The Other P-Word(12)

Marley let out a breath so deep it blew her bangs off her forehead. "Fine. What about you, Billie?"

"What about me?" I asked.

"Josh is bi."

"You're kidding. You honestly gonna offer him up to both of us?" Dillon asked.

"He's a person, not an accessory. And if you don't want him, then why not let Billie go out with him?"

"Thanks but no thanks. He sounds great, but I need to take a step back."

"Little Bird, stop waiting around for Mr.-"

"Mr. Right?"

"No, Mr. Perfect. He doesn't exist. Mr. Right does, but you're never  going to find him if you sit around here all day, knitting with Mrs.  Garcia."

"I like Mrs. Garcia. Although she still thinks I'm Marley, no matter how many times I tell her."

Dillon paused in his cutting, and gave my shoulder a squeeze. "Billie, I  think it's a good idea. You can't mope around here forever. Plus, it  might give you an excuse to shower more, 'cause you really stink,  sweetie."

There were certain people in your life that could tell you that you  stunk and you knew it came from a place of concern. These were my  people.

"Preston and I did go out for six months. It's not so easy."

Stevie punched in a few keys on my computer. "I want to show you something."

"Stevie, don't do that. We agreed," Marley said.

"It's better she sees it here than by accident."

"See what?" I asked.

Stevie turned the monitor to me. "I'm going to stop cutting now," Dillon said.

I moved the chair closer as the deep movie guy's voice came on, with  little snippets of Preston rubbing against random girls. "One man and  one hundred beautiful women. Who will he pick? America-you won't want to  miss this, because Preston Vanderfield is definitely Marriage  Material."

"I don't understand. How can this be on already?"

"It's filmed in sections. He was filming it while he was dating you," Marley explained.

"He cheated on me."

"Yes."

"The fucker."

"Yes."

Marley took my empty plate toward the sink.

"I don't know why I'm surprised. He never satisfied me, emotionally or physically."

"What do you mean?"

"He never gave me an orgasm."

Everyone paused, staring at me as if I'd grown tentacles. "Maybe that's  not all his fault. I've never had one. I think I'm just built that way."

The plate slipped from Marley's hand, falling hard onto the wood floor before it shattered into a million pieces.

"Marley, are you all right?" I moved to get up, but Dillon pushed me back down again.

"I'm cutting your hair, and unless you want a Mohawk to match your  mullet, you'd better sit your ass down." Stevie rushed toward Marley,  helping her pick up the broken china.

"I'm fine. Did you just say you've never had an orgasm?" Marley asked.

"Yeah, but it's not that big of a deal … right?"

"Um … yeah it is," Stevie said. "And no one is built that way. Every girl can have one. Some just require a little more … coaxing."                       
       
           



       

"I figured it's because I'm so young. I've only been with two guys."

"Ah … you're not that young," Stevie said. "And that's plenty of guys."

"It's not like you guys have one every time … right?"

They both looked at each other and back at me. "Every. Single. Time." They said in unison as if they were on a cheer team.

"You're saying Rick always gives you one, Marley?"

"We're not done having sex unless I have one. The same is true for him."

"Stevie?" I asked. She and Adam had been married longer. Surely she didn't agree.

"Sometimes Adam gets overly excited."

"See."

"But then I just ask him if he forgot something and he makes it up in multiples."

"You're kidding."

"Swear to God," she said, holding up her hand.

"Don't swear to God when you're talking about sex," I censured.

"Why not? I take his name in vain many times while in the act," she replied, a sly smile on her ruby lips.

Marley swept the last of the plate into the trashcan. "This explains a lot."

"Like what?"

"Why you're always so uptight, for one."

I lifted my head up, staring at Dillon, who had yet to resume my haircut. "Hey, bro, help me out here."

"Don't look at me. I come every time. And it's not exactly like I can  fake it. Sometimes, I wish I could. It's one thing you ladies have that  creates an unfair advantage."

"Did you ever tell Preston that you didn't finish?" Marley asked.

"I didn't want to hurt his feelings."

They both shook their heads. Marley wiped a tear away.

"Are you seriously crying, Marley? This is not that sad."

"It's the damn hormones. Plus, I can't believe you've never climaxed."

"It's not a big deal to me," I said.

"That's easy for you to say. You don't know any better."

"By the way, how's the pregnancy sex?" Stevie asked Marley, adjusting her glasses.

A crimson glow crept into her face. "I thought we lasted a long time  before, but this is nuts. I have a lot of cravings, but none of them  compares to my craving for him. Sometimes he walks through the door and I  attack him, before he even gets his coat off."

"Seriously?" Dillon asked.

"She does. I've witnessed that personally," I replied.

Thank goodness for thick walls and noise-cancelling headphones.

But still, this was a time that Marley and Rick needed their privacy.

Another reason I needed to find my own place-and soon.





Chapter Six





"Billie, you look gorgeous." Mom gasped as I entered the banquet hall.

"Thanks to Dillon."

I had to give Dillon credit. I never thought I'd like my hair short but I  loved the perky pixie cut he'd given me. It fell somewhere between sexy  and cute, with its sharp layers and wispy bangs.

"Thank you, thank you," Dillon said, holding his hands up like an actor  winning a trophy. "I couldn't have pulled it off if you didn't have the  right bone structure."

He wasn't a licensed professional, but he sure as hell could cut hair.  Mom ran her fingers through my shorter hair. "You can see your pretty  face now. You look like Twiggy."

"I look like a twig?"

"No Twiggy … you know, the model."

"Oh."

Stevie put her arm around me. "I was thinking more along the lines of Keira Knightley circa Domino."

I got that analogy and appreciated it too. Keira Knightley looked badass in that movie.

"Did you leave your keys at the door?" my mom asked us.

"I don't have to worry about that¸ Mom."

"Did you give any thought to the car?"

"I don't need you guys to buy me a new car. I can manage."

They could afford it, but I already felt like a leech. Besides, my mom  had broken her back paying for my college tuition. I'd sworn I wouldn't  ask her for another cent after that.

"Why do we have to leave our keys?" Adam asked.                       
       
           



       

"This is a benefit to stop drunk driving. We considered having a dry  event, but people are tighter with their pocketbooks so we thought this  was a good alternative. You'll get your keys back if you blow clean into  the breathalyzer."

Damien's first wife and child had been killed in a drunk driving  accident. The charity was very personal to him. My mom helped him run it  when she wasn't chasing my brothers around.

"That makes sense."

I had to admit the event was elegant, with the men in their tuxedos and  the women wearing sparkling evening gowns. I'd borrowed Marley's purple  dress. Its neckline dipped a little lower than I was used to, but it  made me feel sexy.

"Hey, guys, guess they'll let anyone in here," Damien joked, approaching us.

"Yeah, the proprietor included," Adam said, patting him on the back.

"Hey, boss," I greeted Rick.

He smiled. "Glad you accepted the position. I have a ton of work for you."

"Can't wait."

I Think of You by Rodriguez came on. "They're playing our song,  sweetheart. Shall we?" Damien asked Mom. She blushed and nodded. The man  could still make her blush. A woman who'd toured with the Dead and ran  on stage at Woodstock-not the original concert, of course-could blush at  the slightest comment from him.

I smiled as each girl in my family took her guy's hand and walked to the dance floor.

"Billie?" Marley asked, as Rick took her hand.

"Go ahead, Dills will keep me company."

Dillon nodded, placing his hand on my back and leading me to the bar.

"Look who's here," Dillon said, pointing to the bar. "I swear he's the reincarnation of a Greek god and I believe he's single."