Girl Talk

 

I stuffed my laptop into a tote and grabbed my phone off the nightstand, noticing a new text message.

Liam: You are evil.

I smiled at his response to the photo I’d sent from Theo’s birthday and quickly tapped my reply.

Me: You asked for it.

Liam: You looked even better than I imagined.

Me: Thank you. Are you having a good time in Dallas?

Liam: The office is full of a bunch of wankers.

Me: Takes one to know one.

Liam: Ouch, gorgeous.

Me: Just kidding. I miss you.

Liam: You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. Please tell me you’re free this weekend for our stargazing sleepover?

Fingers poised over the keyboard, I hesitated. As much as I wanted to say yes, I already promised Chase I’d be home and we could hang out.

Me: What about next weekend?

Liam: Nope. Too far away. I’ll just have to take you to dinner before then.

Me: I think I can handle that.

I slid my phone in my purse and walked to the kitchen to fill my water bottle.

“Where are you off to, snickerdoodle?” Theo craned his head to look at me over the back of the couch. He’d been in the same spot, studying, all afternoon.

“Kara’s.”

“Ooooh, girl talk. Can I come?”

“You wish.”

“Will you be home for dinner?”

“Why? Are you cooking something tasty?” I teased, knowing that would never happen.

He laughed. “I’ve mentioned the time Liam attempted to teach me, right? He threw his hands up and admitted defeat after I set off the smoke detector. I’d probably be more successful with you as my teacher.” The way he said “teacher” sent a jolt of excitement through me.

“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. You show me how to use your camera, and I’ll help you with cooking.”

“Deal.”

“And, to answer your question, I probably won’t be home until late. Kara’s helping me with some of my training materials.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” He sounded hurt.

“She offered, and I knew you had an exam coming up.”

“Fine, but I still think it’s a cover for girl talk,” he said brightly.

Knox passed through the living room, intent on the kitchen. “Did Theo tell you the good news?” Having just emerged from the basement, his skin was slick with sweat, and his shirt clung to his broad chest.

I sat next to Theo on the couch before my knees buckled. “What news?”

“We caught Wilson.” Knox gulped down a glass of water and leaned against the kitchen counter. He lifted the hem of his shirt to his forehead, showing off his drool-worthy abs, and brushed away perspiration from his forehead.

“When?” I hadn’t heard any updates since the brunch last month, but I honestly hadn’t expected the guys to keep me posted on the outcome.

“After he attempted to transfer the money this weekend, we took back our client’s three million, then anonymously turned almost everything over to the FBI. He was arrested within forty-eight hours.”

“And, Marilyn’s money?”

“Safe and sound in her bank account,” Theo added.

“That’s great news.”

“Yep. Have fun at Kara’s,” Knox said abruptly, disappearing down the hallway to his room.

I moved to stand from the couch, but Theo’s hand wrapped around my wrist, and he pulled me back down.

“Yes?”

“I need a kiss.” He tugged me closer.

“Oh, you need a kiss, huh?”

“Mhmm,” he hummed against my lips. The kiss was short but sweet. “Have fun.”

When I arrived at Kara’s, she seemed out of sorts and remained withdrawn while we reviewed my training materials and even through dinner.

“Are you okay?” I finally asked when we moved to the couch. “I know you were frustrated with Logan last night.”

“You can’t even imagine, Haley. I’m beyond pissed at him.”

“Did something more happen after Theo’s party?”

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes and flopped back on the cushion. “He wanted me to be his date to the party. Said it would be a low-key occasion to come out as a couple. Then, even after I said no, he spent the evening following me around and trying to touch me. He knew how I felt about it, and he still tried to force our relationship out into the open.”

I frowned, relating to Kara’s predicament. Secret relationships were difficult enough when everyone was in agreement.

“When we got home, our disagreement turned into a yelling match, which led to angry sex, and then he was gone before I woke up this morning.”

I couldn’t help it, my mouth formed an “o” shape. Angry sex? Of the few sexcapades Jess had mentioned, none involved angry sex, mostly just good or bad sex. And, even then, she hadn’t had that many partners.

Kara appraised me. “I’m not sure how to ask this, other than to come out and say it. Are you a virgin?”

I nodded.

“But,” she sputtered, “but, you’re dating five guys.”

“And?”

“And, well, five guys. Five super-hot guys. You’re seriously telling me they’re all keeping their hands to themselves?”

I shrugged. The guys had been very respectful and seemed hesitant to go too far. Plus, there was the not-so-inconsequential matter of my lack of experience. Apart from Chase, I was positive none of the other guys were in the same position.

“Okay, let’s rewind,” she said. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but how long have you been dating them?”

“Since I returned. But, it’s temporary.” Her puzzled expression encouraged me to continue. “I couldn’t choose one of them, so they thought this would help me get to know each of them better first, before making that decision.”

“Mhmm.” She sounded skeptical. “And, they what? Just mentioned this idea in passing?”

“Not exactly. Theo presented it to me when he and Knox came to Portland.”

“Is that the real reason you left? Drama with the team?”

“Partially. What I told you about Douglas was true, but I was afraid I’d tear the team apart if I stayed.”

“I know the feeling.” Her tone was morose.

“Would you ever consider going public with your relationship?”

Kara’s expression was so forlorn, my heart ached for her. “I love Logan.” She paused, appearing almost shocked by her admission. “But, I can’t. It’s too complicated.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it worse.”

“It’s fine.” She sighed. “Can we talk about your boy drama instead? It’s much more interesting.”

I laughed. “If you want. I don’t really have anyone to talk to, so it’s nice to finally be able to share.”

“What about Jess?”

Guilt pinged through me. “I can’t bring myself to tell her.”

“I thought you talked to her almost every week?”

“I do.” I hung my head. “I feel terrible keeping this from her.”

“You don’t think she’s figured it out?”

“No. Thanks to a lifetime of training from my dad, I’m very careful about what I say. I keep our conversations relatively short, and I don’t mention the guys unless she asks.”

“You know her best, but I think you should tell her. She might surprise you.”

I hesitated, hoping I wouldn’t regret asking my next question. “It doesn’t bother you?”

“I have no idea how in the world you juggle all five, and I have questions about the logistics. But it’s your life. Live it the way you want to.”

I exhaled, relieved by Kara’s support. And, now that I had someone to talk to, I felt like spilling everything. Theo was right—although I’d never admit it to him—tonight was about girl talk. “Ask me anything.”

“Is there a schedule? How do they know when you’re available?”

I laughed. “Not that I’m aware of. Although, knowing Jackson, there may be. They ask me out just like anybody else.”

“Do you ever say no?”

“Not unless I already have plans.”

“Isn’t it exhausting? I can barely keep up with one boyfriend, let alone five.”

Boyfriend. There was that word again. “No, I love spending time with them. Even more so after all the months we were apart.”

“Best date so far?”

“They’ve all been fantastic.”

“Nope, that’s a cop out.”

I glared at her playfully. “Fine. Between us . . . if I absolutely had to choose . . .” I thought back, knowing how much I enjoyed every single date. But, there was one that stood out. “My first date with Jax. He took me to the aquarium, which was great, but it was more that. He’d always kept me at a polite distance, but that night, he let his guard down. It was the first time I realized how good things could be between us.”

She watched me with a dreamy smile on her face. “You’re one lucky girl. Jackson Hart is panty-melting sexy.”

“Kara!” I threw a pillow at her.

“Sorry,” she said, laughing. “So, what happens when you’re all together—do you designate a boyfriend of the day? Ooh, and wear corresponding days of the week underwear with their names on it?”

“Let’s not get carried away.”

“Why not? Monday for Jackson, Tuesday for Liam, Wednesday for Theo, Thursday for Chase, and Friday for Knox.”

“What about Saturday and Sunday?”

“Select at random? Wear plain underwear?”

I laughed, amazed that Kara was being so cool about this and wishing I’d talked to her sooner.

“Has anyone ever caught you kissing someone else?”

I scrunched up my face. There was the time Jackson saw me kissing Liam and the time Liam saw me kissing Jackson in the hot tub and joined us. Was I forgetting anything?

“I’ll take that as a yes. Are you going to tell me who it was?”

I shook my head. “A girl’s gotta have some secrets.”

“Fine,” she huffed out. “Don’t they get jealous? Especially, if, for instance, they catch you kissing someone else?”

“They mostly keep it in check. It’s kind of crazy, actually. Theo even makes sure I’m going on dates with the others and giving everyone enough time.”

“That’s nuts. I can’t believe they haven’t come to blows.”

“I know. I seriously doubted the idea when they initially suggested it, but for the most part, everyone seems fine.”

“Damn. If the six of you can make this work, maybe there is hope for me and Logan after all. Will you at least tell me who’s the best kisser?”

“You’re determined to make me answer that question, aren’t you?”

“Can you blame me?”

“Maybe not, but I could never pick one over the others, anyway.”

“And, yet, you expect to choose one and dump the other four?”

Yes. No. How can I? “That’s the plan.”

“You can’t rule any of them out? No annoying habits or selfish tendencies?”

“No, I thought maybe one of them would stand out above the others, or maybe it would be a process of elimination, but they’re all incredible. Even though I’m going to have to choose sooner or later, I keep putting it off, bargaining with myself to give each of them one more week, one more date, whatever.”

“What a dilemma.”

“So . . .” Her knees bounced up and down as she seemed to consider whether to continue.

“Yeah?”

She flattened her feet on the floor. “Have you considered birth control? I know you’re not having sex right now, but, you know, just in case.”

I opened my mouth, ready to deny the necessity of this conversation, then shut it. Kara was right. Pretending my relationships wouldn’t continue to develop was ridiculous, not to mention irresponsible.

“Any suggestions?”

She picked up her phone. “I’m texting you the name of the pill I use. It’s great, because I only have a period every three months. And,” she gave me a wicked grin, “considering your situation, that’s a considerable benefit.”

I hid my face in my hands. “Please, no more discussing my situation.”

She laughed. “Okay, okay, feel free to change the subject.”

Ready to make her share something private after everything I’d told her, I said, “Was Logan your first?”

Kara stared at the wall behind me. “No. There was a guy in training that I dated for a while. I thought we were in an exclusive relationship, until I discovered that I was just one of the girls he was sleeping with.”

“What a jerk. I’m sorry, Kara.”

“He was a douchebag, and I wasn’t the only one who was happy when he flunked out of the program.”

“Well, at least now you have Logan.”

“Unless I’ve screwed it all up.”

“I doubt that. And, thank you for your advice. I feel completely unprepared.”

“Anytime. Did your dad not have the birds and the bees talk with you?”

“Once. And, god, was it awkward. Fortunately, I had Jess, and she always told me everything. But, obviously, hearing or reading about it doesn’t compare to experiencing it yourself. And, I didn’t have much interaction with any guys until I was eighteen.”

“What?” Her eyes looked like they were going to bug out of her head.

“I told you what it was like for me growing up.”

“I know, but . . . wow. I guess I never considered that aspect of it. I mean, no boys? None?”

I shook my head. “Apart from store clerks or kids at the library, no.”

“So, apparently there’s sheltered, and then there’s Princess Haley, locked-in-a-tower sheltered.”

I laughed. When she put it that way, my life seemed more like a fairy tale and less like a nightmare. But, the princess always ended up with her one true love, not five. In fairy tales, anything was possible, but I wasn’t a princess, and this wouldn’t magically work itself out.