“Holy shit…amazing. I want to see him.” My voice cracks a little and she says, “Why don’t we call you? I’ll help him this afternoon and you can talk through the phone.”
“Would you really? I would love that. I’ll quit whatever I’m doing when it’s a good time for you—promise.”
“Don’t worry, Lizzy. I’ll take care of him.”
“But what about you?”
She sniffs again. “I’ll tell you all about it, but not right now. You’re missing breakfast, aren’t you?”
“Don’t hold back on me because of this. I want to hear the whole story.”
“I’m not,” she pauses, still sounding teary, “I’m just not sure I want to go into it quite yet.”
I hesitate before asking my next question, because I don’t want to press her but I want to know: “Do you think it will last?”
Her voice breaks. “I think so. Yeah.”
“Suri, I’m so sorry.”
“I know.” She’s crying softly again, and I would give anything to zap myself to where she is. “I wish I was there,” I say.
“I know.” She takes a deep breath and I can practically see her steadying herself. Wiping her eyes. “How are you, Lizzy? Are you doing okay? Cold feet, warm feet?”
“I’m nervous, but I can do this. It’s for Cross.”
“Lizzy, he’s going to flip if he ever finds out. You do know that.”
“Let him,” I say. “He can hunt me down. I hope he does.”
“He might. Remember if you back out, I’ll come get you.”
“I won’t, but thank you for the offer.” I thumb the tiny framed snapshot of Suri, Cross, and me that’s sitting on my night stand. “I’m going to be thinking of you all day, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I want you to promise me you’ll call if you want or need to. You promise?”
“Pinkie promise. Love you, Liz-Liz.”
“You too, Sur-Sur.”
As soon as I hang up the phone, I call Nanette to get the deets on Cross. She tells me he has his eyes open at this very moment, but he’s still not really responding to anyone.
“It’s still early,” she says softly, and I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m dancing as I get into my clothes: soft black slacks that make my butt look good, open-toe black heels, and a sea green blouse. I pull my hair into barrettes and let it hang down to my shoulders.
By the time I go downstairs, the kitchen is closed, and a glance at my phone reveals it’s time for my exam. I slowly make my way to the medical clinic, where for the next two hours, my virginity is verified through an uncomfortable series of pokes and palpitations. By the time I get out of the stirrups I’m red in the face and feeling distinctly undignified.
Have you ever made this much money off a regular gynecological exam before? That thought makes me smirk.
The moment I push through the door back out into the main hall, I’m greeted by the sound of kids’ party bazookas and a single spray of silly string, which apparently came from a can Loveless is holding.
Juniper catches my arm, and Marie V. grins. “It’s time for your sex class!”
“Sex class?” I put a hand on my stomach, which feels flip-floppy at the prospect. “Does that mean I—”
“You watch,” Loveless says, winking at me. “Now, follow us.”
So I do. I follow them around to the right side of the manor house, into a spacious suite that’s outfitted with more cameras than the rest of Love Incorporated.
A hot guy with silky blond-brown hair and pale blue eyes is waiting. When he sees Juniper, he grabs her hand, and I watch with a notch between my brows while the two of them step into another room, and a few of the girls I don’t know well move in to give me hugs.
“We’re leaving,” Bella says. “Don’t want to be a looky loo.”
“Have a great day,” a girl named Luri tells me.
“Juniper’s the best,” assures a slightly younger girl.
When the room clears out, it’s only Loveless, Marie V., and me. On the other side of a long window, Juniper and the guy—who I quickly find is named Aspen—are making out. We sit down on a plush couch, and I ask if the window is one-sided.
“Oh, yes. They can’t see us,” Marie V. tells me.
But I can definitely see Juniper. She’s unzipping Aspen’s pants, and I’m feeling a little awkward.
“Clients pay to watch this?” I ask them as Aspen pulls off her blouse.
“Some,” Loveless says.
“Wow, that’s weird.”
“But not for you,” Marie V. says. “It’s good. They’re going to show you the ropes. Feel free to walk up to the window. That’s why they’re doing it. So you can see what it’s going to be like.”
“Wow.” I do end up at the window, only because Loveless prods me to. I’m still reeling an hour later as we eat a picnic lunch on the lawn behind the main manor house. When Juniper finally shows up, drinking a smoothie and wearing a long, pink robe, she grins. “Well, what did you think?”