“Like Scandal.” I nodded. “Only better.”
“Bite your tongue!” Trace scolded and then laughed. She had a serious addiction to nighttime television.
“So, you guys wanna stop anywhere else?” I asked while we walked by Victoria’s Secret. The guys were a few feet behind us.
Trace looked up at the sign above the door. “Let’s go in here. You did just get married.”
“By force.” I held up my hand. “So it’s not like Tex is going to be touching me or anything.” I said the last part in a grumbling tone because honestly, I would do anything, short of ending up in prison, for the guy to kiss me again. To kiss me like he wanted me.
Mil and Trace shared a look before Mil pushed me towards the door. “He’s still a guy, Mo, believe me–” She tilted her head. “—all you need are a few… temptations. Besides, what could it hurt?”
“Oh I don’t know.” I sang as they dragged me in. “My pride, my heart, my unborn child, my—”
Mil held up her hand and rolled her eyes. “I get it. Now stop being a baby and let us whore you up.”
“Oh goody.” I clapped my hands together in fake excitement. “That’s just what I need to do, look like one of Tex’s whores.”
Trace pinched me in the arm.
“Ouch!” I rubbed the spot. “What was that for?”
Trace glared.
Mil answered for her. “Your head’s in your ass, but that’s okay. If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s pulling heads out of asses and setting things to right again. Take Chase for example…”
“Chase?” I repeated, as we walked further into the store, past the PINK section and into the lacy section that I had no business being in. “And just how did you help him?”
“Easy.” Mil shrugged and gave us a sly smile. “I offered my temple of a body, and now he’s too exhausted to be a jackass. Problem solved.” She laughed and then shrugged as if to say what else can ya do?
Trace threw her head back and laughed, giving Mil a high five.
I fought a smile and turned away from them.
Vinnie and Lou made their way into the store. Vinnie shook his head in disgust while Lou thumbed a nightgown with strings. It was meant to be sexy. He looked horrified; clearly complicated clothing messed with his head.
“This.” Mil tapped me on the shoulder and shoved a few hangers of lingerie into my arms. “Go try on.”
“How did you even—?”
“Go!” Mil stomped her foot. “And when he can’t keep his hands off of you, I expect a ‘thank you, Mil.’”
“You fit in too well.” Trace nodded. “I’m glad you’re keeping Chase and not giving up on him.”
“Takes work.” Mil winked and rubbed her hands together. “But who am I to shy away from work?”
“Just call it sex,” I grumbled stomping past them. “No more code words!”
I slammed the door behind me and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Every moment I’d spent with Tex… it had always been simple. We slept together, we talked, we laughed. I’d never actually tried seducing him. If he said no? Or if he made fun of me, or worse yet, was disgusted, I wasn’t sure my already fragile heart could handle it.
“Hurry up!” Mil banged on the door.
Cursing, I tossed my purse onto the floor and fumbled with the first lacy thing I saw. It was a black, completely see-through and had a halter top that tied around the neck leaving the entire back open. I wasn’t a prude by any means, but I felt more naked in that dressing room than I’d ever felt in my entire life.
“How’s it look?” Trace called.
“Good?” I said it like a question.
“You have a kick ass body. “Mil snorted. “Of course it looks good!”
I quickly tried on the rest of the things. I knew if I didn’t I’d be forced to let the girls in just so they made sure I followed through. I only had intentions to buy one of the outfits.
But Mil wasn’t having it. The minute I came out of the dressing room, she pulled everything from my arms and pointed at one of the cushioned black chairs, then went to the cash register.
“I think,” I huffed and blew a strand of hair from my face, “I like Mil in small doses.”
Trace laughed and sat in the chair next to me. “She’s awesome though.”
“Right. She’s also screwing Chase’s brains out, and he didn’t really have a ton to begin with. Should we worry?”
“Nah.” Trace shrugged and leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed; she looked happy, relaxed. “We’ll just buy him more protein bars and Gatorade. He’ll power through.”
Mil joined us a few minutes later wearing a sneaky grin on her face.
“What did you do?” I groaned.
“What?” she asked innocently. “I may have thrown a few… products in with the clothes, but to be fair they were on sale and honestly nothing would make me happier than you driving Tex to drink. Just think, bringing the Cappo to his knees.”
“He’s not the Cappo,” I said defensively, then realized I’d jumped to his defense perhaps a bit too quickly.
“Um, yeah.” Mil nodded, her eyes narrowing. “He is. Trust me, I don’t know what Nixon’s been telling you guys, but my family’s been chomping at the bit for the announcement, meaning only one thing. That little hit of ten million? It’s going to double if he doesn’t make a choice.”