CHAPTER FIVE — CHLOE
The twilight zone. If anyone asked for my current location, that’s what I would tell them. After all, I was stuck in the backward world where I talked to Conner Wilkes without overthinking everything, and he invited me out for drinks like a normal woman.
Deep down, I knew his invitation had to be innocent. I worked hard and did the company a service. As a good boss, he wanted to thank me. That was it. It was the only logical explanation after all. However, the horny teenager in me couldn’t help but jump up and down with joy and obsess about what to wear and how to behave.
With my mind running a million miles per hour, I parked my Jeep in the driveway of my home just as the sun was starting to set and exited the car. I was so distracted by my thoughts I almost had a heart attack when a high pitched, perfectly tuned voice sounded from the far side of my front porch.
“Sup, Bella?”
My heart beat like a freight train as I turned my face to look at the caramel skin, honey eyes and wavy hair that belonged to the only person who ever called me that. “Oh, my God! Hayden?”
“No, Tooth Fairy,” my childhood best friend replied in her usual brand of sarcasm.
Laughing, I dropped my purse on the ground and hurried to hug her. Although we had talked on and off since I moved away, it had been way too long since we last saw each other and I missed her like crazy.
For the next several minutes, we embraced and shrieked gibberish even we could barely understand. It was fun and familiar and filled a hole in my chest that neither Italy nor New York had ever been able to fill.
“What are you doing back here?” I asked once we calmed down and settled on the porch swing. Hayden was a backup singer for a prominent pop star and, as far as I knew, was supposed to be on tour for the next three months.
“Oh, such a warm welcome after being so far away,” she muttered.
I rolled my eyes and bumped my shoulder against hers. “You know what I mean. What happened to the tour?”
“Nothing,” she said returning my shoulder nudge. “We’re on a break for three days. Then, we have as month of nonstop shows and a week off before we leave for Asia.”
My cheeks hurt of how wide my smile was. “That’s so cool. Give me the highlights.”
“Are we still doing that?” she asked with a raised brow. Highlights were something we used to do after every summer vacation growing up.
With a serious gaze, I nodded. “Of course, it’s tradition.”
Tossing her head back, Hayden laughed. The sound was like childhood, comfort, and home.
“Okay, let me see. The last time we talked was two months ago, so . . .” she trailed off and looked up as she usually did while thinking. Then, a smile that was ten percent happy and ninety percent wicked appeared on her face. “Oh, yeah. The dressing room sex I had with one of the roadies in Prague. Oh, my God, it was incredible.” With a serious look on her face, she turned to face me and grabbed my arm. “Seriously, Bella. It was so good I actually saw God. She’s a woman, by the way.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as she went on and on with every detail about her time with the roadie. As per usual, Hayden was very graphic, and my cheeks felt like they were on fire from how hard I was blushing.
Despite being closer than close, Hayden and I had always been opposites. I was a shy nerd, and she was an outgoing slacker. I saw no point in watching the movie since the books were always better and she felt like reading was a waste of time since the movies usually have the naked bodies. When it came to sex, the rule remained the same. I was the one who never talked about sex, and she was the wild one who loved having sex and shouting her experiences from the rooftops.
“Why are your cheeks so pink?” Hayden asked with a raised brow once her story was done.
Uncomfortable, I shook my head. “Nothing and don’t change the subject. You still owe me two more amazing things.”
“I have none else to give,” she said in a matter of fact tone and with her eyes still locked on mine. “Prague guy was so amazing he’s one, two, and three on my list. Now you go. Tell me your great things and why you’re blushing.” Before I had a chance to put a word in, Hayden’s eyes widened, and she stood up. “Did you finally get that cherry popped? That’s it, isn’t it?”
Knowing I would never get her to stop asking that question until she got her answer, I took a deep breath and shook my head. “No, the cherry is still unpopped, and my great things are all work related. I’m blushing because you’re so graphic.”
She rolled her eyes and sat down beside me again. “Well, that’s disappointing. And I’m not graphic. I’m excited, and you’ll be too once you clean out the cobwebs and invite some peen into your vag.”
“Do you ever talk about anything other than sex?”
Hayden laughed. “Unfortunately, yes. Now spill the boring work highlights.”
“Considering I’m working at Blackwater Ranch as Conner Wilkes’ second in command and I’m meeting him at Rusty’s for drinks in about an hour, I wouldn’t say my work is boring,” I replied in a smug tone.
In silence, I watched as Hayden’s face turned from teasing to excited and then continued on to almost hysterical. After a lifetime of her being the only one with all the fun news, I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy.
“Details, Chloe. I need details,” she demanded after a long silence.
Chuckling at both her and my girlish enthusiasm, I told her everything that happened, not only today but also in the past two weeks. When I was done, Hayden’s eyes were wide, and her smile seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
“You have a date with Conner Wilkes?” Her voice so loud I had to look around us to make sure no one was listening.
With a shake of my head and in a much quieter tone, I replied, “No, it’s just coworkers having drinks to celebrate.”
She rolled her eyes. “Bullshit. Rusty’s is Conner’s fishing pond. He goes, waves his pole and always—always—leaves with a catch. Oh my God Bella, after so many years pining for the man he’s finally waving that pole your direction.”
As much as I didn’t want to admit, Hayden words made my insides flutter. He was my boss and my Dad’s best friend, which pretty much granted that nothing could ever happen between us. Still, he was the only man I ever wanted, and if there was any chance—however slim—that he might want something with me as well, I would take it and hold on to it with everything I had.
The only problem was this innocent little fish was swimming in uncharted territory and had no idea how to act and what to expect if hooked. Panic melted away my previous excitement, and I stared at Hayden with wide eyes and a clear cry for help.
Knowing me well and reading my expression correctly, Hayden got up from the swing and grabbed my hand. “Don’t worry, Bella. I’ve got your back, and though an hour isn’t much, it’s plenty of time to get you nice and fuckable for Conner freaking Wilkes!”
With that exciting promise and a horde of butterflies in my belly, I allowed my oldest friend to drag me toward my house and prepare me for the one thing I’ve always wanted but never thought I could have.