Page 63 of Special Delivery

I swallow the emotions down, waving her to join me.

“Hi,” she says, stopping awkwardly right in front of my stool. She sports a pair of light, baggy jeans, making her legs look super long, and a flowery blouse. The pink hue covering her skin turned into something resembling a tan.

“Hi.” I grin, pulling her in for a hug. She’s rigid for a beat before melting into it. I try not to think about how well she fits into my arms. “We should grab a booth.”

She dips her chin adorably, and I take her hand to lead her to the back. We squeeze into one of the empty booths, and Paige makes sure there’s a respectable distance between us. The table is made of light wood, with a circular Zen garden in the middle. The seashells and sand aren’t covered in resin here, and I have to admit it’s a nice touch. Paige sticks her hands in the sand right away, focusing on letting it fall through her fingers. The server appears soon, and we each order a drink. Once we’re alone, I break the silence.

“Today was probably a little much… It wasn’t how I planned the whole thing.” I glance up at her widened eyes. “That was my last delivery of the day, and I hoped I could talk to you for real. When your neighbor appeared, you looked like you wanted to be anywhere else, so I dipped.”

“Yeah, Linda is…nosy.”

“I got that.” A chuckle escapes me.

“And I was taken aback. Still am, if I’m honest.”

The server appears, placing another beer in front of me, and a glass of wine in front of her. Paige thanks them and downs a quick sip of her drink.

“I know. But we’re friends, aren’t we?” I ask her.

She hesitates for a second. “I guess.”

“What happened in the Bahamas…” Her face flushes pink. “I think it’s safe to say we both enjoyed it.”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “The whole thing sounds like it’s bound to get messy.”

“Well, are you currently looking to date anyone?”

“No.” Her face scrunches with disgust.

“Good. Neither am I.”

“Did you enjoy your orgasms in the Bahamas?”

Her eyes widen to saucers as her mouth parts. Her fingers are working overtime in the small sand pit between us, which I don’t think she even realizes.

Finally, she lets out a huff. “Nonsensical question. Who doesn’t enjoy orgasms?” Her voice drops to a whisper as her gaze darts to both sides, checking to see if anyone can hear us.

“Can I be honest with you?” I lock in our eyes, not allowing her to look away.

“Honesty is preferable, yes.”

“It wasn’t just orgasms. I had fun. More fun than I’ve had in a long time. I think the same thing goes for you.”

“It’s not that simple. There’s also the minor detail of our parents getting married.”

“So what? It’s not like we’ll all live together under one roof like a big happy family. You and I are both adults. I think we can handle seeing each other a couple times a year, max. Unless you expect to fall in love with me, of course.” I wink at her.

Her eyes narrow. “Of course not. But what about you falling in love with me?”

“Trust me, my body isn’t currently capable of it. These headaches are taking out every ounce of my energy. There’s nothing left for silly things like love.”

Her mouth drops, her expression changing. “So why would you waste your limited energy on this, whatever this is?” She motions between us.

“Because it helps.” The words slip out before I can stop them. It sounds bad, like I’m using her to help with my headaches, which is only partially true. “That’s not…” I continue, hoping to explain, but she lifts her hand in the air.

“I’m in.”

“What?”