The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men 7)

Didn’t mean I didn’t have regrets though. I still probably would’ve tried out as a guy if I had to do it all over again. I loved being able to play with the band. And I loved this chance to get to know Asher. The verdict was still out on Gally and Heath. Heath might be okay, but it was hard to tell. Gally, I feared, was a straight-up irredeemable asshole.

I probably would’ve come clean to them sooner, though.

Now, I was just too chicken-shit and worried I’d destroy everything if I exposed my true identity. It would definitely upset Asher. And I’d do anything not to upset Asher, even continue to dress up as Sticks.

I’d never been the girliest girl on the planet, but three nights after I babysat Pick and Eva’s kids while Asher helped console Mason and Reese, I felt the need to indulge my feminine side. I took a long, hot bubble bath, gave myself an avocado facial, plopped two cucumber slices over my eyes and didn’t budge from the water until all my fingers and toes were pruned and colorless.

After that, I strolled barefoot around the apartment in a fuzzy terrycloth robe with a towel turban on my head as I raided the kitchen for ice cream, chocolate, and a mug of pumpkin spiced tea.

A mini pedicure followed along with fingernail painting and then eyebrow tweezing. By the time I was done with all that, I felt refreshed and ready to take on the world again.

I didn’t plan on going out, but I slid on one of my favorite little black dresses and fixed up my face and hair—just because I could—before returning to the kitchen to, ugh...do the dishes.

It’d been a few days and they’d piled up. What was worse, the waffle maker I hadn’t used for over a week was still sitting on the counter, waiting to be scrubbed clean. I was sure both Jodi and I had done a round of dishes each since we’d used that damn waffle iron. But it was such a pain in the ass to wash, we’d both put it off.

I narrowed my eyes at it, wondering if it’d be wrong to just pitch it and buy another. It was kind of a cheapie brand. I could buy something nice and self-cleaning. Did waffle makers come in self-cleaning brands?

Well, they totally should.

Bluck, okay. I’d clean the stupid thing.

I had the soap and every possible scrubber on hand, working at it, when I heard Jodi come in, home early from her Tuesday night class. I called a greeting and went back to the waffle iron as I sang “Anaconda.” I had my hips swaying and booty popping as I rapped out the Nicki Minaj part, because hell, isn’t that what you were supposed to do when you got down with Nicki?

I’d just gotten to the verse when someone laughed from behind me. Yelping out my surprise, I whirled around, the suds clinging to my hands flinging everywhere.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The girl leaning against the doorjamb of the kitchen and holding her stomach with one arm as she continued to laugh held up a hand. “I just heard the singing and had to check it out.”

I gaped at her, blinking and unable to believe my eyes...because I knew her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I blurted out, shaking my head in confusion. As soon as I realized how rude that had sounded, I slapped my hand over my mouth. “I mean...sorry. I just...I wasn’t expecting anyone. I thought my roommate had just come home and—”

“You mean Jodi? Oh, she did.” The blonde hooked a thumb over her shoulder, motioning out of the kitchen and toward the rest of the apartment. “I take Theatrical Design class with her, and when we got out early tonight, we decided to go somewhere to eat, but she wanted to stop by her place first to change, so voilà. That’s why I’m here, waiting on her. I’m Caroline, by the way.”

“Re—” I automatically started to answer before I caught myself, wondering if I should give her my real name. She was friends with Asher, married to his coworker. How safe was I in getting to know her as a girl? Then I decided, screw it. I didn’t feel like lying for the rest of the evening, so I smiled and said, “Remy.”

She smiled back as if pleased with my answer. I wondered if she knew the truth. Her husband knew; but had he told her?

“So do you want to get something to eat with us?” she asked, looking eager as if she really wanted me to go along.

“Uh...” I glanced toward the dishes, which I really didn’t want to finish. But spending too much time with Asher’s friend might get me caught up in some lie I didn’t want to tell.

Before I could regretfully decline, though, Jodi burst into the kitchen, saying, “Yes! Of course, you do. It feels as if I haven’t seen you in forever. You’re always busy, spending time with—”

“Sure,” I butted in before she could say Asher’s name or his band’s name. “I’ll tag along, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Caroline answered brightly.

“Great.” My smile was forced and my heart was pounding with stress. “Let me just go change into something a little more suitable.”

“Oh, hell no.” Jodi grabbed my arm, stopping me. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you looking so nice. You are totally wearing that.” Then she crinkled her eyebrows into a confused frown. “Actually, why are you wearing that to do the dishes?”

I flushed hard as I shrugged. “Just, you know...sometimes you want to feel pretty when you’re slaving away at menial tasks.”

Caroline laughed at my answer. “I think I’m going to like you.”

I sent her a small, sick smile. Swell. I’d probably have to lie and deceive the girl all night, but she liked me. Nothing else for me to feel guilty about there.

No, not at all.