Four Letter Word

Eyes directed at the bay window, she let out a heavy breath and kept hold of my hand, resting the pair of ours between us.

“He made you my Syd again,” she murmured.

I nodded, even though she wasn’t looking at me, curled my fingers around the back of her hand, and tightened my hold.

“Since we’re sharing stuff, I guess I should share with you a decision I made yesterday that I kept to myself because you were so sad over Marcus, which”—Tori turned her head and looked at me—“I’m guessing now, your sadness might’ve had more to do with the other guy and not the man I’ve been plotting to kill?”

“Probably,” I answered, blinking tears away.

Definitely.

My marriage was over, yet I was mourning the loss of Brian’s voice more than my united in holy matrimony relationship.

He had the best voice. Hands down, best I’d ever heard.

And he chose the most perfect words to manipulate with it.

“Should’ve told me,” Tori stressed. “I could’ve been plotting two murders and saved myself the time. Now I have a dilemma on my hands because I kind of like the other guy, seeing as he gave me back the old you and, thus, has potential. Marcus never had any potential so his death is an easy choice.”

I smiled faintly, watching her turn away.

“What’s the decision?” I asked her.

“Still deciding it,” she answered. “Sheesh, give me at least five minutes.”

“Not that.” I tapped our conjoined hands against her thigh. “The one you decided yesterday.”

“Oh.” She cleared her throat, twisting the fingers of her free hand in the hem of her dress.

Uh-oh. Tori was anxious.

This was big. It had to be. Tori never showed signs of nervousness. Not even in her pageant days.

And my assumption was only confirmed when she played it down with the first thing out of her mouth.

“Well, it’s really not a huge deal or anything. I was just doing a little thinking regarding my no more boys rule and thinking that was probably a hasty decision considering my state at the time and, um, you know, Wes isn’t all boys. He’s one horrible, worthless piece of shit, but does not sum up the entirety of the male race, even though there are several others who fall into that category, Marcus included. Also, that kid Jace I was talking to in seventh grade who dumped me at the Valentine’s Day dance. I’m sure he’s still a winner.”

I pulled my lips between my teeth and let Tori continue on without any interruption, even though I was on the brink of giggles.

“Anyway, my point is, I’ve gone about a month without any boys and I miss them, my girl parts really miss them, and it’s about time I did something about it.”

“You’re gonna start dating again?” I asked, watching her head snap my way.

“Dating? No. I’m just talking about getting laid.” Tori smiled a little, appearing excited. “And I’ve already picked out lucky bachelor number one.”

“Who?”

“Jamie McCade.”

“What?” I peeled away from the couch. “Hello! You hate that guy, remember? He doesn’t respect love. I’ve been screwing up his order for weeks.”

Not to mention getting Stitch to do god-awful things to his food, things I didn’t ask about because I was almost too afraid he’d take me out to eliminate any possible incriminating evidence linking him to whatever illness Jamie contracted after eating at Whitecaps.

Now Tori wanted to fuck him?

“I know, but he’s stupid gorgeous, Syd. The hair, the dimples, that look he had on his face slicing Wes’s tires that night and not giving a damn about going down for it.”

I kept my mouth shut. Couldn’t really argue with any of that.

Jamie had a really good look that night.

Tori’s phone started ringing in the distance. It sounded like it was coming from the kitchen.

“And besides,” she continued, standing from the couch and turning to face me. “I am using him for sex. I will have the upper hand the entire time, and when it is over, I’ll never look at his stupidly gorgeous face again. One and done. That’s all I need.”

She moved around the couch quickly, darting in the direction of the kitchen.

One and done? With the ex-J.Crew model who yielded a switchblade like a greaser and defended Tori’s honor?

Yeah. I wasn’t holding my breath.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” I shouted out, then collapsed back on the couch, slid down onto my hip with my knees pulling up and my arm bent, head resting on the inside of my bicep.

I started pulling up the quilt, getting ready to return to my former cocooned position, when Tori’s animated shriek coming from behind yanked me upright again, head spinning around so I could watch her strut back into the living room with her phone in her hand and a brilliant smile on her face.

“Looks like it’s gonna happen a lot sooner than I thought,” she stated, twirling and fanning out her dress.

What in the world?

“Huh?”

Tori wiggled the hand holding her phone in front of her and stepped closer.

“That was Shay. She got word on a massive party Jamie is having at his beach house, which I’ve heard is ridiculous. Not that I gave a damn about it before, but since I’m planning on bedding him and he’s giving me an opportunity to make that happen tonight, I give a damn about seeing it now. And you’re going.”