3
Camilla
I grab a venti coffee on the way to the subway, and it’s empty by the time I get to my stop.
I grab another before I head into the school.
Comics with day jobs need all the caffeine they can get. Add in the most unbelievable sex of the century and…yeah. I’m tired.
And grinning.
“Why do you look happy?” I get asked as soon as I step into the staff room. I’m not sure who asked it. There’s a bunch of people in there already, and I wasn’t paying any of them any attention.
“Uh…” I screw my face into my usual frown. “I’m not.”
It was Rosanne, apparently. The gym teacher gives me a disbelieving look as she gathers up her newspaper. “Sure.”
“I had a good show last night.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And I love coming to work here?”
That gets a chorus of laughs. Everyone knows I’m counting down the days until my contract ends and I can fly out to L.A.
“It’s payday tomorrow.” Which it is, and I am genuinely happy about that. The first bell of the morning goes, and I scoot past my mailbox before ducking into the hallway again.
I’m still grinning.
The morning flies by, and before I know it, it’s lunch. I go out to grab a sandwich and coffee, and while I’m in line to pay, my phone vibrates.
Elizabeth: You said wait a few days.
Camilla: I did.
Elizabeth: Oops.
Camilla: LOL What’s up?
Elizabeth: Is too soon to say I want to see you again?
Camilla: Yes.
Elizabeth: Too late.
I picture her unrepentant smile, the same grin she gave me when she asked me to sleep over. Elizabeth Witmore is a woman who probably never hears the word no.
But she also has a wicked mouth and a big-ass bed.
And I like the way she laughs, like it’s been way too long since someone reached inside her and surprised her with a good joke.
A fucking travesty.
Camilla: Someone kept me up all night with a series of ridiculously good orgasms, so I need to get some sleep tonight. But tomorrow night might be open.
Elizabeth: Really? That’s marvelous.
Marvelous. Good lord.
And yes, it really was.
We text a few more times over the next twenty-four hours, and by the time I’m leaving work the next day, I’m excited to see her.
To get her naked.
To press her against the bed…
And now I’m turned on. And on the subway. Awkward.
My arousal disappears as soon as I get off at Gretchen’s stop, though. A text from Elizabeth dumps ice water on my plans for the night.
Elizabeth: I’m so sorry, I need to cancel. I promise I don’t want to, but my former mother-in-law is demanding my presence at a fundraiser gala tonight.
I roll my eyes. My thumb itches to tap back a hard truth—like, key word there is former, right? or Rumor has it, grown-ups don’t get to demand anything from one another but we’ve fucked once. Okay, three times in one night. Four times? Maybe.
We have a sexual connection and that’s it. I don’t know her from Adam. And it’s only my business insomuch that it means I’m not getting laid tonight after all—and probably not again, because a socialite who hurries to do her former mother-in-law’s bidding is not my type.
Not even if she bites my inner thigh when I come. I have some standards.
Camilla: No worries. Thanks for letting me know.
Elizabeth: What are you doing tomorrow? Or Sunday? I’m yours any other time this weekend. Can I take you out for brunch? Or make you brunch at my place, naked?
She didn’t get the blow-off vibe. Damn.
Camilla: I’m kind of busy the rest of the weekend. Enjoy your gala.
Instead of another reply, my phone starts ringing.
I’m tempted to rejected the call. I should reject the call.
I press the green button to answer it instead. “Yes?”
“You’re blowing me off.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” God, she’s so earnest.
“Because you’re blowing me off. And this is what dating is like in 2018. We have high standards, which are completely justified, and people don’t meet them, and that’s totally fine. Onward and upward.”
“But we had a nice time the other night,” she says softly, like she didn’t get the memo that 2018 is the year of the Jaded Bitch.
“Sure. Thanks for the orgasms.”
“I have a complicated relationship with my ex’s family.”
“I can tell.”
“It’s not a bad relationship…I’d like to tell you more, if you’d see me again.”
I close my eyes and tell myself her soft voice is not worth any extra time. Myself does not listen. “I have to be honest, Elizabeth, this is a red flag.”
“I can see how. Just give me a chance to explain.”
“You said something about brunch?”
She exhales, like maybe she was holding her breath and waiting for my answer. I scowl, because I shouldn’t like that. “The brunch invitation stands, yes. But here’s another idea…”
I wait.
“Come with me tonight,” she says in a rush. “I don’t have anything to hide. From you, or them. But this charity is important to me, and the family’s continued philanthropy toward them depends on my presence.”
“So many strings,” I mutter. “I’m not sure I have an outfit that goes with blackmail.”
She laughs. “Do you want to wear something of mine?”
No. No I don’t. If I’m going to meet my latest hook-up’s extended, complicated family, it’s going to be in my own clothes. “I’m not some dress-up Barbie, thanks.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
“Are you always this unflappable?”
“Yes.”
I sigh into the phone as I turn in a circle, pointing myself toward Starbucks. I need a coffee, then I need to find something to wear to… “What is the dress code?”
“Formal, but eclectic is fine. Any dress or suit would work.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying yes to this. Will your ex be there?”
“No. This isn’t his type of thing, and he’s in Asia right now anyway. But in the interest of full disclosure—to you, I mean—I will send him a text letting him know I’m bringing a date so he doesn’t hear that from his mother.”
Full disclosure. “That’s…healthy and reasonable.”
She laughs. “I try. Therapy helps.”
I bet she tries. “Your brunch is going to be spectacular, isn’t it?”
“Best lox in the city, I promise.”
“Then I’m looking forward to that, and willing to drink expensive champagne tonight. I’ll come to your place at six, if that works.”
Another exhale, this one breathier than the last. “That’s perfect. Camilla…”
“Yes?”
“I can’t wait to see you. For whatever that’s worth.”
It’s worth a dangerous amount considering this will only be our second date.