Kelly didn’t need to be able to see Grace’s face to know she was grinning from ear to ear.

The table creaked as she placed her elbows on either side of her glass and leaned forward. “The bridesmaid held up a black box with a clear lid.” Grace paused for dramatic effect. “She smiled ever so sweetly and turned the box toward me so I could take a picture of the leather wrist restraints and paddle nestled in red velvet.”

Nicole smirked and sat back in her chair.

Collette’s hand flew to her mouth. “What happened next?”

The fact Ashleigh had her back to Kelly, she had no idea if Ashleigh looked intrigued or dismayed. Kelly made a mental note to ask Nicole later that night.

After hanging up the tea towel, she crossed the note off her list of things to ask and added it to her list of “it’s none of your business, Kelly.”

Grace turned sideways in her chair and answered Colette’s question. “Mrs Jones flushed beet red and grumbled something about kids these days it must be someone’s idea of a sick joke. She stormed off, then stopped and spun back to face me. We won’t be needing that picture, thank you very much, Ms. Porter.”

Just as Kelly was about to re-join the group, Paula’s words stopped her in her tracks. “That’s the kind of thing Kelly would do.”

Blanching, Nicole met Kelly’s eyes over Paula’s shoulder. With her heart in her throat, Kelly put a finger to her lips hoping Nicole wouldn’t draw attention to her. As much as she dreaded it, Kelly wanted to hear what Paula had to say. Or more specifically, how much she would say. Would she respect the universal rule—what happens behind closed doors, stays behind closed doors?

“Last weekend,” Paula continued.

The hairs on the back of Kelly’s neck stood on end. She should’ve shut Paula down, but morbid curiosity kept her rooted to the spot.

“Kelly hinted at tying me up and getting her kink on, but then she went and got sick. If she wants to play big girl games, she should learn how to hold her liquor first.”

There was no mistaking the emphasis Paula put on the words ‘her kink’ implying it was something Kelly wanted to explore as opposed to something they would explore together.

The realization that Paula had only ever humoured her sat like a heavy weight in the pit of Kelly’s stomach.

The only person who laughed at Paula’s revelation was Colette and it sounded more like a nervous giggle than a funny ha-ha laugh.

As if sensing Kelly’s presence, Paula glanced over her shoulder. She had the decency to look embarrassed at being caught gossiping about their sex life.