17. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Cat

I fidget with my napkin, tearing bits off the end, as I sit across from Nora, my heart pounding like I’ve just run a marathon. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, but it's no use. “I had sex with Leo.”

The words tumble out before I can stop them. But while the band-aid’s been ripped off, it doesn’t stop me from sinking lower in my seat, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole. My cheeks burns and the heat starts to spread up to my ears.

Nora's eyes widen, her fork clattering against her plate. She blinks rapidly, as if momentarily stunned, but then a large grin spreads across her face.

“Well?” she leans forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “Give me the details. Was it good?”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “It was the best sex I've ever had.”

The admission sends a flush of heat through my body, memories of Leo's hands on me, his tongue, his thick . . .

No. Stop it, Cat. Focus.

“How big is he?” Nora’s eyes sparkle with mischief, and I swear she’s paying me back because I asked her the same thing about Wyatt. She rests her chin on her hands, elbows propped on the table. “Tell me everything.”

I snort, taking a large sip of my water. “Fucking huge. And thick.”

A young waiter approaches our table, his face turning beet red as he catches the tail end of our conversation. He fumbles with his notepad, nearly dropping it. “Can I, uh, get you ladies dessert?”

Nora and I exchange glances, biting our lips to keep from laughing. “Just coffee for me, thanks.”

“Same here,” Nora adds, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

As the waiter scurries away, his ears flaming red, we both lose it. Laughter bubbles up from my chest, and soon we're both gasping for air, tears streaming down our faces.

“Did you see his face? I thought he was going to pass out!”

“I know!” I choke out between laughs. “He looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. Join the club, kid.”

Once we've calmed down, wiping tears from our eyes, Nora grins, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “Soo . . . do you like him?”

I take a deep breath, fiddling with the sugar packets on the table. “Not sure. The sex is great. He’s a beast in bed, though I have to drag it out of him. But, he’s so closed up and proper at other times. And I hate the way he always wants to help too. As if I can’t take care of myself.”

My best friend quirks a brow. “Because having someone want to help is such a bad thing.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Leave it to my best friend to call me out. Thing is, I’ve spent so long doing everything on my own, the idea of someone wanting to help feels foreign. Even when it comes to Nora.

Hate to admit it, but with her there was a comfort knowing she could only do so much because of her situation. Sounds shitty of me, but I liked the fact Nora was only truly able to offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. I never had to worry about her making me feel inferior.

Things are different now, and I hated having to sleep on her couch. Hated needing to rely on her for a place to live. But that’s more of a me problem, one I know I need to work on.

But with Leo . . . he’s not family, not my best friend. And he also does things without asking, like assuming I needed assistance because of my height.

I lean back, narrowing my eyes at her. “He got me a motherfucking step stool.”

She bursts out laughing and I just shake my head. I love seeing her this free, and I can’t help but wonder what she would’ve been like back in college if she hadn’t been married to that piece of shit at the time.

“Laugh it up all you want, and I swear I will bitchslap you if I find out you tell your fiancé.”

“Oh, please. You already know how to get back at Wyatt if he even tries it.”

And I do.

The waiter returns with our coffee. While I add two packets of sweetener, Nora prefers hers straight black. Psychopath.

“How’s Rosa doing?” Nora asks, her tone softening.

I blow out a long breath, twirling my mug. “She’s my grandmother, what do you think? She chased out another aide.”

But it’s more than that. Every time my phone rings, it’s like a flood of adrenaline courses through my body, preparing me for the worst, that it’s the hospital on the line. Even in school, I’m constantly checking the device, making sure I don’t miss a call.

“Maybe we could use Wyatt to butter her up, get her to listen, or even consider assisted living. You know she has a sweet spot for him.” Nora takes a sip of her coffee. “I could even get him to wear those athletic shorts they have. You see how short they are?”

“Oh, my god. Are you seriously pimping out your fiancé?” I bite my bottom lip, momentarily thinking about Leo in those shorts. God, his ass looks amazing in them. Not to mention, they barely hide anything in the front either. A shiver runs down my spine, and I have to cross my legs under the table. “You know . . . maybe you’re onto something. But not just Wyatt. She seems to like Leo and Mykyta as well.”

And I actually mean it because I’m not sure how much longer I can go before I lose my mind or end up suffering from a breakdown.

“We can get the whole team to go over. Maybe they can run there, be all sweaty. But we’d have to spray them with some kind of body spray before they go in.”

Sometimes I wonder what the fuck is wrong with her and me. Like, who stands here planning a sexy intervention? But it kind of lifts my spirits to be honest, takes away the seriousness and stress of the actual situation.

“So, you think you and Leo might hook up again? Or was it a onetime thing?”

I stab at my half eaten eggs, ones that are now cold. The fork scrapes against the plate, making me wince. “It was the second time. And I’d be lying if I say it won’t happen again.”

“Wait . . . second time?”

I roll my eyes. “We . . . I blew him the first time.”

Her mouth hangs agape, then closes as her eyes narrow. Here we go.

“And you didn’t tell me!”

“Uh, no. Because nothing was supposed to happen again.”

And it wasn’t.

I’m attracted to Leo, loved sucking his cock. But it also put me in a tricky situation because I’m living with him until my apartment is fixed. There’s also the added stress of what’s going on with my grandmother.

If things were different, would I like to explore things with Leo? Fuck him on a regular basis? Hell, yes.

I want him to tie me up, to paddle my ass. I want to know if he even does those things. Or would like too.

But right now, I’m not sure what to do.

Nora sighs, then drinks more of her coffee. “Honestly, I’m happy for you. You need a distraction, and one where the sex is actually good.” She puts her mug back down and looks at me. “Hate to be the storm cloud here, but it’s not just you and Leo. You’re living with him and his kids, so it’s more of a tricky situation. And trust me, kids notice everything.”

I groan, my head dropping down onto the table with a thunk. “I know. Wish I didn’t like him or his kids as much as I do.”

“Oh. This sounds serious, not just some sexy stress release.” She pulls out her phone, a grin spreading across her face. “Exactly the type of thing Rosa would want to know. Think I’ll text her right now.”

I launch myself across the table and smack her phone from her hands, knocking over a bottle of ketchup, causing several people to stop and stare at us. “Don’t you dare.”

“Too late.” She snatches her phone back. “I’m already typing. You can’t stop me.”

“I swear to God, Nora if you send that text, I’ll tell Abuela about that time you snuck Wyatt into the church bathroom to have sex.”

Nora’s mouth drops open, her eyes wide.

“Uh, huh. That’s what I thought.” I grab the phone back and keep it safely under my thigh.

Her expression softens, and she reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “But seriously, how are you handling all this?”

I let out a long sigh, slumping back in my seat as my shoulders sag. “Honestly?”

“No, lie to me.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s a lot. Between the apartment fire, my grandmother and Leo, I think I might actually die from stress by the end of the week. And sometimes, I think I might actually kill my grandmother.”

“Need help hiding the body?” Nora asks without missing a beat.

“Nah. I was just planning to pin it on Wyatt. After all, it’s his fault I’m in this mess. Or at least the part that concerns Leo.” I smile, grateful for Nora's ability to make me laugh even in the darkest moments.

She reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “Whatever you need, just say the word and I’m there. And I hope you know, he only made the suggestion to help out his friend. We both would’ve been happy to have you stay with us longer.”

I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s the one person I can say whatever the hell I want to and doesn’t even blink an eye. She’s also the only one I ever allow to help me, the only one I let see me vulnerable and not fight back against it.

Or maybe I do and she doesn’t take my shit.

Nora gets up and comes over to my side of the table, then pulls me into a tight hug, and I let myself sink into it, drawing strength from her unwavering support.

“Let’s pay the bill and go lingerie shopping. I could use a few new things. And maybe you could too. You know, just in case.”

I laugh and shake my head but let her drag me along. “You're incorrigible, you know that?”

“That's why you love me,” she sing-songs, grinning from ear to ear.

Whatever happens next in my life, at least I know I've got Nora in my corner. And right now, that's enough to keep me going.