Page 16 of XX Love Affair
“I can take care of myself and my finances,” Helena said. “Would I turn down free food, shopping, trips to whatever event you want to take me to? Absolutely not. That’s half the fun. Except I recently got out of a semi-long-term thing with someone else and am not in the mood to repeat those mistakes. Like depending on them for shelter.”
“Is that so? My condolences. Sounds rough.”
“Thank you. It was.”
Delia’s molars bit down on her mint. Wintergreen shattered against the roof of her mouth. “Say we see each other again…” She couldn’t believe she was entertaining this, but Helena had her frying over the grill for one specific reason. I like easy access. Delia was getting older. She was lazier about some things, like chasing down hookups when her hormones screamed at her to touch some skin. Her wildest days may have been behind her now, but it was like drinking – just because she couldn’t drink as much as she used to without dying the next day, didn’t mean she didn’t indulge in any alcohol. I meter it out. I take my time. I wait for it to come to me. Well, here Helena was. Coming to her. Twice.
“Yeah?” Helena’s raspy voice asked.
“What’s in it for you, if not money?”
“Sex, obviously.”
“Is that all you care about?”
“Go out with me and I’ll tell you all about it. I’ve got a bucket list I’m slowly making my way through. Maybe you can help me out with a few things.”
Delia shook her head. “You remind me of myself at your age. College, right?”
“Technically. I’m currently on break.”
“Some girls study abroad, you know. Plenty of sex in Europe, too.”
“I wanted it here.” There was one plate the waiter had yet to take away. Delia hadn’t finished eating her lunch of sandwich and kettle-baked chips. Perfect opportunity for Helena to pick up a broken chip and toss it into her mouth. “Maybe I want it with you, Delia.”
The way she growled that name sent an unexpected shiver down Delia’s spine. “Well,” she lightly breathed. “We did have a good time the other night, didn’t we? Quick, but good. Did you buy yourself a drink?”
“I saved your generosity for breakfast the next day. There’s this cute diner by my hotel. Wholesome all-American breakfast.”
“Let me guess. Denny’s?”
“Grand Slam, baby.”
Delia chuckled. My twenty went toward breakfast at Denny’s… She couldn’t blame the girl. Helena was like a lot of young college-age women who pinched her pennies. “Friday night. I’m having a long week at work and could stand to blow off some steam. My favorite lounge is having their ladies only night. We’ll go and have ourselves a good time.”
Helena’s grin was some ungodly mix of genuine and contemplative. Ready to strike me right in the crotch. Oh, who was Delia kidding? This woman already had. “I love that.”
“And because I know you’ll appreciate it, we’ll grab something to eat first. I’m assuming you like Italian.”
“Love it.”
“Good. What’s your hotel?”
“How about you give me your ChatSnap and I’ll tell you there. I’ve got to hook you in, don’t I?”
“What makes you think I have ChatSnap?”
“The fact that you know what it is.”
Helena had her there. Delia pulled her phone out of her bag. “What’s your username?”
Once she had that, Helena asked, “Do you like getting nudes, Delia?”
“Sounds like your hobby.”
“Only if I happen to get a good photo.”
“That must be why you like ChatSnap.” The app was infamous for automatically deleting messages after the second view. Which meant that Delia had to be on top of saving her favorite photos if she wanted to enjoy them more than twice. “How about you hold off on the nudies for now? I already know what you’re hiding beneath that cute outfit of yours. Wasn’t like you were shy when we first met.”