An Arrangement of Love (23 page)

“He doesn’t.” Wendy rolled her eyes. “We’ve all agreed to this.”

“Let’s talk about something else.” I waved my hand between them. As soon as we’d met at Junior’s, Vivian had assaulted Wendy and Lucy with questions.

“So you don’t care about him having sex with Dawn or Jasmine?” Vivian smirked.

“No. This way I’m never lied to or cheated on. Everything is out in the open.” Wendy displayed a confident smile. “I don’t have to be insecure like most women who are in monogamous relationships, going crazy wondering if their man is sleeping around.”

“Not all women think like that,” I chimed in.

And weren’t you screaming at Chase about taking me to Paris earlier?

“Every woman in a monogamous relationship gets that feeling.” Wendy leaned back in her chair. “Whether it’s for a quick second or not. Maybe she’s spotted a weird number on her husband’s phone, but then realizes it’s something else. Maybe there’s a sad woman out there right now that’s sitting on her couch, crying in her hands, and wondering where her boyfriend is.”

“Maybe.” Vivian shrugged. “So you feel great because you know Chase is probably fucking the brains out of Dawn right now?”

I flinched.

He probably
was
having sex with her.

“No worries, right?” Vivian asked Wendy.

“None at all.” Wendy winked and gulped down some of her drink.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I interrupted. “New topic or I’m leaving.”

“Fine.” Vivian slid her wine over to her.

“This is a nice little place.” Lucy leaned my way and whispered, “It has a lot of character.”

Well, that was one way to look at it.

Sex toys decorated the bar—glow-in-the-dark dildos jutted out of the walls, every kind of blow-up doll from male to female dangled from the ceiling, plastic vaginas with velvet vibrating cores adorned each table like a centerpiece. The wallpaper was artistic nude pictures of men and women. On every table a stack of condoms stood between bottles of ketchup and mustard like packets of sugar.

“Junior’s décor is grotesque to say the least.” I grinned. “But it has the best bar food in Oshane City.”

For an appetizer, I’d ordered Juni bites, gouda-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. Everyone instantly devoured them until I feared I wouldn’t get any more. An empty tray lay atop our table’s plastic vagina. Out of twenty, I’d only had two.
Greedy bitches.
I’d just ordered a pistachio-crusted oyster Po’Boy with garlic mayonnaise and a side of parmesan French fries.
I swear to god
they’d better not touch my entrée
.

“What do you think I should order?” Lucy asked.

“The gnocchi is pretty good.” I gulped some of my rum and Coke. Tonight was the moment I would get as drunk as possible. Tomorrow I could reevaluate what the hell I had signed up for. But tonight I needed a liquored distraction from Chase’s brothel system and the ache inside me that wished he would be in my bed when I returned to the apartment.

How pathetic I must be.

“I can’t believe you’re going to do this.” Vivian tilted her head my way. “This is so insane. I mean seriously, it’s something that I would do, not you.”

“You just said an hour ago that it might not be a big deal to try it.” I hit her arm.

“That was before I talked to Miss Delusional over there,” Vivian muttered, but I was sure Wendy and Lucy had heard her. “Just promise me you won’t act like that. Try it for a while, for fun, but continue to date other guys.”

“Yeah. You’re right.” I finished my drink and signaled the waiter to bring me another. All of the service staff were dressed like dominatrixes—black seductive bodysuits with revealing openings draped their bodies, as well as nylon rope and tiny little spanking paddles hooked to their belts.

“Are you going to live with him and them the whole time, though?” Vivian gestured to Wendy.

“I don’t think so,” I admitted. “I promised him a week this month. I’m pretty sure I’ll bail after the end.”

“Why?” Wendy raised her eyebrows. Interest glossed her brown eyes. “The apartment is basically paid for and all yours. What’s the big deal?”

“It would never feel like home. I can’t bring my family there.”

“Dramatic, aren’t we?” Wendy tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Chase would fly your family anywhere you wanted. Last Thanksgiving Chase, my family, and I celebrated in Hawaii.”

A ping of jealousy collided with the envy that already moved within me. Vivian looked at my expression and frowned.

“Bringing dates back there would be weird,” I said.

“Dates?” Wendy drew back in horror. “You think you’re going to date other guys?”

“That’s what I agreed to with Chase.” I smiled, knowing I had the upper hand.

“Well, Dawn won’t like it.”

“I can’t wait to meet this Dawn.” Vivian grinned.

Never happening.

“So how do you do the holidays?” I turned to Lucy so the conversation could go to something else.

“It’s a lottery system. We all throw our keys in a bucket, shake it, and Chase pulls one out.” Lucy glanced at one of the pictures of a naked man lounging on a velvet chair, his eyes intent on the viewer.

“Wow. A lottery system? That’s romantic. And do Chase’s parents know about all of you?” Vivian asked.

“No.” Wendy shook her head. “His mom is dead. His dad probably wouldn’t care. There’s gossip in New York that Chase’s dad has women all over the state and babies with them all. Some of the kids are school-aged. But Chase still doesn’t want his dad to know.”

“Like father like son.” Vivian smirked.

“Chase is nothing like his father.” Lucy’s fingers formed into shivering fists. “He’s a very cruel man and has no respect for anyone else, especially women. I’m not upset I can’t sit at a dinner table with him, pretending like I’m happy he’s there.”

“And Dawn’s family is a bunch of stuffy mannequins.” Wendy yanked out a pack of cigarettes. “Her mother has a nasal voice and she’s always looking at me like I’m an infection.”

“Of course she looks at you that way, you’re sleeping with her daughter’s fiancé,” Vivian blurted out.

I nudged her again.

“What? It’s the truth. Her mother probably senses the obvious, that her daughter is engaged to a selfish egomaniac.” Vivian finished her wine. “The more I learn the more I’m leaning toward the side of run as fast as you can.”

I sighed. “Vivian. Stop.”

“You’re going to have to tell Troy eventually.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” I grabbed the new rum and Coke the waiter carried over to me, along with my food. “I agreed to try this for three months. But I can barely deal with a few hours at Willow Park.”

“I was like that my first week.” Wendy touched my hand. It seemed weird to have her console me. Wendy patted my arm. “I got used to it after a month or so.”

Vivian sucked her teeth. “I don’t know if it’s a good situation if you have to get used to something that hurts you.”

“Who says I’m hurting?” I asked.

“Every time they talk about doing something with Mr. Glorious you cringe.” Vivian grabbed one of my parmesan French fries. “You’re drinking in the middle of the week and you’re not even a big drinker. It’s kind of obvious, Jasmine.”

“I just have a lot to think about with this situation.” I nabbed one of the oysters. “He hasn’t hurt me.”

“Yet,” Vivian added.

“Yet.” I stuffed my mouth with food.

“Plus, Dad hates him. He’s called every day asking if you’ve come back from France,” Vivian said. “Your mom called me, too.”

Shit
. I hit my head. “I haven’t talked to Mom in weeks, she doesn’t even know where Troy is living or that I’m working.”

“I’ve tried to get your brother to see her, but he refuses.” Vivian took another fry.

I slapped her hand. “Leave my food alone. Yours is coming.”

“Stingy.” She stuck her tongue out.

“I’m already sharing my man, don’t make me share my food.” I opened my mouth in shock and then laughed.

“You’re losing it.” Vivian frowned and quickly grabbed another fry.

“No. I think I’m drunk, actually.” I slid my plate away from her. Lucy and Wendy began to chat amongst themselves as the waiter brought the rest of everyone’s order.

“Did you tell your dad you’ve taken my brother’s innocence?” I bit into my sandwich. I’d never told Benny the true details of that night. I’d explained that Troy and I arrived at the apartment and found Noc fighting with Vivian.

“No.” Vivian twisted her lips to the side as the waiter came by and set her personal pizza on the table. “Troy thinks I’m ashamed of him. He just doesn’t get that my dad will kick his ass.”

“He knows. He just doesn’t care.”

“By the way, I asked him not to get an apartment and move in with us.” Vivian smiled.

“That is such a bad idea,” I said between bites. “You just started having sex.”

“We’re doing more than having sex.” Her eyes shifted to a starry-eyed look. “He told me he’s been in love with me since we were kids.”

What?
I scrunched my face up in confusion and thought about past years.
Did it ever seem like Troy was in love with Vivian? Maybe.
He did always tag along when I said I was going to meet her. He never cared about any of my other friends. Plus, when he ran away, it was her bedroom he hid in. Maybe that was when his crush had started.

“Well, still be careful,” I warned.

“Oh yeah, you should really be worried about me instead of thinking how crazy it is you’re moving into Chase’s coochie sweat shop.”

“Must you be so crude?”

“How do I describe that situation and not be crude?” she asked. “And news flash, we’re dining at a restaurant full of lit-up dildos. I don’t think there’s a crude barometer around here.”

“Just eat your stupid pizza.” I licked the garlic mayonnaise off my finger. “This sandwich is heaven. The oysters have a great crisp. The breading gives it a sweet flavor. The bun is toasted just right.”

I gave a thumbs up to the chef as he peeked over the service counter to see my reaction.

“Is it orgasmic, Ms. Montgomery?” Vivian raised her eyebrows.

“Orgasmic.” I swiped up more mayo with my finger.

“Speaking of orgasms,” Vivian wagged her eyebrows. “Your brother is a beast.”

“I’m eating over here.”

“Two orgasms with each session. And his tongue—”

“You’re going to rot in hell for what you’re doing to me.”

She cackled like the witch she was and whispered in my ear, “Did you hook up with your rich and narcissistic lover in Paris?”

My body trembled. My mind filled with those precious moments—Chase moving slowly inside of me, his hands ravishing every inch, and the way he licked my clit and sucked hungrily on my nipples. My teeth caught my bottom lip as I groaned.

“That’s a yes if I ever did see one.” Vivian’s eyes widened. “You look like you’re going to come right now.”

“Oh shush.” I covered my face and tilted close to her ear. “He’s so good. The best I’ve ever had, and we did it everywhere. In a high-end restaurant, on our balcony, in the hotel, Jacuzzi, and all over his plane on the way back. God. He knew what to touch and how much to touch it.”

“He should.” Vivian gestured to Wendy and Lucy. “He’s had plenty of practice.”

“Oh god.” I placed my head on the table and hid my face. “You’re right. What am I doing?”

“Oh, Jasmine. Wait. I’m sorry.” Vivian rubbed my back. “I was just joking . . . kind of.”

“But it’s true.” I cringed.

“Everything okay?” Lucy asked.

“Yeah.” I sat up and blew out a long breath. “Let’s order more drinks.”

“Come home tonight.” Vivian laid her head on my shoulder. “If you’re going to do this with him, at least make sure you’re in a safe and comfortable living space.”

“Nah. I’ll give the apartment a few more days. I promised him. Plus, Troy and you are just going to have sex loud enough to shake the walls!”

She laughed. “Will you call Troy and me to get you when you’ve had enough of this craziness?”

“Of course.”

“Will you call my dad and tell him you’re okay? I’ve never seen him so freaked out.” She lifted her head. “He keeps bringing up those dead girls.”

I closed my eyes.
Great. Another thing to stress over
.

“You see those two bulky guys near the door?” I pointed.

“Yep.”

“Those are my new guards. And the big black guy at the bar is the one who stopped Troy from killing Noc.”

Vivian pouted. “That sucks. I thought those guys were so into us, the way they’ve been staring. I just knew they would be buying us drinks. So it looks like Chase is making sure you’re protected?”

“Yep.”

“And who’s going to protect you from him?” she asked.

“I was counting on you to stab him in his crotch with a paintbrush.”

A huge smile spread across her face. “I’m looking forward to that moment. Please, don’t make me wait too long.”

Four guys strolled over to our table from another side of the room. They had a college boy look—fit bodies, young faces, crude sayings on their t-shirts, and eyes that undressed all of us at the table.

“We were wondering if we could hang out with you beautiful ladies,” the tallest one said. His pale blue eyes traveled to me. I sipped more of my drink. Vivian and I exchanged glances.

“Chase is probably having make-up sex with his fiancée right now,” Vivian said in my ear. That realization crushed me. She bumped my shoulder with hers. “Remember. You can date people, too.”

“Sure,” I said to the guys. “Sit down.”

Lucy appeared worried, whereas Wendy scooted an empty chair next to her and beckoned one of them to sit down.

Chapter 24

M
y feet ached.
My ankles were swollen. I held my shoes in my hands as we departed from the limo. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Lucy had thrown up all over herself. A rank odor permeated the limo. Green liquid drenched her side and the vehicle’s seats and floor.

“I’m s-so sorry,” Lucy cried as the chauffer carried her to the mansion’s entrance. Her red hair stuck to half of her face. Her lipstick was smeared across her cheeks and chin.