“Can you believe we’ll finally be free of this fuckstick?” Taylah says while we both watch Joe pack up his desk. “And we owe it all to you.” She points at me and dances, singing the theme song from Dirty Dancing, gesturing to me every time she sings the particular line.

“Patrick Swayze night tonight?”

“Sorry, it’s John Travolta for me.”

“We’ll flip for it. See you at my place after work.”

“See you.”  

Joe glares at us both and we both return a smile. Intent on being an intimidating prick, he was in for the shock of his life when we sat down and spoke after the incident with Jagger.  

“What’s a guy gotta do to get an apology around here? Or maybe I should as for a blow job instead to help make up my mind.” He waves his hands up and down like he’s figuratively weighing up his options. “Blow Job from the sweet naive Emerson or dob in her piece of shit boyfriend.”

My skin crawls at how twisted and seedy he sounds.

I take a deep breath through my nose and exhale loudly whilegiving myself the pep talk I need to tolerate this dickhead for long enough to talk to him.

“Let’s cut the crap, Joe.” My smile is fake, but my impending threat is very real.

I finally let him on my secret, something I’ve been waiting on a very good time to use. It’s been a long time coming. “This is how we’re going to do this. You can try and press charges on Jagger, but you’ve got no witnesses and nobody willing to vouch for you.

Whereas, I’ve got this real nice bruise around my arm. Five muscular fingers--it’s even starting to turn purple.” I lift up the sleeve of my shirt to remind him of how this all started.

His nostrils flare, and his heavy breathing gives away his fury.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve put your hands on me for no good reason. So if you want to fight, you better be prepared to lose.”

“I’m not scared of you,” he scoffs.

“You should be. Otherwise I’ll hit you with a sexual assault charge that will have you kicked out of every law association in the country.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Can’t I?” I place my hand theatrically in the middle of my chest, before I deliver the nail in his coffin. “Did you forget who my best friend is and what happened a few Christmas parties ago?”

“She-

“She what?”

He remains silent. His anger palpable.

I rise, feeling lighter. Better. Hopeful. “Good chat, Joe.”

* * *

Waiting for Taylah to show up with dinner, I give Sasha a quick call to check in on Dakota.

After three rings, Sasha’s voice comes through the phone. “Hello.”

“Hi, Sasha. It’s Emerson.”

“Em, I’m so glad you called. How have you been?”

“I’ve definitely been better. You?”

“Nothing much has changed. And Dakota?”

“She’s finally getting back to normal. She went into panic mode. Scared Jagger was going to go back to jail.”

“Is she there? I’d like to talk to her and reassure her if that’s ok.”

“Of course. It’s probably a good idea. Let me call her out of her room.”

“Emerson?” Dakota’s voice immediately cheers me.

“Hey, you. How are you doing?”

“I miss you,” she says, surprising me.

“I miss you too. Is everything okay? Well, okay since the incident.”

“Is Dad going to jail, Emerson? Mum said you wouldn’t let it happen. I didn’t want those kids to say I had a bad dad again.” The anxiety and fear in her words roll over me like a steam train.

“Whoa, Dakota, honey. Calm down. Your dad’s not going to jail.”

Sniffles sound through the phone. “I was so worried, Em. He just came out.”

My heart breaks. “You’re going to have him forever. I promise.”

“He misses you,” she exclaims.

“I miss him too.” Closing my eyes, I will myself not to cry.

“He’s different. He doesn’t smile or laugh anymore.”

A tear drops, and I try and silently search for a tissue before Taylah tells me off for lines of mascara running down my face. “You might have to help him, remind him of all the reasons he once smiled.”

“That’s a great idea. I think I know the perfect thing.”

“Don’t give up on him, okay?”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Is your mum still around?”

“Yes, I’ll get her.”

“Hello again.” Sasha’s voice is tired, worn thin.

“Thank you so much for letting me talk to her. I didn’t realise how much I needed it.”

“Of course, you can still call here. Even if thing are tricky right now.”

I sigh loudly through the phone. “That’s the understatement of the century.”

“How have you been?”

“I miss him, Sasha. I miss him so fucking much.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, because all I seem to do is fucking cry. “But I’m also mad at him for making decisions so final. I thought we meant more.”

“I don’t think this is about him not wanting to fight for you. Jagger just thinks he knows best.”

* * *

“Do you think John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John fucked on the set of Grease?” Taylah asks, finishing off our second bottle of wine.

“Probably. Who didn’t want want to fuck Danny Zuko?”

“Emmersson,” she slurs as the wine completes its job successfully. “I’m sorry.”

I glance over at her sitting on the opposite end of the couch. “What for?”

“Pushing you to date Jagger.”

“Don’t. It hurts like a bitch, but every moment with him was worth the tears.” I don’t think I’ll ever get over what it felt to love and be loved by Jagger. It was so much more than words and physical touches. It was a whole experience. On every level I felt connected to him, and I always will. “I don't regret it. None of it. And If I recall, when I asked you what happens if it goes bad, you told me to suck it up because at least I got to fuck a hot guy.”

“I’m so knowledgeable,” she drawls. “Good fuck then?”

“It was better than anything I’ve ever had.”

“Man, I need some good sex. And sexy twin number two is now unavailable,” she whines.

“You can still pursue him.”

“You know what’s funny? When you notice the differences in their personalities, it’s almost like they’re no longer twins.”

“Ha. That’s so true. I don’t think I ever looked at Hendrix and had the same instant response as I did with Jagger.” I remember my only reaction was shock they were twins, not that I was attracted to both.

“Could you imagine having babies with those guys?”

“Ehhh,” I cringe at the reminder there’s no future for Jagger and me. “I’d rather not.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry Em. I’m drunk and horny, and I keep forgetting the guy in my dreams is related to the guy in yours. But while we’re on the topic, did you think of having his babies?”

“Honestly, I think I’d be too scared in case it’s twins.” I look down at my stomach. “Where would I carry them?”

“Are you sure it’s over for you two?”

“Yeah, I mean, he broke up with me, even if he did try to sell it like it was in my best interest. I’m not one for the chase. Besides, I’m not running after a man who had no trouble walking away from me. but if one of us had to do it. It wouldn’t be me.”