Page 112 of Leave a Mark
“My point is, I know with all our shit, it’s hard to trust somebody — even when they’re trustworthy, but this isright,” Cherise said, balling her hands into fists and settling them on her knees. “I’ve seen the way that sexy doctor looks at you, honey, and this is for real. He’s a saint, and he’s in this for the long haul.”
“Cherise, it’s only been a couple of weeks. I don’t know—”
“So find out!”
Wren shook her head. “It’s not just that… it’severything.”
Her best friend gave her the stink-eye. “’Everything’ is a little vague.”
Wren shut her eyes on a sigh. “It’s…”
“Is it the sex? Does Dr. Dreamy have a tiny pecker?”
Wren’s eyes flew open. “Cherise! No!”
Her best friend clutched her arm, laughing. “Oh my God, Wren. Are you ever blushing. He must beHUGE.”
Wren slapped her on the knee. “Cherise!”
“You’re not denying it,” she teased, shaking her head. Wren covered her face to hide both her blush and the smile that threatened to tell more than she wanted.
“Dr. Hawthorne has a pon-der-ous pecker,” Cherise sang.
“Have I ever told you I hate that term?” Wren scolded behind her hands.
“What? Pecker?”
“Yes, who wants to associatethatwith chickens?”
“What would you rather? Prick?”
“Ugh. No.”
“Member?”
Wren lowered her hands and looked at Cherise like she was crazy.“Member?Member of what? What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, what do you call it? Please don’t saypenis.”
“I don’t know…cock?”Wren ventured with a shrug.
Cherise returned her crazy stare. “Thatdoesn’t make you think of chickens?”
“Well, it didn’t untilnow.”Wren laughed until she had to dry her eyes.
Cherise laughed just watching her.
When she could finally breathe, she sat up a little taller against the back of the plush couch. Her laughter had dried up, but her eyes had not. She kept dabbing them on the sleeve of her sweater, but her tears still fell.
“Want some tequila?” Cherise asked.
“Hell yes."
Cherise got up and returned with a bottle, two shot glasses, and the required lime and salt.
“Okay,” Cherise said, pouring. “We do one shot for courage, and then every time I saybullshit, you drink. Every time you sayyou don’t get itor the equivalent, I drink. Deal?”
“I think we’re about to get hammered.”
