Page 52 of Behold Her
Claire: I can when I can feel the freaky sex energy that’s radiating off of you. It must be wild if I can sense it over text.
Maggie: Oooooo tell us!
Max: No! I’m not like you all. I’m not talking to you about my sex life. It’s gross. I’m your brother.
Samantha: Aww, our baby brother is shy. Leave the precious baby alone.
Max: Fuck off.
Maggie: lol this weekend will be so fun.
Claire: Agreed.
Max: If any of you make Mona uncomfortable, I’m never speaking to you again.
Samantha: Relax! I won’t bang your girlfriend. Unless she begs me. She looks like she’s pretty on her knees.
Claire: Too far, Sam. Even for you.
Claire: (but according to Max’s current vibes, she does)
Maggie: lolol
I remove myself from the chat before I let them goad me any more. What the hell was I thinking, inviting Mona to go home with me?
A few seconds later, I’m added back to the chat.
Samantha: Sorry, Maxie. I promise I’ll be an angel around your girlfriend.
Claire: We’ll all behave. I’m happy you’ve found someone special.
Maggie: I thought you’d die alone. We won’t do anything to screw up your chance at happiness with a babe like her.
Max: Thanks?
31
“So, how was the beach?” Grace asks in a sing-song voice the second I take a seat in the plush armchair across from her. We met up at her place in lieu of game night because Rachel’s out of town and Devi’s exhausted. I considered asking if she wanted to invite Blair, but thought better of it since Grace seemed so flustered the last time we talked about her.
I’m about to lie and make up a wholesome story about combing the beach for shells with Max, but stop myself. I’ve never kept things from Grace before, even super personal things like my sex life. She bravely told me how she was feeling about her sexual needs, so I should bite the bullet and come clean.
“Uh, we didn’t go to the beach.”
Grace’s face falls. “Oh no! Did something happen? I wasn’t sure if I should tell you about his plans or not. It sounded so sweet, but I’m sorry if I made the wrong call.”
“No! You made the right call. We just didn’t go to the beach. I spent the weekend at his place.”
“Huh. Okay. Why would he want to surprise you with a weekend at his house?”
My palms sweat and I wipe them on my jeans, taking in a deep breath.
“Mona, you’re freaking me out. You look like you’re about to tell me someone died. Oh my god, did you murder someone?” Grace’s eyes widen in horror.
“What?! No. Why would you think that? You know that if I ever had to get rid of a body, I’d call you.”
Grace lets out a relieved sigh. “Okay. Just checking.”
“We uh…Max and I have an, uh, intense sexual dynamic.” I struggle to get the words out and know I’m blushing.