Page 39 of From That Moment
“You would have joined in?”
“I’m still young. Ish. A little banged up, sure, but no…probably not with them. You never know, though.” I winked, and she grinned.
“Now that we know that that might be on the table, we should add that to our notes for the next person.”
I flipped her off. “No. I want a good date. Not only a fling or a man or woman who’s going to take me to bed with five others.”
“Five? Wow, a little adventurous, aren’t you?”
“Shut up. You know what I mean.”
“Maybe not. Now I’m just picturing a sixsome, or is that an orgy at that point? When do we know when it’s an orgy? Like how many people have to be involved? And do all these people have to touch for it to be an orgy, or is it a form of -some. Like a threesome or an eightsome?”
“I have no idea, but now I have weird sketch drawings in my head of stick people trying to stick each other.”
Dakota wiped tears from her eyes as I smiled, shaking my head.
“You’re back up to your normal dorkiness level. Looks like you’re feeling better.” She was silent for a moment, and I hoped she wasn’t going to bring it up.
I wasn’t that lucky.
“You called out your sister’s name again. Have you talked to your therapist?”
“Over the phone, yes. Myra was in the other room, and she forced me to do it.”
Dakota grinned. “Well, Myra has a talent for forcing you to take care of your mental health. And your physical health. She’s our friend for a reason.”
“She’s as pushy as the rest of you, but I love you guys. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. The dreams keep coming, just like the nightmares of what happened in the parking lot. Maybe if they found the guy who did it, it would make things better. But I don’t think so. My subconscious is a bitch.”
“You said yourself that you’re a bitch, so aren’t you used to that?” Dakota asked, looking sweet as sin.
“Bitch.”
“I’m learning my bitchiness. I’m a mom. I’m usually only bitchy when I’m in mama bear mode.”
“Maybe, but I think you hide your bitchiness under all that sweet cream and sugar.”
“And that could be why I do not have a date.” She held up her hands before I could speak. “And it’s not my turn. You may say you’re done with dating, but we both know that’s not the case. You want happiness. Hazel found hers, and it’s our turn. You’re up first. And then I guess it’s Myra, and then I will take up the charge at the end.”
“What did we get ourselves into?” I asked, frowning down at my hands.
“I don’t know. I don’t think we had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. I thought it would be easy to have fun on a single date. It clearly isn’t.” Dakota winced. “Not that I’m saying that it’s your fault or anything.”
“Thanks,” I said, sarcasm lacing my tone.
“I’m only saying that dating is hard, and I don’t want to go to apps or online dating. I want people to introduce me to happy people who will make me happy. Or, I don’t know, someone who likes me for more than my baked goods.” She paused. “And baked goods is a euphemism, yet isn’t in this case.”
I laughed at that. “Good to know. Though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat your baked goods again.”
She crossed her eyes, and I laughed.
“Go take a shower. I’ll get you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said quickly.
“I don’t actually care. You haven’t eaten since last night, and you’re going to eat now. So get over yourself.”
“Is this what you say to Joshua every morning?”