Page 24 of Masquerade Mistake
“Yup. Your mom needs a night off to think about what she’s done.” She raises her eyebrow at me. “Ruining brownies. That’s a sin.”
I have a million arguments about her plans, but I keep them bottled until Finn rejects the rest of the food I packed and runs back to the playground.
“An all-nighter? I am not staying out all night. I’m trying to find a way to break things off with Ethan, and you’re not helping.”
“Do what you want with the time, I don’t care. But you are not going to be at your house. I’ll take over Finn duties at your house, and you can bachelorette it up at my place. Just change the sheets when you’re done, all right?”
I wrinkle my nose at her, even as the idea of what she’s suggesting sends a thrill through me. But no. That’s not going to happen.
“I’m calling off the date, so you’re off the hook,” I say. She rolls her eyes.
“Did you ever think that maybe I like hanging out with your progeny? I don’t care if you go out with Ethan or not, tell me you don’t need a break.”
“But my swag orders! I have so many packages I still need to complete.”
“They’ll be there on Saturday when you come back. Come on Claire, live a little. You can stay up all night watching Netflix. Or you can turn off everything and listen to silence. Or, I don’t know, you can stop being such a prude and have an enjoyable night with Ethan, whatever that means for the two of you. Finn is old enough for an overnight with his Aunt Maren. You’ve been a mom without a break since Finn was born.” She gives me a pointed look, and I know my lecture is over. Even more, I know she’s right.
“Fine,” I say, then laugh as the serious look on her face dissolves into a smile.
“Oh my God, we have so much to do before then,” she says.
“Like what?”
I’m not sure I like the look in her eyes as she says, “You’ll see.”
Chapter 10
“I never said I’d go out with him. Ow!”
The fact that I’m here without pants and spread eagle, while Maren sits across from me in a chair, is a testament to how close we are as friends. The fact that some woman is ripping hair off my asshole during an appointment Maren forced me to attend is a testament to what an awful friend she is.
“Fuck!” I yell out as the woman rips another strip off me.
“That was the last one,” the woman assures me as I death grip the table.
“I hate you,” I hiss at Maren as soon as the woman is out of the room.
“You just wait until you experience the smoothness of a waxed box,” she says with a knowing smile.
“Don’t tell me you do this too.” I retrieve my pants and start dressing.
“Wanna see?” She starts to unbuckle her pants, but I stop her.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I laugh, cringing as I pull my underwear on. Much to my relief, it’s not as tender as I think it will be. I’m definitely aware of down there, though. My eyes widen at the sensation of skin against skin, and an airy feeling that goes with it.
“It’s like being naked all the time,” Maren says, and I nod in agreement.
“I definitely get the appeal. But I’m serious, no one is going to see this but me…and you, I guess.”
“You’re prepared, just in case,” she says, swinging her purse over her shoulder as she leads the way out of the room.
Maren insists on paying since she’s the one who made the appointment. I let her, figuring she owes me for the torture.
“You can pay for your new clothes, though.”
I argue that I don’t need any, but we still end up at The Mermaid’s Lagoon, a posh clothing boutique in upper Sunset Bay. At least I thought it was a clothing boutique.
“This is a thrift store?” I say, my eyes widening as I take in the racks upon racks of gorgeous name brand clothes surrounded by display tables of sparkling jewelry. Hanging from the ceiling are multiple chandeliers adorned with lights. The place looks like it belongs in a magazine, and definitely not like a store that holds people’s second-hand clothing.