Page 211 of Masters of Pleasure
“Do you want to talk about it?”Law asked, opening the door, but he would not make Q step through it unless he was ready.
“It was just high school bullshit.”Q scrubbed his hand over his face, his expression twisting into a grimace.“It shouldn’t even be a thing now.”
“High school bullshit… like playing pranks on each other?”
“No, that’s mostly new.”Was it Law’s imagination, or did Q’s lips twitch in a smile?“We were competitive, always competing for… well, just about everything.Top of the class, first seat in the clarinet section, president of the computer club, valedictorian.”
“Who won?”Law’s interest was piqued.Of all the scenarios he’d imagined, high school rivals for top of the class hadn’t been one of them.There had to be something more to the story.
“It was pretty evenly split.”
“And that’s it?”Since Q was already talking, he didn’t feel bad about trying to pry a little.
“Uh...well...”Q turned his head, no longer meeting his gaze.Law was beginning to interpret that as Q’s indication he wasn’t comfortable with what he was saying.“I asked her to prom, and she said yes, then the next day she told me she couldn’t go with me.”
“Did she say why?”
“No.”Q shrugged.“Didn’t really matter in the end.Made the competition for who was going to be valedictorian pretty fierce.”A little smile appeared on his lips.“I won that one.”
But he didn’t get the girl.Interesting.
“You know what?”Q sat up a little straighter.“I’m fine with it if she is.I’ve never backed out of a challenge with her, and I won’t now.If she doesn’t want to be paired with me, she can say so.I don’t have a problem with her as long as she keeps her post-it notes away from my car.”
“Uh-huh.”Law wasn’t sure exactly how this would go down, but it would probably be entertaining to watch.
Unfortunately, he had a feeling his friends felt the same way about him and Iris.
ChapterEighteen
Iris
Things were going far better than she could have hoped.Everyone was seated in the main room around the food and getting along well.She hadn’t talked much about Noelle to the others, and so far, her roommate was on her best behavior and definitely working to impress them, which was a relief.Part of her had been worried Noelle would try to antagonize them since she’d been so annoyed about Iris spending time with them.
“So, the next thing I know, she has me as Mirabel, Mitch as Isabella, and herself as Luisa.”Domi cackled as she recounted her six-year-old daughter’s latest antics.“I’m pretty sure I know what she’ll want to be for Halloween.”
“Why didn’t Mitch get to be Camilo?”Iris asked, amused as she sat back down after handing Avery another glass of water.She’d gotten up to get herself a drink and had offered to grab a refill for anyone else who needed it.
“It was more important we have the three sisters, of course.”Domi’s headshake made her curls dance, and Iris could have sighed with envy.With her long, straight hair, she’d make a good Isabella, but sometimes, she wished for curls.Domi was Puerto Rican, and her hair literally spiraled.She was perfect for Mirabel.
“No surprise she wanted to be the strong one,” Rae said, grinning.“The girl is smart.”
“She sounds adorable.I bet she makes the perfect Luisa,” Noelle enthused, which was kind of funny because Iris knew Noelle only had a vague idea of what they were talking about.She hadn’t been interested in watching Encanto when Iris had suggested it.It showed how hard she was trying, and Iris wouldn’t take that away from her.
“She does.”Domi grinned.There was no faster way to her heart than complimenting her daughter.“And watching Mitch with her always melts my heart.”
“And your panties,” Rae muttered, then squawked when Domi launched a throw pillow at her, making the rest of them laugh as she batted it away.“I’m just saying!Any time Mitch is playing with Ana, you get little hearts dancing around your head, then as soon as she’s asleep or gone, you drag him off to the bedroom.There’s a connection between the two.”
“A man who is good with kids is hot,” Avery agreed, looking a little dreamy-eyed.
“Uh oh, someone has baby fever,” Rae teased.
Avery made a face, shaking off the dreamy expression.
“Not yet… definitely not yet, but I can still appreciate how sexy it is.”
Was Law good with kids?Iris wasn’t sure she wanted to have kids.On the other hand, even if she didn’t want kids, she had a feeling she’d find it hot if he was good with kids.Maybe it was a biological thing.
She shouldn’t think about that yet.He was barely open to the possibility of dating.
