Page 19 of Strictly Against Policy

My best friend leaned in close to me. “Maybe you should ask Jonathan to teach you how to use that vibrator. From what I remember, he was an expert with his fingers when we were in the same ceramics class senior year. I’m sure he could lend you some assistance there.”

“MARY, no!” I screamed, pulling away so quickly I almost concussed myself with the loud bang of my head against the wall.

She shrugged, finishing her glass of wine. “Your vibrator already picked him.”

“Picked him? It fell out of my bag!” I screeched.

Mary just smiled. That big, wide stretch of her lips twisted into a creepy expression. Her eyes glittered brightly as she tipped her face closer to mine. I shifted in my seat to create the necessary distance.

“You’re hot. He’s hot. You’re both hot. Connect your bodies and make a wildfire, Lina! DO IT!”

I may have told Mary about the vibrator incident. But I never said anything about what happened in the tiny janitorial closet. I knew if I disclosed that to her, her imagination would transcend to another realm, and I wouldn’t be able to pull her out. She was a great friend, but she had a wildly active imagination. Her ability to envision endless possibilities was something I could never do—I cherished her for that.

However, what happened in that closet was between Jonathan and I, and it would stay that way.

I covered my mouth in mortification as her shrill laugh rang out. “Please don’t ever tell me to connect my body to any man ever again.”

Mary waved dismissively. “You’re a virgin. Go have fun with a hot man!”

“The supposedly hot man you’re talking about is my manager. He’s not only our high school classmate, but my boss. It would be sexual harassment if I were bold enough to even suggest⁠—”

“So, you’re considering it?” The glitter in her eyes blasted into a flaming inferno. I opened my mouth to stop her from insinuating anything else, but her lips were faster than mine. “Lina, you just listed the logistics of my suggestion! That means you’re considering it.”

“No. Never! I was literally stating the facts.”

Mary smoothed a stray strand of her midnight-black hair behind her ear and winked. “Never say never.”

I got off the couch and shrugged on my hoodie. With one look at her, I said dryly, “You’re drunk. I’m going to take you home.”

“Fine, meanie!” joked Mary, crossing her arms across her chest. “I’m perfectly good, by the way. All I had was one drink. I can drive myself home.”

I walked into the kitchen to grab a huge glass of water and plopped myself back on the couch. I handed it to her. “Drink up, ma’am.”

She scoffed, setting it down. We were quiet for a moment. I didn’t bother watching the reality TV show playing, but Mary turned to glance at it. Her smile was soft as she faced me again, her cheeks pink with care and her eyes glistening with sisterly love.

“We’ve known each other since high school. I’ve never seen you so worked up over a single person before. Jonathan Lo gets you agitated, doesn’t he?” she asked.

I concealed my hesitation behind a mask of thoughtful consideration. Does he really get me riled up? Not necessarily. I was just tired of his childish pettiness.

“This is the most I’ve also heard you talk about any man, Lina. You never talk about men. But you talk about Jonathan. A lot. You text about him practically every day. You even talked about him the moment I got here,” she continued.

“Only because his behavior at work is unprofessional and unnecessary. If he knew how to set his personal feelings aside, then I wouldn’t care,” I defended.

Mary scoffed. “What a PR-trained answer.”

“How’s Eric?” I asked, changing the subject. She narrowed her eyes at me but let me have it.

Eric Hang and Mary are high school sweethearts. They met during P.E. back in our sophomore year. While I was busy trying not to die from running a mile around the school tracks, they were busy flirting with one another. I wasn’t surprised when they got married when we turned twenty.

“His back injury has gotten a lot better. He’s practically back to normal,” she answered. “But the doctor said he should take it easy for the next few weeks.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to hear.”

“Me too. I’m glad his muscles just needed rest. I know it isn’t easy being a warehouse manager, and he’s always on the floor helping. But I think this back injury has made him realize that he can’t afford to do that anymore. Not with us thinking about having kids.”

I nodded slowly but came to an abrupt pause. I looked at her with wide eyes as she stared back, nodding. We both laughed as I attacked her with a hug.

“You’re going to be an amazing mom, Mary,” I whispered. “You and Eric are going to be the best parents ever.”