Page 5 of Room Thirty: Perfect Little Doll
“So, what?”
“Why not make a move on the three?”
“One, they’re my bosses. I couldn’t. Second, what makes you think they’d even… be up for it?”
“Up for it,” she snorted. “Is this you finally admitting that you’ve thought about it?” She smiled.
“Maybe.”
“Look, everyone’s story is different. We are into different things.”
“And we have some in common,” I reminded her. We had one huge thing in common. We liked to hand over control to a man who could take care of us. Not financially but emotionally and physically. She lifted her gaze to mine.
“Why ick someone else’s yum?” she shared wisely and pulled her hand away, taking another big bite.
“Like, say, if grumpy, mean guys weren’t my thing but were totally yours, I shouldn’t judge?”
“Grumpy and grouchy, not mean. Plus, men like that are not my thing,” she exclaimed. My lips twitched. I loved that I could turn the tables on her. Coco worked for the worst boss ever.
Lucas Star was literally the worst.
It was tough for me to get away from my employers, but hers was four times worse.
“Men, no. But that man?” I stared at her pointedly, and she rolled her eyes. “Come on, Coco, I’ve known you for a really long time.”
“Whatever,” she muttered, reaching for a fry. “Even if I were interested in Mr. Star, which I’m not saying I am, trust me, the man can hardly stand being on the same floor with me. Can you believe he asked me to stop wearing perfume!”
“Jerk.” I shook my head. The man was horrible to Coco. I had no idea why she put up with him the way she did. Especially when she could work almost anywhere.
“Trust me, he’s not interested in me.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I mean, I’ve seen the way he looks at you, too, you know?” I’d seen him when he thought no one was looking. The longing in that man’s stare when he watched my best friend was almost heart wrenching. But for whatever reason, he liked to pretend he didn’t like her.
“Like he wished he had laser beam eyes to blow me to smithereens?” she teased.
“That’s not how—” I started to argue, but the way she looked at me made me go quiet. “Fine,” I sighed.
“Where are you traveling to next?” she asked, changing the subject.
“New Orleans.”
“Nola!” She smiled. “That will be fun!”
“Not that they’ve asked me to go with them.”
“Oh, please, I know how many miles you’ve racked up,” she teased. “They might not ask in advance, but they always make sure to book you a last-minute flight. Especially when it’s all three of them going somewhere,” she reminded me. I chewed on my bottom lip.
“Maybe, but I don’t think so this time.” I shrugged. My eyes darted down to my cell. I already had two texts. One from Carey and the other from Fox.
“Hey.” Her hand covered mine, making me look at her. “What’s up?” I looked around the small restaurant to make sure no one was around.
“Between us?” I asked quietly.
“Of course.” She pretended her lips were zipped up tight and tossed the air key over her shoulder.
“Well… you know how I get their mail?” She nodded, and I licked my lips. “They received something from a place called Club Sin in New Orleans,” I shared quietly, knowing very well that I was pouting.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened, and my head tilted. “Okay, Club Sin,” she sounded slowly, but I frowned.