Page 42 of Floored (Frenched 3)
I set my glass down and bit my lip. “Actually, I have something to tell you guys.”
“You slept with that cop.”
I stared at Coco. “How did you know?”
She clapped her hands and Mia stared at me openmouthed. “Because you’ve got that freshly-fucked glow.”
“Do I?” I put a hand to my cheek.
“Wait, it’s true?” Mia leaned over Coco toward me. “You slept with Charlie Dwyer?”
“Yes.” I waited a beat. “Twice.”
Coco squealed and I could have shoved a grapefruit into Mia’s mouth, it was so wide.
“But it’s not like we’re dating or anything.” I picked up my wine again, but didn’t miss the look they exchanged.
“Why not?” Mia said.
“Because it’s not like that. I’m too busy for a boyfriend and he’s not interested in a relationship. We’re not really compatible anyway.” I hid my face in my big wine glass. Both of them stared at me in confusion.
“Erin, this is very unlike you,” Mia said. “And while I’m totally fine with just enjoying a fun sexual relationship for the hell of it as long as both parties are on the same page, this just…” She looked to Coco for help.
“Just doesn’t seem like a page in your kind of book,” Coco finished.
“Well, it is.” I jutted my chin. “I don’t have to be in love with someone to have sex with him. I’ve slept with guys who weren’t my boyfriend.”
My friends looked at each other and then back at me. “When have you ever slept with someone who wasn’t your boyfriend?” Mia asked.
Confession: I have never slept with anyone I wasn’t in love with already or didn’t fall in love with eventually. But people could change, right?
“My past isn’t the point, OK? And anyway, Charlie and I agreed we’re not going to have sex anymore. Although, we said that after the first time, and he still showed up at my house last night with tented pants.” I laughed, but they were bug-eye serious.
“Last night?” Mia blinked. “When was the first time?”
“The night before,” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Wednesday night.”
“You’ve done it two nights in a row?” Coco grinned. “So what time do you think he’ll be over tonight?”
“Coco! He’s not coming tonight. I told you, we agreed not to have sex anymore.”
“And why’s that, exactly? Wasn’t it good? It must have been, if he came back around sniffing for more so soon.”
I exhaled, feeling a shiver move down my spine and settle with a tickle between my legs. “It was good. It was insanely good. Sexually, we are very compatible. But that’s it.”
“How do you know?” Mia asked.
“Because I can barely stand him the rest of the time.” I grimaced, tilting my head side to side. “I guess I shouldn’t say that. He helped me out with the floor Wednesday night, and he can be funny and charming and sweet. But then he’ll say something insulting or cocky, and I realize I can’t take his bloated ego for another minute. I want to punch him.”
“Sometimes I want to punch Nick,” Coco offered, “if that makes you feel better.”
“Thanks, but Nick would never have said he shouldn’t sleep with you anymore because he’s worried you’ll fall in love with him.”
“Charlie said that?”
I shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“God. What an asshole. He doesn’t deserve to have sex with you, then.” Coco nodded with finality, then spoke out of the side of her mouth. “But I still think he’s going to show up tonight.”
