday. All fun. No stress.”
She twisted her lips, eyes into the distance as she considered my point. Then Tori nodded. I left for the bathroom, closing the door. The first thing I did was bring back my robe for her to change into. Then I returned to the bathroom to clean out the tub, then run the water. As it filled, I bleached down the shower, too, feeling suddenly self-conscious about having her in a nasty ass bathroom. Why did I care? It was Tori McNabb.
Because it’s Tori McNabb…
When finished, I ran down to the kitchen to pull out the food I ordered from an Italian spot off campus. The containers were nearing room temperature, which didn’t surprise me much. I decided I’d warm it up when we were ready. Then I thought to grab a bottle of water from the fridge in case Tori was parched from those two little shots that seemed to have set her ass off. Did I enjoy a tipsy Tori? Hell yeah! But I much preferred a sound one who was just as eager.
“Hey, man.” Stephan had come into the kitchen. “So…” He tossed his chin toward the back of the apartment. “What did I miss with Aivery?”
I shrugged with my lips. “Nothing and everything, I guess.”
“You guys broke up?”
“Not exactly.”
His eyes blew the hell up. “So, you’re still together?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly.”
His arms flapped in the air, then his palms fell to his waist. “Dude, you’re fucking me up here.”
“Welcome to my world as of late.” I moved around him to leave the room.
“So…” His hesitation caught my attention and I turned to him. “If I were to be asked about seeing her here?”
Guy code, I understood.
“Would I be devastated if you answered honestly?” I shook my head. “Not at all. But if you did, I’d be inclined to skip your next birthday.”
Stephan busted out laughing and I had to, too, on my way back to my room.
“I thought you only lit candles to write?”
I looked up from rubbing her pretty red toes to see her face across from me in the Jacuzzi. Then my eyes brushed around the bathroom lit by my candles.
“I do. Now, you’re gonna have to replace them for when I write.”
“How much are they?”
I shrugged. “Like thirty bucks.”
“Thirty dollars?” She gasped. “They’re not even scented.”
“What would I need with scented candles?”
“For thirty bucks a pop? A lot.” She rolled her neck. Tori got quiet for a minute as I continued with the massage. “Do you light these for her?”
My hands froze. “My writing candles? Hell no.” I scoffed.
“Then what candles?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe hers.”
Slowly, I picked up her other foot to massage it. Earlier, she complained about them being swollen from the heels she wore.
“Who’s NormaJean?”
That was another abrupt ask throwing me askew. I couldn’t even hide my surprise, but I tried playing it off. “My friend.”
Her head fell to the side. “Not your grandmother?”
I laughed, hard. “No, Nabby-girl. NormaJean isn’t my grandmother. She isn’t old enough to be.”
“What kind of friend then?”
I nodded, considering that. “A good friend. The closest female friend I have.”
“So, she’s your best friend?”
“I guess you can say that.”
When I was expecting more questions about the infamous NormaJean, I was met with silence. Tori’s head lay back on the padded rest as she ruminated. I secretly hoped this wouldn’t turn weird. Something I prided myself on was honesty. I had no reason to lie to anyone, including Aivery. The question had always been could my truth could be handled. And NormaJean and I held a complicated truth.
“Do you love her?”
I tried answering with the same speed her random question came. “Yes.” I nodded. “I absolutely love NormaJean. She’s a close confidant.”
“No.” The one word so sharp, my face snapped up to see her. “Aivery. Do you love her?”
My eyes narrowed and face wrinkled in confusion. “Sure, I do.”
“Then why are you here with me?”
A plausible question, I had to give it to her.
My brows knitted and I smirked. I dropped her foot then swiveled to her side, sitting next to her. Exhaling, I shared, “I’m guessing it’s for a similar reason to you being here with me.”
“I don’t know why I’m here with you,” she murmured.
“Now, that…” I waggled my wrinkled index finger in the air, splashing a little water. “That’s bullshit.”
Her eyes fell and I noticed the mascara bleeding from her lids. The look was sexy and downright fucking erotic. Tori was an enticing