Dirty Secret

I pull the duffel from under the bench seat.

She plucks something from them. Stands. Shows off a white sash.

In thick gold script it reads Super Freak. The Super Freak is crossed out. Replaced with Bride to Be.

Indigo laughs. "Oh god."

"Are you suggesting she's no longer a super freak?" I ask.

"Maybe marriage will end their sex life," Eve says. "That's the tired stereotype."

Sienna fights a frown. "I couldn't put Freak to Be."

"You couldn't," Ty says.

"So we'll have to settle for this. Since Indie hides her inner freak." Sienna beams. She shows off the two black sashes. One for Eve, reading Slay Queen.

Eve laughs. "It is true."

"There are some other options. But that one felt the most you." She hands Eve the sash.

Eve nods a thanks.

Sienna dons her sash—Miss Behaving—and turns to me. "Now, for the gentlemen."

"Are you bringing some?" Ian asks. "I don't see any here."

"You'll have to do for tonight." Sienna takes the last three sashes from the bag. "I admit, I was a little biased with these." She holds out Ty's sash. Deep purple, with silver letters reading I'm the lucky one.

He smiles. "It's true."

Indigo sighs, wraps her hand around his neck, leans in to kiss him.

He pulls her body into his. Holds her close. Kisses back with everything she has.

The picture of love.

It makes my stomach turn.

I want to be happy for him. I am happy for him.

I just can't watch this shit.

"Oh my god, you have your whole life for that!" Sienna says. "Tonight is for torturing you. Look more embarrassed." She shakes her head ridiculous and offers Ian his sash. The same black with gold letters. Bad Influence.

Then mine. Dancing Diva.

"How did you know?" I ask.

She laughs as she rises to her tiptoes and places the sash on my shoulders. "How could I not?"

Her fingers brush my neck.

She looks up at me, her light eyes filled with curiosity.

All I want to do is answer it.

Chapter Twenty-One

Sienna

Cam plays his role as the life of the party. He teases my sister; he banters with his cousin; he debates which London football player would be best as Indigo's second choice (in the event something happens to Ty, she obviously needs to marry an athlete).

It's almost normal.

I almost believe we're just friends.

Only I keep catching him staring.

Studying me. Watching me. Picturing me out of my dress.

His desire is all over his face. I recognize it now. I recognize when his expression gets hazy and his thoughts drift to dirty places.

It's like when Indigo slips into the Love Zone. His version is the Fuck Zone.

I barely notice how much Indigo and Eve talk about fashion or hair or the deep, emotional lyrics of Billie Eilish (and others I don't recognize). I'm too busy watching Cam, trying to place his intentions, deciding whether I want to slap him or mount him.

Both maybe.

After we finish dinner, we head upstairs for dessert.

Ian pulls a room key from his slacks. Opens the hotel door. Motions after you. "Should we give Ty and Indigo a few minutes?"

"Only a few?" Cam asks.

"That's all he needs," Ian says.

Cam's eyes flit to me. Search for something.

Yes, it's the same conversation we had, but so what? It's not like he's saying baby, I'll take my time with you.

Or is he?

Would he?

I don't know. I have no idea if he likes it fast or slow. Soft or hard. Sweet or—

No. There's no way he likes it sweet. That's not who he is.

"You know Ty doesn't bait this easily." Eve laughs. "You need to work on your routine."

"Vixen, how could you say that?" Ian asks.

She looks up at him with a hazy smile. "The truth is the truth."

"Brutal," he says.

Yeah, they're in love. It's great. I'm over it.

"Cake first. Then you two can try to sneak off to fuck." I don't specify which two people can sneak off to fuck. It could be either couple, really.

Ty and Indie step inside.

Then Ian and Eve.

Cam turns to me, opens his mouth like he's going to say something, stops. "You want to cut the cake?"

"No. I think Ty should."

He chuckles. "That's cruel."

"Thank you."

He offers his arm.

I'm not sure if it's a friendly gesture or a romantic one, but I take his arm anyway.

We move into the penthouse.

It's a huge space, almost as big as Ty's apartment.

On the left of the door, the kitchenette, marble counter, dining table.

On the right, three leather couches around a coffee table, across from a wide-screen TV.

A door to the bathroom. Another to the bedroom.

And two massive windows letting in the soft blue night sky.

With the walls covered in dick shaped string lights, pink balloons, and inappropriate cut-outs, it's the perfect mix of luxe and tacky.

Indigo looks around with wide eyes. Ty smiles, enjoying the horror.

Eve laughs as she takes in the balloons reading Same Penis Forever and Same Vagina Forever. "I appreciate the equality, but are you sure it's true?"