I threw my head back, biting back a smile. “Sorry. Do you want me to say I want to fuck you? Because I’m just trying to make sure I don’t get chewed out for taking this the wrong way.”

“I’m saying it’s a little insulting that you say it the way you said it, like wanting to sleep with me would be crazy. But I don’t want you to plan to sleep with me. Hypothetically, it would just be more polite if–”

“Alright,” I said. “Hypothetically, I’d press you right against that wall over there.” I pointed, watching her eyes go wide as she followed my finger. “I’d peel that dress off you slowly, and then…”

She raised a palm. “Thank you. I think,” she added with another gulp. She quickly grabbed up her milkshake and started slurping aggressively.

“Sure. I’d hypothetically fuck you any day. But we both swore off relationships, like you said. From my experience, fucking tends to be a path that leads straight to messy things like relationships. And neither of us want that, right?”

“Well, your text the other day makes me wonder. Who was the woman in your picture?”

“What?” I asked. Frankly, I didn’t even remember sending her a text.

She looked annoyed as she lifted her phone and tapped a few times. She pinched her fingers and spread them out, turning the screen to face me. I saw the picture I’d sent her, but it was zoomed in on the bare leg at the bottom of the frame. Ahh, I thought. Maybe that’s why she has been so pissy.

“Her,” she said flatly. “Your real girlfriend, I assume?”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Oh, okay. Is this why you’ve been so sour towards me?”

“I haven’t been sour. And maybe it’s why I have trouble believing anything that comes out of your mouth.”

“That leg belongs to my sister. Makenna. So unless you think I’m from a certain Southern state with a reputation, you can put your fears to rest.”

“Are you from a certain Southern state with a reputation?”

“Born and raised in Manhattan.”

“Why was your sister half naked in front of you?”

“She was in her swim suit. My sister and some her friends were visiting when I sent that text and she was sitting on the chair beside me. Are we good, now?”

Pearl crossed her arms. “I still don’t trust you.”

“Good. That makes it more fun.” I reached across the bed and picked up a chunk of cake that had fallen on her plate. I ate it and licked my fingers, raising my eyebrows at her. “That’s good.”

Someone knocked at the door, so I got up. Pearl bulged her eyes and shook her head, but I opened the door and found a small woman with a huge puff of curly brown hair surrounding her face. She looked vaguely familiar, and I thought maybe she was the one I’d seen standing and gawking a few feet away when I kissed Pearl in the lobby. She smiled wide. “Dean Slater, right? Pearl told me all about you.”