“True that,” Jaslene says, nodding. “With work during the day and school at night, who has the time anyway? Maybe in the future but it’s not a priority right now.” She shimmies in her seat. “And I have no problem experimenting with ways to take care of myself.” Her eyes widen as though she’s just remembered something important. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask: Is it normal for a dildo to make you walk side to side the next morning?”

We all stare at her, then burst out laughing. I love these women.

A throat clears and Jaslene jerks at the interruption.

“Order up, ladies,” Brandon says.

As another server carrying a large tray with our mozzarella sticks and fries stands in silence, Brandon places the baskets of goodies on the table. “I see someone else joined you, and I don’t think I know them.”

A flush spreads across Jaslene’s cheeks before she drops her head.

“Jaslene, meet my roommate, good friend, and all-around great guy, Brandon. Brandon, meet Jaslene, family friend, wedding planner extraordinaire, and all-around Boricua goddess.”

Without looking up, Jaslene puts out a hand in Brandon’s direction. “I’m Jaslene. Middle name ‘Utterly.’ Last name ‘Mortified.’”

“It’s all good,” Brandon says. “No one should ever be embarrassed about satisfying themselves in the privacy of their own home. Especially not someone as lovely as you.”

Jaslene’s head whips up, her eyes sparkling with interest. Natalia and Lina draw back, their eyebrows raised.

“Okay, Brandon,” Natalia purrs. “Get. It.”

“Uh, anyway,” Brandon says. “Would anyone care for a cocktail?”

Natalia points at her swollen belly; the other women shake their heads.

“I’m not a drinker,” Jaslene adds.

“I could make you a virgin,” Brandon says.

She grins. “Believe me, that ship has sailed, but I admire your can-do attitude.”

Brandon drops his head as he backs away. “Well, I walked right into that one.” He waves with both hands. “We’ll leave you to finish talking. Enjoy.”

“Thank you,” I singsong as Brandon and his coworker leave us. “This experimental cocktail’s excellent, by the way.”

“I know,” he says over his shoulder.

“Back to this fake relationship with Dean,” Lina says as she slides a batch of fries onto a single plate and hoards it. “How’d it go tonight?”

“I think it went as well as can be expected. He crafted a wild story, so recounting it was a distraction. Made it easier not to get tripped up on the details. And the women are genuinely nice. I’m a little uncomfortable lying to them, but Dean and I are on the same page about making sure the stuff that really matters is one hundred percent truthful. Plus, now that the introductions are out of the way, Dean can focus on sharing the inside scoop about the firm and reeling them in.”

“That’s good, I suppose,” Lina says. “Did you kiss?”