Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(26)
“Ready, Sadie?”
She wags her tail ferociously, anticipating where we are going.
The hike is great for both of us, getting some fresh, cool air, warm sun and time out in nature to decompress everything that has been going on since the New Year. There aren’t too many people on the trails today which makes it easier to just enjoy the scenery. About thirty minutes later, Sadie and I arrive at the first waterfall. We sit quietly drinking and having our snacks. We watch a few people come and go as we relax and I try some mild meditation.
Unfortunately, my thoughts wander back to the lunch I had today and Joe’s lips on my hand. Damn it. Pull yourself together, Emma. Why is my mind going to him? Thinking for a moment, I realize that it has been a while since I’ve been with a guy and masturbation can only do so much. Maybe it’s time to find another guy to play with for a while. I’ll see if either Maggie or Jared is free tonight or tomorrow to help take off the edge. I grab my phone, and as I’m about to call, I realize I don’t have cell reception. Great! I think it’s time to head back.
Sadie and I return to the Charles and the cab in twenty minutes. I took ten minutes off our walk back?! Wow! I definitely need some action — preferably tonight. Once we hit the road at the bottom of the mountain, I group text Maggie and Jared, about going out tonight or tomorrow while sitting at a red light.
“Got the itch?” Jared texts back with a winking emoticon.
“Ha ha,” I write, trying to brush it off.
“Can we invite Henry and maybe Joe, too?” Maggie texts back.
“No!” I shout back at her in writing.
The last thing I need is to have two strange men tagging along.
“You can handle one day without Henry,” Jared comments to Maggie.
“She saw him for lunch today after our meeting!” I return, hinting to Jared about the morning’s events.
“Really? Was Blue Eyes there too?” Jared heckles.
“I thought it would be a great time for Emma to get to know Henry better,” Maggie interjects, trying to defend herself.
“Man, you must really like this guy, Mags,” Jared pokes.
“More than me. I didn’t know they were joining us,” I retort, still a little peeved.
“You owe her then, Mags. I’m good for either,” Jared texts back.
“I can do either,” Maggie notes. “It wasn’t definite if Henry and Joe could join us, so I didn’t think to really mention it.”
Before I can even write back, Jared confirms, “Tonight, then. How about dinner and dancing on Sunset?”
“Terrific!” I text.
“Awesome!” Maggie affirms.
Charles notices that I’ve perked up a bit as he pulls up to my apartment complex. “Got good news?”
“Yes. Thank you,” I cheerfully respond, handing him the money I owe him plus a little extra for his tip.
“This is too much, Emma,” Charles scolds a little unease.
“Not for you,” I reassure him. “Send my love to the family!”
“Will do. Thanks again. See you soon!” Charles announces.
Waving farewell, I beam with anticipation. Hurrying, I empty my pockets on the kitchen counter and start getting Sadie’s dinner together. Once she’s finished eating, we head out to the park. Sadie only relieves herself and then comes back over to me. She must be tired from the hike which gives me a few extra minutes to get ready.
Back inside the apartment, I’m peeling off my clothes before I hit the bedroom. I have about thirty minutes to shower and get dressed before Maggie arrives to get me. Sadie lays across the bed, watching me as I dart back and forth from the bedroom to the bathroom a few times. My hair is air drying as I’ve now got my makeup on. Time to choose an outfit. Standing in front of my walk-in closet, I peruse my vast selection. I easily rule out a number of items due to the cooler night air as I select fitted, black dress pants that tighten down to my ankles, a shimmering, light silver, plunging neckline tank top adorned by a simple contoured black blazer that rests at the small of my back and the sleeves stop in the middle of my forearms. After throwing on a pair of four-inch heels that cutout on the arch side of my foot, I accessorize with diamond crusted hoop earrings and a simple diamond necklace that rests right a the crux of my cleavage.
Maggie texts that she has arrived right as I finish transferring my purse necessities into a simple, shiny silver clutch. I kiss Sadie goodnight and tell her to behave and not stay up too late.
“Sexy!” Maggie shouts as I climb into the passenger side of her car. “Maybe I should be the one who takes you home tonight and have my way with you.”
“If there aren’t any options tonight, you just might have to,” I confess.
“Fine by me,” Maggie confirms, giggling at the thought.
Maggie and I aren’t joking and I’m almost half tempted to text Jared that we aren’t meeting him and to party on without us. I lost my virginity to Maggie and her’s to me. When we were eighteen, we decided that we wanted to get the whole anxiety about having our cherries popped out of the way to make it easier for if and when we did sleep with a guy.
I’m not your typical bisexual kind of girl. The only girl I’ve slept with is Maggie. She’s beautiful and I am attracted to her. I love her, but I’m not in love with her. I never have and never will be. We kind of fill a need for each other during the interims of finding a male partner while making each other feel safe, secure and free. Maggie and I have fun, a lot of fun, but my body really craves the sensation of a man.