I ditch my bra, tossing it toward the hamper, and pull on a loose baby blue silk button-up nightshirt that matches my shorts, fumbling with the buttons as I talk. "Okay, Lena, before we talk about my work it is your turn. How's your boyfriend? Has Brad proposed yet?"
Lena groans, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "Ugh, girl, I wish. I'm still waiting for him to pop the question, but he's being so wishy-washy. Like, he'll drop these hints.. you know, like staring at rings online when he thinks I'm not looking—but then he goes days without calling, leaving me hanging. And get this: last week, we went out, and he had me wear this new LELO vibrator in public. He's controlling it with his phone, turning it on in the middle of this packed restaurant, and I'm trying not to lose it while the waiter's taking our order. It was mortifying but... kinda hot? I don't know what his deal is."
I burst out laughing, I flop onto the bed, finally dressed, though my nightshirt's buttoned crooked. "Wow, that's bold. Just be patient, Lena. The guy clearly loves you, even if he's a bit kinky."
"Yeah, you have no idea," Lena says, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "We had sex on the closed roof patio after, because I was out of my mind after appetizers, before the food even arrived."
"Oh my God, you guys are wild!" I say, nearly tripping again as I button my shirt, giggling at my clumsiness. "At least I can live vicariously through you."
"No, you don't have to," Lena says, her tone turning sharp. "You choose to. Ever since Cory, it's like you don't even try to date."
"That's not true," I say, my voice dropping as I settle onto the bed, the words stinging more than I'd like.
"Uh-huh," she says, accusingly. "Name one guy you've given half a chance since then."
"I don't know," I mumble, my voice quieter, the weight of her words hitting hard.
Lena pauses, realizing she's pushed too far, and quickly changes the subject. "Okay, well, back to your biker guy. What's your next move if Mr. Mysterious shows up again?"
I chew my lip, thinking of the book's raw, passionate embrace, now tangled with the biker's leather-clad intensity. "No idea. Maybe I'll call him out, or maybe I'll just... see what happens? Ugh, I'm a mess. I was so oblivious today, Lena. He was right there in the coffee shop, the bookstore, and I didn't notice until he was paying. But honestly? Picturing him in these book scenes is way more fun than worrying about it."
"Then lean into the fantasy but stay sharp like I said," Lena says, her tone shifting to serious. "Sounds like he's just into you. Keep your eyes open, but don't stress. So, back to work…how's work? You still dealing with Mark's crap and that campaign due Monday?"