I dress and leave everything neat and tidy. Except for one thing, of course … her panties. Because they’re going into my treasure trove.
Chapter 13
Lesley
Hailey and I made plans to meet at her favorite ice-cream shop, so I’ve parked myself on a bench outside the shop to wait. She arrives minutes later, and she buys an ice cream for us both. Only when she comes outside does she notice the dog underneath the table.
“Oh, my god!” she squeals. “You got a dog!” She almost drops the ice cream.
“Be careful!” I say, grabbing mine before it’s on the ground.
“Sorry, I just … oh, my god, it’s so cute!” she says, handing me her ice cream too so she can crawl under the table and pet Pepper.
“And it’s a wiener too!”
“Yup,” I say, rolling my eyes. She always had a thing for dogs. Wish I shared her enthusiasm.
“What’s her name?” she asks.
“Pepper.”
“Hi, Pepper! Aw!”
“What?” I peek under the table to see Pepper lick Hailey’s face. “You know that’s been in people’s crotches?”
“So?”
I snort and shake my head. “You would’ve been much better at this than I am, I can tell.”
“At what?” She comes out from underneath the table. “And how the hell did you get her? Don’t you like … hate dogs?”
“Oh, I do,” I say, handing her back her ice cream.
“Then why did you get her?”
“I didn’t.”
“I’m confused.” She frowns, licking her ice cream.
I sigh. “I was forced to take one by my new boss.”
Her eyes widen, and she makes an o shape with her mouth. “New boss? You got a new job, and you didn’t tell me?”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I wanted to tell you, but I was too damn busy with that damn dog… and the work.”
“Bitch, don’t lie.” She narrows her eyes. “You could’ve texted me. But you didn’t, which means you’re hiding something from me.”
“I am not!” I exclaim.
She points at me with her ice cream. “Ha! Knew it! Motherfucking liar.”
“What? I didn’t say anything!” I say.
“What kind of boss gives a dog to his employee? No one!” she says.
For some reason, my cheeks completely light up even though what I said is the truth. “He did! It’s because they make dog toys.”
“Yeah, of course.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m not stupid, Les. Spill it.”
“For once, I’m not lying, and you don’t believe me.” I lick my ice cream in protest. “Whatever.”
“What? You want me to believe your boss just randomly handed you this cutie?”
“Yup.” I shrug, smirking at the sight of her jealous face.
“Fuck you,” she says, making me laugh.
“Eat your ice cream, Hailey. You’re getting too salty.”
She does exactly that, stuffing her face with it.
“Fucking hell. And here I am with Thomas and a damn cat. I want a dog too!”
“At least a cat won’t bark at every passing neighbor and pee on your carpet.”
“Boo!” she says. “I don’t discriminate. All cats and doggies get my love.”
“I wish I was as easy as you,” I muse, sticking out my tongue when she side-eyes me.
“Yeah well, I’ll take her off your hands if you don’t want her.”
“No way. I’m supposed to take care of her. How else am I supposed to prove I’m a great employee?”
“You’re still keeping up that story, are you?”
“Because it’s the truth.” I raise my brow sarcastically.
“You don’t happen to be cozying up to him?” she murmurs, leaning forward. “You know, sneaking kisses in the office?” She licks her lips. “Getting the D on the desk?”
I can’t stop the heat from pouring through my veins and turning my face as red as a strawberry. When she sees it, she points at me and laughs.
“I knew it!”
“Stop it!” I whisper-yell, swatting my hand at her.
“No, I’m giving you a piece of your own medicine,” she muses, taking another bite of ice cream. “Oh, my god, Lesley, I can’t believe it. You fucked your boss.”
“Shhh!” I say, looking around, hoping no co-workers accidentally pass by.
“What? Where’s that girl who was proud of every damn fuck she had?”
“She’s still here,” I answer, leaning in. “But I’m trying to keep my job intact, okay? So hush.”
“Right …” A playful grin spreads across her lips. “So who is it? What does he look like? When did you two meet?”
“TJ Morrows.”
“Holy shit!” She plants her hand on the table. “Really?”
I nod. “Not so loud!”
“But he’s a hottie! He’s on the front of all those business magazines, touting his new reign over his father’s empire. All the girls I talk to wanna be rich like him … or they wanna fuck him.”
I clear my throat. “I’d rather not know what other girls want to do to him.”
“Because you wanna keep that squishy ass all to yourself.” She winks.
“No! It’s not like that.” I frown. “It was an accident.”
“Accident?” She snorts and begins to suck on her ice cream again. “Sex never is.”