The next two weeks were perfect for Diana. She and Travis saw each other regularly, almost every day, and when they were together, they inevitably fell into each other’s arms. Sometimes they made love, sometimes they had sex, but more often than not, they fucked like horny newlyweds. Only once had they discussed protection, and she assured him she was practically psychotic about her birth control regimen. Both were clean as far as any STDs, and the subject of condoms was dropped.

Cameron had noticed a change in Diana the Monday after their first night and had teased her mercilessly about it since. He had wrangled a promise out of her to meet him and Ronnie for drinks soon, and she was actually looking forward to Travis meeting the couple. They were hilariously inappropriate, which Travis would love, and he’d fall right in with them and be best buds before an hour had passed.

Alyssa, on the other hand, hadn’t spoken with her much since she and Travis had decided to continue dating. When Diana called her, she wouldn’t answer, and texting with her elicited short, usually monosyllabic replies. After the second refusal of happy hour drinks, Diana had thrown a fit over voicemail, and Alyssa had sent her a text saying they could meet that afternoon, assuming Diana didn’t have “other plans.” Diana’s lips thinned at her spitefulness and decided they were having a coming-to-Jesus discussion at happy hour.

“What is that face?” Cameron asked as he stepped up to her desk, holding a host of folders that looked like a new case. Diana smoothed the scowl off her face and smiled, which must have looked more like a grimace. “That’s worse. Frown at me again.”

Diana chuckled, shaking her head. “Shut up. Alyssa is being weird, and I assume it’s because I’m dating Travis again.”

“Don’t let that bitch make you feel guilty for being happy,” Cameron ordered, his sudden seriousness surprising her. He pointed at her. “This is the happiest I’ve seen you since you started working for me.”

With a sigh, Diana had to agree. “I know, you’re right. I just wish she and Travis would get along. They hated each other when we were together before.”

“Yes, you’ve told me, and I think he’s right,” Cameron said. He propped a hip on her desk and asked, “May I be perfectly candid with you?”

“Always,” Diana answered, though his serious tone and expression concerned her.

“Alyssa is toxic.” He stated his opinion boldly and without excuse, as any lawyer would.

“I think toxic is a little harsh, don’t you?”

“Not at all. Let me explain,” Cameron said, rising to stand in his lawyer pose. “She makes snide comments to you and about you, which drives Ronnie and me crazy. And worse, she abrasively rude to people.”

Diana frowned, automatic denial and defense of her friend leaping to her tongue, but Cameron held up a finger. “Today while you’re at happy hour with her, pay attention to the way she speaks to you and to others.”

“I’ll pay attention, but I don’t think she’s that bad,” Diana murmured, though her mind was sifting through their last few talks. Not one positive sentence had left Alyssa’s mouth.

“I’m obviously not telling you to dump your friend. I would never presume,” Cameron said, putting his hand on his chest. “I just want you to be happy. Alyssa doesn’t make you happy. Travis does.”

A smile flitted across her face, then broadened as she let Alyssa slip away and Travis take her place. “I love spending time with him. I wish we had been smart enough to fix our marriage instead of end it.”

“Ah, well, that’s the way of the world these days. Divorce is easier than trying counselling and whatnot,” Cameron replied sagely. He smiled down at her. “If Travis is who you’re supposed to be with, you’ll know it.”

Diana clenched her teeth and made what she called an oh-crap face. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him again.”

Cameron laughed. “I’m pretty sure you never stopped loving him. You just had to discover it again.”

“It’s like we never parted,” she confided, putting her chin in her hands like a lovesick girl.

After patting her on the head, he said, “Okay, sweetie, time to get your head out of the clouds. We’ve got work to do.”

Diana sat up, ready for the challenge of a new case. “Awesome! I’ve been getting bored filing and getting coffee.”

“You’ve been doing more than that,” Cameron said with a huff.

Diana waved dismissively and reached for the files. “So, what kind of case is it?”

“Sexual harassment in the workplace.”

“Oh.” Diana’s voice revealed her displeasure with the idea of handling a case of that nature. “I didn’t know you took cases like this.”

“I usually don’t, but the woman being accused is a friend of mine from law school,” Cameron told her as he carefully handed her the files.

“A woman is being accused?” she asked, shock in the high pitch of her voice.

“Yep. And this goes a little deeper into the controversial,” Cameron commented. “Our client is gay, though she’s been hiding it. I had no idea!”

“You didn’t know?”

“Not an inkling. She wanted a partnership with a specific law firm in Dallas, but the partners were conservative. So she hid her sexuality,” Cameron said with a shrug.

“Doesn’t seem worth it to me,” Diana noted, lifting the top file cover to glance at the picture of the accused. “Karen Prosper. She’s pretty.” She glanced up at Cameron and asked, “So what’s the accusation?”

“One of the lawyers, a man, claims she promotes attractive women over men even if they aren’t doing equal work.”

“That sounds a little hard to prove,” Diana observed.

“Not really, but I have to prove it hasn’t been happening.”

“That doesn’t really sound like sexual harassment, though.” The question was obvious in her tone.

“This man also claims he walked in on Karen with one of the women who was promoted above him in a compromising position,” Cameron continued. “If that’s true, and his lawyer can get the woman to testify, Karen’s screwed.”

“What does Karen say?”

“She says there isn’t a scrap of truth to any of it,” Cameron said, staring out the window.

Diana narrowed her eyes. “You don’t believe her?”

“Well, I have some digging to do, but we were pals in law school,” he stated, returning his gaze to Diana’s. “Studied together, hung out together, and celebrated graduating together. Then she went to Dallas and I came here. I haven’t seen her in months.”

“I hear a but,” Diana prompted.

“Yeah, a big but,” he replied, and they chuckled at the pun. “I think she’s lying about something.”

“Well, that’s not good. You can’t help her if she’s lying.”

“As a lawyer, she knows that, so you and I will have some serious research to do.” He winked at her. “But don’t worry, I won’t interrupt your Travis time.”

Diana laughed as she grabbed her work iPad to start a list of the people they would need to research and talk to as well as any questions she had over the files. Cameron, she knew, had done his read-through the night before, and once she finished, they would compare notes so he could begin preparing his case.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let you,” she told him. “I’ll get started on this now and work through lunch.”

“I’ll have something delivered,” he told her as he headed back to his office. He stopped in the doorway and looked back at her. “I know I don’t have to say this, but I have to say this. No discussing the case outside of this office.”

“No problem,” Diana called, giving him the thumbs up. When she’d first started working for him, his repeating that statement had irritated her. However, she learned through the firing of another assistant who had gabbed to a friend who happened to be a reporter that the statement was a CYA for Cameron. The woman the assistant had worked for had also gotten in trouble for not warning her, even though a clause in their contracts stated it plainly.

After a quick text to Travis to let him know she’d be busy through the day and wouldn’t be able to chat much, she got started, flipping through what sounded like the most interesting case they’d had in a while.

TRAVIS: So now you’re the workaholic?

He added a winky face after his comment, and she smiled.

DIANA: Only from nine to five, so shut it!

TRAVIS: Dinner tonight?

DIANA: I actually made plans with Alyssa. Tomorrow?

TRAVIS: I will wile away the hours in mourning until I see your face again.

DIANA: Drama queen.

TRAVIS: We’ll chat this evening.

He added two heart emojis, so she sent him three, put her phone in her bag so she wouldn’t be tempted, and opened the top file again.

* * *

Travis frowned when he found himself with nothing to do that evening. He had planned on takeout, a movie, and some fun in the tub. He’d even bought a bunch of candles and a bath bomb that smelled like lavender he thought she’d like. Sighing, he glanced at his calendar and remembered he and Michael had a meeting with Doctors Smith and Cartwright at the building. Since he was alone for the evening, he might as well go over the last-minute items he usually saved for the two hours before the meeting.

So far, the renovations of the building were going as planned, and the construction would actually begin on Wednesday, which was why they were meeting the next day. He took another glance at the blueprints, the inspections, and all the paperwork. The meeting would be incredibly boring, but once the actual renovations started, he could begin his favorite part of this job: staffing and supplying.

He’d begun the supplying when the doctors had signed the contracts, though he had made a more comprehensive list since and still had plenty of items to purchase. Staffing, though, was his forte. He could find the perfect mix of people to keep an office running like a well-oiled machine. He understood an office needed many personality types. He always began with the office manager, who would run the day-to-day business for the doctors. And that person had to get along with both doctors, who were the heart of the office. This was usually a difficult find, but in the four years since he and Michael had started the business, he’d made one mistake with the office manager and had rectified it as soon as he realized the problem.

The man he’d hired for a doctor’s office in a tiny town north of New Orleans had been a respected member of that community, according to every reference he had called. But soon after the office opened, a nurse quit and filed a complaint about his behavior. One complaint hadn’t been a red flag, but within six months two office people quit and another nurse in a loud, very public scene in the waiting room. Travis had done some investigating and discovered the man had used fake references and was a high school drop-out with a history of run-ins with the cops.

After that colossal mistake, Travis and Michael had agreed to buy a program that allowed them to complete basic background checks on all their employees. They also made frequent visits to the newly opened offices for the first six months, ensuring the employees were comfortable enough with them to speak their minds if any problems arose.

As he sorted the files into the order he wished to read through them, his phone buzzed like an angry bee. He glanced down, saw his mother’s name, and pressed his lips together. He had told her he was seeing someone but not that the person was Diana. She always said as long as he was happy she would be happy with whomever he chose, but she resented Diana for the breakup of their marriage, even though she knew he had a part in it. He’d been avoiding lengthy calls with her lately, which made him feel guilty.

“Hey, Mom,” he answered, projecting happiness into his voice.

“Hi, baby. Why do you sound weird?” Ayana asked immediately, and he should have known better than to try to fool her.

“I’m working. What are you doing?”

“Working? You said you weren’t going to put in late nights anymore,” Ayana admonished quietly.

“First one in two weeks, Mom. And it’s only a little after five. Besides, I try not to, but every now and then it can’t be helped,” Travis told her. “Promise, I’m not slipping back into my old ways.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. I hope a certain young woman has to do with that?” she asked, hinting that she wanted some details.

“Yeah, a little,” he allowed, sitting back in his chair and grinning, deciding he’d let her squirm before he told her. He just hoped she didn’t become hostile. Ayana had loved Diana when they were together, and had the marriage not ended so badly, they probably would have remained friends.

“Oooh,” she squealed, and he could picture her sitting up. “What’s her name? When do I get to meet her? What does she do?”

Travis laughed loudly as his mother’s questions continued. “Calm down, Mom. I can’t answer even one question because there were so many I can’t remember what you asked.”

“You’re being cagey,” she said after a moment of silence. “Do I know this girl?”

Travis cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. “You do.”

“Uh huh, I heard that change in tone.” She was silent again, and then he heard her fingers snap. “You’re seeing Diana!”

“How do you know that?”

“You told me at the Tatas dinner you ran into her, and now you’re dating her!” Ayana exclaimed.

Well, shit, he thought. He’d completely forgotten he’d mentioned Diana to his mother. Nothing to do but admit it. “Okay, you got me. I’m seeing Diana again.”

Ayana hummed, her excitement dimmed once her conclusion was confirmed. “Oh, Travis. Is that such a good idea? I mean, she broke your heart.”

“And I broke hers.”

“Yes, you did,” Ayana agreed thoughtfully. “But seriously, is this a good idea?”

“Mom, Diana and I were so young when we married,” Travis justified. “We had some growing up to do, and we’ve done it. We’re very different now that we’re approaching thirty.”

“You are thirty,” his mother replied tonelessly.

“You know what I mean!” he exclaimed, shaking his head and chuckling. “It feels good being with her, Mom.”

“Well, baby, you know my feelings. If you’re happy, I’m happy,” Ayana said. “But if she hurts you again, I know exactly how my ancestors used to dispose of their enemies. Remember that.”

“And this is exactly why I won’t be bringing her by to see you anytime soon,” Travis said monotonously. “Didn’t you threaten her when we first started dating?”

“It wasn’t a threat, baby,” Ayana told him, her voice sugary sweet. “I was explaining the history of death in my culture. The Native Americans were incredibly violent people, especially my tribe.”

“Yeah, okay. And I reiterate, Diana and I won’t be coming by any time soon.”

Ayana hummed, and he wondered what his mother was up to. “That’s just fine,” she said happily. “When are you seeing her again?”

“Tomorrow, probably. She is having drinks with her friend tonight,” Travis told her offhandedly, then told himself the relaxing night at home would have to happen at Diana’s apartment in case his mother decided she’d pop over unannounced.

“I promise to behave if you’ll bring her over. Soon,” she added as a warning him. “And you know your father would love to see her. They were such good friends.”

Travis laughed as he nodded. “They always partnered when we played games. How that pair beat our exceptional brains more often than not still surprises the hell out of me.”

“And I even tried to cheat,” Ayana mused.

“Not very well.”

“They didn’t know.”

“Yes, they did, and they always blocked. That’s why you and I won’t be partners ever again.”

“I guess we won’t play games then, because I’ll kill your father if we’re partners,” Ayana announced.

“And he’d kill you. Gosh, I hope when I get married again, my wife and I love each other as much as you and Dad do,” Travis joked.

“If you don’t threaten to kill your spouse occasionally, you don’t really love each other,” Ayana told him seriously.

“That’s rational, Mom. I gotta go.”

“All right, baby. I love you. And seriously, bring her around again. I was mad at her, but if you’ve forgiven her, I will.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you, too.”

Travis hung up and felt a little better about Diana seeing his mother again. However, he had decided to treat their relationship like a brand-new one, and he would never introduce a woman to his parents after only two weeks of dating. His mother would have to wait a while longer, though Travis was certain Diana and he would make it this time. They were older, smarter, and over their problems. Yes, he worked late at least once a week or so, but when they’d been together, he was out four or five nights a week. Much improvement. And as far as he knew, Diana was completely over her addiction.

So they were different, more mature, and smarter about their habits. They would make it. He believed it with all his heart, and he planned to convince her. And what he was even more sure of was that he wouldn’t have to do much convincing.

* * *

Diana’s brain was melting out of her ears by the time five o’clock rolled around. She was exhausted and wanted to go home, run a bath, and watch some Netflix before going to bed at eight. “I’m a wild one,” she mumbled to herself as she opened the door to the bar Alyssa had chosen for happy hour. She couldn’t cancel on her best friend, partially because she didn’t want her to be any more irritable, and because she really wanted to talk to her about Travis.

She let her eyes pass over the bar, which was relatively small and only about half full. She didn’t see Alyssa, so she walked to the bar and hopped up on a stool. After shooting her a quick ‘I’m here’ text she lifted a hand to catch the bartender’s eye.

“Hi there,” he said, a charming grin on his dark face. His white teeth were a contrast to his skin, and his eyes were a paler brown than she would have expected. He was gleamingly bald and wore a tight tee over taut muscles. He was a mesmerizing specimen of a man, and his grin told her he knew it. “What can I get the pretty lady?”

Diana blushed at the compliment, something he probably said to every woman who sat down at his bar. “Um, I’ll have a vodka with cranberry, please.”

“Coming right up,” he said as he spun to get the vodka off the shelf behind him.

Diana glanced around the bar self-consciously. She didn’t really like being at a bar alone and hoped Alyssa would arrive quickly. She glanced at her phone, the screen clear because Alyssa hadn’t answered. If she’d gotten hung up with a client, she might be running late, but she could have shot her a quick text. She always had before. However, since she’d helped Diana get ready for her date with Travis, Alyssa had been snarky bordering on rude when Diana mentioned him.

After waiting twenty minutes, sipping slowly on her drink so she didn’t have to order a second, Diana was angry bordering on furious. The bartender had attempted to begin a conversation two times, but he was a good reader of people because when she snapped at him to bring her another drink, he took the hint, left her drink, and stayed at the other end of the bar. Diana felt a little bad about her rudeness. Poor guy was just doing his job, mostly. He was hitting on her a little as well, though, which she was not in the mood for.

When Alyssa sauntered in at a leisurely pace nearly thirty minutes late, Diana stared at her. “Where the hell have you been?”

Alyssa had the nerve to look surprised by her anger. “What do you mean? I told you 5:30.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “No. You said a little after five. I came straight here after work and have been sitting here being not-so-subtly hit on by the bartender.”

“I don’t know why you’re complaining,” Alyssa responded after glancing at the sexy bartender. “He’s hot.”

“That’s not the point and you know it. You couldn’t have texted me?”

“I was busy with a client,” Alyssa said airily. “It was thirty minutes. Let it go.”

Diana stared at her, so many harsh comments ready to fly out of her mouth. Alyssa raised her hand to get the bartender’s attention, and while she flirted mercilessly with the man, Diana sucked in several deep breaths to calm herself. Alyssa had always been completely selfish, thinking her time was more valuable than anyone else’s. She was single because she behaved as if everyone should let her have her way in everything. Diana had always glossed over this flaw because they’d been friends for so long.

Alyssa had nursed her through her broken heart, helped her with the gambling addiction, and told her mother to fuck off once when the woman was verbally attacking Diana. Because of all those things, Diana forgave her for her flaws.

“Could I have another, please?” Diana asked the bartender when there was a lull in his conversation with Alyssa.

“Sure.” His voice lacked the friendliness it had in it before, so she smiled at him. He smiled back and winked at Alyssa. “I’ll have your drinks in two seconds.”

Alyssa turned to Diana and looked in her eyes. “So you’ve calmed down?”

“Are you going to stop being late?”

Alyssa grinned and bumped Diana’s shoulder with hers. “Answer that question yourself.”

“Why am I friends with such a bitch?” Diana sighed.

“Because we can’t live without each other,” Alyssa stated simply. “So, what’s going on in Diana’s world?”

“Not much. What about you?”

“Well, remember the woman I told you about, Christy, whose hair I do that’s always covered in glitter?”

“Yes. We decided she had to be a stripper or a kindergarten teacher.”

The bartender returned with their drinks. “Would you pretty ladies like a menu? We have great bar food.”

“Sure,” Alyssa told him, reaching for her drink and stirring it. He handed them menus and winked again before walking away.

“You know, I’m beginning to wonder if that man has a tic,” Diana whispered, leaning close enough to Alyssa to smell the chemicals she used to dye hair.

Alyssa cackled as she opened the menu. “Want to share some wings and fries?”

“Of course I do. Why would you even ask?” They chuckled together as Alyssa set the menu aside. “So, tell me about Christy the Glitter Wearer. Stripper or teacher?”

“Neither! She’s an escort!” Alyssa hissed, her eyes wide.

Diana put her hand over her mouth in surprise. “Oh, my God! Do you mean like a prostitute?”

“That’s exactly what I mean!” Alyssa affirmed, nodding her head quickly.

“How do you know?”

“So she comes in today with strange marks on her wrists, and I asked her what happened. You know, standard stylist talk.”

“People always talk to their hair person. Always!” Diana agreed.

Alyssa laughed after taking a gulp of her drink. “Damn. That’s perfect. Anyway, she looked around to make sure no one was listening and told me the man who hired her the night before enjoyed bondage.”

“Bondage?” Diana whisper-shrieked. “Oh, my God!”

“Yeah! He tied her up and fucked her silly. She told me it was the first time a client has ever made her come,” Alyssa told her, leaning in closer.

“Really?” Diana asked, a little aroused by the idea. “I’ve never done that. Too scared.”

“Oh, but get this,” Alyssa attempted to continue. Both sat up straight when they realized the bartender was standing in front of them, grinning.

“Refills?” he asked, his smile lecherously sexy.

“Um…” Diana was so red her face burned. “Yes, please.”

“Yes, and we’d like some wings and fries to share,” Alyssa announced, trying to sound unmoved, but Diana could see the pink tint in her face.

“Coming right up,” he said quietly, his deep voice reverberating.

After he’d walked away, Alyssa looked at Diana and waved her hand in front of her face. “I think I just came a little.”

Diana snorted and laughed loudly, her head tilted back. Alyssa laughed too, and they clinked their almost empty glasses together. “He is awfully sexy,” Diana agreed. “So, you said that wasn’t all?”

“Oh!” Alyssa exclaimed, laughing. “No, that wasn’t all. So after they were finished, he asked her to tie him up and fuck him again. But first, he wanted her to spank him.”

“What?” Diana asked, her eyes bulging. “I can’t even deal with this!”

“I told her I wasn’t drunk enough for her stories, and she just laughed. You wanna know how much she makes a month?”

“Um, yeah!”

“Depending, between three thousand and six thousand. And she doesn’t pay for any of her beauty treatments. I do her hair, eyebrows, and she has her nails done in my salon every two weeks. That’s almost three hundred every two weeks!”

“Who pays for that?” Diana wanted to know. They paused while the bartender set their drinks in front of them.

“I guess one of her clients. I didn’t ask,” Alyssa said, taking a drink of her cocktail. “I think I’m in the wrong profession.”

Diana laughed and shook her head. “Whatever! You couldn’t fuck for money.”

“Nah, probably not, but I am more than willing to spank someone for money,” Alyssa told her, giggling as she sipped her drink again.

“Maybe we should calm down on the drinks,” Diana commented with a smile.

“Nah. We won’t drink so much we can’t get home.”

They sipped their drinks in silence for a moment, each glancing around the bar. It had filled up considerably since Alyssa had arrived, and they were having to speak louder than they had been to hear each other. Still, Diana saw no one she knew, so she felt like she could confide in Alyssa.

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked, smiling.

“Always.”

“Ladies, your dinner,” the bartender announced, placing two plates in front of them, one heaping with wings, the other with fries. He leaned down on the bar and stared into Diana’s eyes. “I’d love to hear your secret.”

Diana scrunched her nose and tittered a laugh. “I bet you would.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I love ranch dressing with my wings.”

His eyes widened, and he threw his head back and laughed. He wagged his finger at her. “Girl, you are my type. You’d better be careful.”

Diana smirked at him, the alcohol she’d consumed relaxing her. Alyssa clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Look at you, flirting with a stranger!”

“Yeah, it’s not so hard when I know nothing will come of it,” Diana shrugged, grabbing her drink and downing the rest. “Wow, that was too much. Time for food!” She pulled the plate of wings closer to her and began gnawing on one.

“What do you mean, nothing will come of it?” Alyssa asked, thanking the bartender for the cups of ranch before dipping her fry in one.

“Well,” Diana mumbled around the spicy chicken. She swallowed and said, “I’m seeing Travis now, and we’re getting pretty serious pretty fast.”

“Travis?” Alyssa asked before biting into her own wing. Around the meat, she asked, “What do you mean you’re getting serious? He’s your ex. Aren’t you just having a little fun with him?”

Diana stared at her friend as she wiped her mouth and fingers with a napkin. “No, I think we’re going to try again. I mean, you know I never stopped loving him.”

“You never stopped loving him because you never tried to find someone else to love,” Alyssa pointed out. “You didn’t even try.”

“I don’t want anybody else,” Diana stated simply and truthfully.

“You don’t want that bartender?” Alyssa asked, gesturing toward the man at the end of the bar.

As if he knew they were talking about him, he met Diana’s eyes and winked yet again. “Definitely not. I don’t want to pass on that strange tic he has.”

Alyssa slapped her hand. “He’s winking at you.”

“Maybe he’s winking at you,” Diana insisted. “Regardless, I’m not interested.”

“You know, I don’t know why you would lock yourself in with him again,” Alyssa said. “He’s the same man you married. He hasn’t changed.”

“But he has changed,” Diana defended, her food and drink forgotten. “Just like I have. I don’t gamble anymore, and he doesn’t stay at work all night.”

“And how do you know that?” Alyssa asked, staring into her friend’s eyes. Diana could see the disapproval and disbelief there.

“Because for the last two weeks, he’s spent his free time with me. In fact, he wanted to see me tonight, but I told him I had plans with you,” Diana told her, watching as emotions flickered across Alyssa’s face, the most prominent of which looked like absolute hatred.

“Well, don’t do me any favors. If you want to spend time with your ex-husband, you certainly can. I won’t stop you.”

“The snarky comments are a little overkill, don’t you think?” Diana asked after a moment of silence. The bartender set fresh drinks in front of them and walked away without comment, judging the atmosphere around them.

“I wasn’t being snarky,” Alyssa said, her voice and face pouting.

“You’ve been putting me off, not the other way around,” Diana reminded her. “I asked you to go for drinks three times before you finally agreed.”

“I’ve been busy,” Alyssa replied shortly, her eyes on their food.

“Obviously. Listening to the confessions of a prostitute,” Diana joked, nudging her friend’s shoulder. “Let’s not fight, huh?”

Alyssa sighed and took her hand. “The only reason I’m being a bitch about Travis is because I love you and I don’t want to watch you get hurt. I mean, at one point, you thought he was screwing around, remember?”

“He said he didn’t,” Diana explained with a shrug. “I believe him.”

“That’s an awfully naïve belief, bordering on stupid.”

Diana jerked back as if Alyssa had slapped her. The comment had been rude, but saying it as if she believed it was worse. “Are you calling me stupid?”

“Jesus, Diana. I said you were bordering on stupid,” Alyssa grumbled, her eyes narrowed at her. “Dating your ex-husband is stupid, though, especially when he probably cheated.”

Diana lifted a hand to stop her. “Okay, wait. You said I thought he cheated, but now you’re saying he probably cheated.” Diana watched her friend’s face. “Do you know something?”

Alyssa threw her head back and exhaled loudly like a teenager speaking to her mother. “No, I don’t know anything. Just like you, I made the assumption.”

“Well, don’t make the assumption.” Diana’s anger had returned. Alyssa was deliberately goading her, saying the rudest thing she could just to be an ass. “Travis and I are going to date. And you’re right, I never did fall out of love with him, and that love is getting stronger every day. So if you’re going to be my friend, you’ll have to learn to deal with him in my life.”

Alyssa gasped and put her hand over her chest. “Are you saying you’ll choose him over me?”

“I don’t plan to have to make a choice,” Diana said gently, sighing. “You’ve always protected me, but believe me when I say that this time, it’s different with him,” Diana explained. “I have one-hundred-percent faith in Travis.”

Alyssa nodded, frowning. After a few minutes, she lifted her glass. “If you think this is right, then I’ll support you one-hundred percent.” Diana looked at her, and Alyssa sighed loudly again. “And I’ll do my best to be polite. If you make me spend time with him.”

Diana nodded, and they clinked glasses and drank. Alyssa set her glass on the bar and gazed at Diana, her expression clear of emotion. “But if he hurts you again, I’m cutting his balls off and leaving him to bleed out.”

Diana nodded, smiling at her friend’s fierce protectiveness. “Okay. That’s fair.”

Alyssa smiled back. “Okay. So, what’s your secret?” Diana blushed, and Alyssa snickered. “Oh, this must be good if you’re blushing before you even say it.”

Diana leaned close and whispered, “The idea of being tied up is such a turn on!”

“You slut!”

Diana laughed as well. “I think maybe, since I’m with Travis, who I trust completely, I might try it.”

“Oh, please do it! But if you do, I want details! Do you hear me?” Alyssa pointed at her as if she might keep the secret from her.

Diana nodded, the alcohol rushing in her head. She was wet just thinking about it, and a plan began to form in her brain for the next night with Travis.