The Feel Good Factor(48)

I head straight to Helen’s Diner, where I’m meeting the girls. Vanessa and Arden have already snagged a booth, with menus spread out in front of them, even though we all know every item by heart.

I’m glowing when I reach the table and stand before them with arms spread like I’m about to make a pronouncement.

Arden studies me. “My, my. Don’t you look like the cat who ate a couple of tasty canaries?”

I thrust my arms in the air in victory. “They were delicious canaries, because I’m pretty sure I just cracked a case.”

Vanessa cheers then offers a hand to high-five. I smack her palm and slide in next to her. “It’s CSI Lucky Falls–style,” Vanessa adds.

“You know it.” I take a deep breath. “Also, I’m going to tell you something that’s going to literally not shock either of you one bit.”

“Your brother is driving you crazy?” Arden offers.

“You bought more olives?” Vanessa suggests.

Arden goes again. “You finished knitting the pink sweater in one evening on account of sexual frustration?”

Vanessa takes her turn. “You’re hungry?”

I laugh at how they’ve nailed me on every single point. But still, that’s not what I want to tell them, so I roll my eyes. “It’s like you don’t even know me. I’m seriously disappointed in both of you. Try harder,” I say, emphasizing the last word.

Arden’s brown eyes bulge. Vanessa’s jaw drops, and she shoves my shoulder. “You didn’t?”

I wiggle my shoulders. “I did. I slept with Derek last night.”

“How was it? Scale of one to multiple orgasms?” Vanessa asks.

Arden snaps her gaze to Vanessa, giving her a you can’t be serious stare. “Look at Perri’s face. It screams so satisfied. I’m betting she had a lot more than one.”

I grin wildly as I hold up three fingers. “Twice the first round. One in the second. It was literally the best sex ever in the entire universe.”

Vanessa squeals. “Tell us everything.”

I give them more details, but I don’t share everything. I don’t tell them how Derek’s dark eyes lingered possessively on me the whole time. Nor do I tell them how intensely he talks to me, how he looks at me like I’m the only woman he’s ever wanted this much, this deeply. I don’t share how he cuddled me like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. And I definitely don’t say how much that snugglefest made my heart squeeze with a strange new happiness. With wonder. With a sprinkle of possibility.

After we order and the server brings waters, Arden adopts a more serious look. “How on earth do you plan on balancing all of this? Doing the roomie, and having him as the roomie? Are you guys actually going to be together?”

I scoff. “No. He doesn’t want a relationship. Nor do I.” I shrug, keeping it light. “We’ve agreed we’ll get this sex out of our systems until the kissing contest next weekend, and then we’ll move on.”

Vanessa chokes on her water, nearly spitting it on the table. “Are you kidding me? You think that’s possible?”

“Of course. It’s absolutely possible. We’re adults. We can do this like adults. We said we would.”

“But how do you do that?” Vanessa presses. “How do you turn it off?”

I imitate turning a knob. “You just do. There’s no other choice.”

“Keep telling yourself that, sister.”

“You don’t think I can?”

Arden chimes in, “I don’t think anyone can. But I also think you actually like him.”

Vanessa adjusts the way her turquoise-and-red twin sweater set falls on her shoulders. “I think you passed Like Street twenty miles ago, sweetie. You’re cruising down Falling Hard for Him Highway. Now you’ve added great sex to the route? You’re pretty much on a one-way road to a relationship. Not that I’d know. It’s been a long time since I traveled down that lane.”

Arden pats her hand. “There, there. You’ll get to Hot Sex Town soon enough. You’re just taking the back roads.” My blonde friend turns to me. “But I second everything Vanessa says.”

“I’m not on a road to anything but winning the contest.” I fold my hands together. “Speaking of, how are you girls doing with your charity projects? All our birthdays are coming up soon, and Vanessa is doing a wine and bowling competition for fire relief. What about you, Arden?”

She sears me with her dark eyes. “I’m doing great. I’m starting a ‘round up your purchase to the nearest dollar’ campaign for children’s literacy at my store. But don’t think you can change the subject.”

“But I thought our projects were the subject,” I say coyly.

“Your project has moved well beyond charity,” Vanessa adds.

“Just be careful,” says Arden. “You started this because you were attracted to him. Then he moved in and you felt you had to shut off the faucet of lust. But now, all of a sudden, the faucet is running full blast.”

“Faucets, roads, kissing contests. It’s all good,” I say, waving a hand airily. “We have a deadline and a deal, so it’ll be fine.”

“Just be careful. You’re so tough on the outside, and I get it—you have to be for your job.” She reaches across the table and lightly pokes my belly. “But you’re really a softie.”