“You’re fooling no one,” I tease. “How come I can’t sit in?”
“This girl thing is new for me, and I want to follow the rules. No men involved. It’s easier when we’re in the same town, but with Harlow in Ellsberg and the other girls in Houston, this phone conference thing will have to do.”
“By other girls, do you mean Troy?”
“No, though you’ll need to shake off your bitchiness about him. He’s my closest friend, and I’m not ditching him because of your misguided jealousy.”
“Men and women can’t be friends.”
“No, you and women can’t be friends.”
Minka challenges me. I stare into her eyes and challenge her right back. She wins this time. I can’t deny Troy is sloppily head over heels for Darla.
“Fine, but only on one condition.”
“No.”
Ignoring her response, I continue, “You need to tell the girls how great I am in bed and how I’m bigger than Troy.”
“What if you’re not?” Unable to remain serious, Minka laughs. “Troy can’t dance. Does that make you feel better?”
“Sure does. What kind of shithead can’t dance?”
“A big, dumb blond one.”
“He is dumb, isn’t he?”
“And smelly.”
“And I smell great.”
A laughing Minka inhales my scent and shivers. She’s giving me the horizontal dancing look again.
“Closed for repairs,” I remind her.
Minka nods, but I wonder how long the shop’s doors will remain shut. She’s nearly fucking my leg during the final Sinatra song. I pry myself away from her and grudgingly leave the room before her girl chat starts.
As I look back from the doorway, Minka acts as if she’s measuring something and mouths, “Huge dick.”
My woman knows just the right thing to say.
19
Minka
Oh, the Feelings!
Kicking Dino out of my hotel room, I promise not to talk shit about him during my video call with the girls. He doesn’t believe me, and he shouldn’t. All I want to do is talk about his naked body and how he makes promises he’ll likely break.
Connecting first, Harlow beams once her camera goes online. She’s so happy to visit her family. I’ve never known the kind of comfort she clearly finds in Ellsberg.
When she comes online, Darla looks confused at first, and I hear Troy bugging her in the background.
“No men allowed,” I remind her.
“He won’t go away.”
Troy leans down next to Darla and stares into the camera. “Guys like gossip too. So what’s up with you and Dino? Walking funny yet?”
Harlow laughs while Darla looks embarrassed that she can’t shake her man for our weekly chat.
“I’m not sharing until Saskia joins us.”
“I’ll wait,” Troy says, walking out of frame.
Darla leans into the camera and whispers, “He wishes he was there with you. There’s nothing going on in Houston.”
Troy’s voice booms from the background. “We’re having a cold snap here, so apparently all other threats don’t matter.”
“You wouldn’t enjoy this assignment, Troy. All we do is eat spaghetti and dodge rednecks.”
“If a redneck kills you, I’ll avenge your death,” Troy says and then adds, “Assuming Darla says it’s okay.”
We all smile at his pussy-whipped comment. Even Saskia is smiling when her face appears, but I think she’s mostly just happy to be retired and in love. I doubt I would smile so much in her position.
“What are we talking about?” she asks.
“Troy is bored and weak.”
“I knew those things. Can we talk about something new?”
Troy glares at Saskia through the camera, but she doesn’t even acknowledge him. No one pisses off Troy like his tiny nemesis.
“I’m sleeping with Dino,” I announce.
“I knew that too. Harlow texted everyone two days ago.”
“What?”
Harlow shrugs. “Rafael said you and Dino hooked up, and I thought the others needed to know. You know, for educational purposes.”
“Uh-huh. Your man is a gossip.”
“Tell us about your man.”
“He likes spaghetti,” Troy announces from somewhere off-screen.
“He’s sweeter than I expected.”
“Sweet how?” Darla asks and the three women lean into the cameras.
“He can be tender is all,” I mutter, self-conscious with them all staring at me.
“Do you think he could work out, or are you just having fun?” Harlow asks.
“He talked me into visiting my mom after this job. He says he’ll come with me. That seems pretty serious. I mean, I’m bound to be a drama queen during the visit. Am I reading too much into that?”
Troy slides a chair next to Darla, who gives him a grumpy side-eye.
“Visiting your mom? Are you nuts?” he asks, horrified. “You’re going to cry so fucking much. That isn’t a sexy trip he’s signing on for.”
“Yeah, I know, assface. I already admitted that before you vomited your opinion at me.”
“Yes, but I didn’t like the way you said it and felt I could do better. As usual, I was right.”