Lola looked over her shoulder again. She remembered him whispering to her, not the other way around. Telling her how it felt to be inside her, how tight and hot and wet she was. Her heart clenched longingly. With Beau, it didn’t take much to draw her in.
“What…what would you have me say?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t have you say anything. What fun is that? I’d want you to say whatever comes to you.”
That ache returned between her legs—or maybe it’d never left. It still hadn’t been taken care of. “‘Goodbye, Beau.’ That’s what comes to me.”
“I won’t stop until I get the answer I want,” he warned. “Talk to him.”
She shook her head, ended the call and looked around the courtyard. The complex was muted by dusk. Beau’s voice was more intense on the phone. Bolder. Huskier. He’d said “whisper to me” suggestively, with promise, as if he knew she would be doing it soon.
“Beau,” she whispered aloud to the silence. She felt his weight on her again, his chest to her back, slick with a sheen of their sweat. His mouth at her ear, his hot breath, his even hotter words.
The apartment door opened behind her, and she whirled around so fast she almost lost her footing.
Johnny held his arms wide open. “How do I look?” he asked, showing off his shirt.
Her heart raced as though she’d been caught doing something wrong. “You look,” she cringed, but the words were already falling out of her mouth, “like a million bucks.”
3
Lola stepped out of the car as the door opened for her. She was greeted by the valet’s smile. Johnny came around the hood to meet her.
“Sorry about the car,” Johnny said to the young man. “It’s old. Probably a lot shittier than you’re used to.”
The valet shrugged. “It’s fine. You should see my ride.”
Jo
hnny nodded ardently at that. “Yeah. Cool.”
Lola waited until they were out of earshot, just before they entered the steakhouse. “Don’t apologize for something as stupid as our car,” she said. Their car had seen better days, and it was a stick shift, but it didn’t merit an apology. “Like the valet really gives a crap about anything other than his tip.”
“Oh, I’ll give him one hell of a tip. Just don’t want anyone thinking we’re going to dine and dash or something.”
“Nobody thinks that. Do I really look that out of place?”
He rolled his eyes. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You make it sound like I shouldn’t eat here because I’m not wearing a designer dress.”
“All right, all right,” he said with exasperation. He took her hand. “You made your point.”
Lola was beginning to see how a sudden influx of cash could go to someone’s head—except that in her mind, there was no cash. It was almost all promised away. “Sometimes it’s good to let people underestimate you,” she said.
The hostess greeted them warmly, smiling as she complimented Lola’s dress. Lola tried not to look smug as they were led to their table. “We’re so honored you’ve chosen to dine here this evening,” the woman said. “We hope it exceeds your expectations. If you need anything at all, please let your server or me know.”
“We should hire her,” Johnny said when she excused herself. “It’s nice to make your guests feel special.”
“We can start calling Quartz ‘Mr. Quartz.’”
“And we’ll replace all the glasses with crystal ware.”
“And we’ll finally put in a new toilet so it doesn’t make that gurgling noise anymore.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” Johnny said, laughing.
The waiter was just as friendly, making small talk as he laid black napkins in their laps.
“We’ll take the most expensive champagne you’ve got,” Johnny said without even opening the menu.
“Johnny,” Lola said. “That’s not necessary.”
He glanced from the waiter to her. “We can afford to splurge for once in our lives, Lola.”
“But it’s champagne. Really. It’ll be gone by the end of the night. Let’s get a nice, reasonable bottle of red wine.”
“Shall I come back?” the man asked.
“No,” Johnny said. “Bring the champagne.”
Lola looked up at the server. “Can you give us a minute?”
“Certainly.”
“No champagne,” Lola said firmly while he walked away. “It’s excessive.”
“Listen to me.” Johnny leaned forward on his elbows, twining his fingers. “One million dollars. You comprehend that, right?”
She blinked slowly. “Are you seriously asking me that?”
“Okay, but—”
“And it’s not a million anymore,” Lola continued. “Once this deal goes through and we have to pay that rent, we’ve got barely anything left.”
“It’s still a ton of money, Lo. More than we’ve ever had. I’ll talk to the landlord and get us out of paying upfront.”
“It’s not a ton of money. I told you we needed all the extra help we could get. Aside from the big things, there’s maintenance, and wages and all the other expenses that come with owning a business.” Lola’s breath wasn’t coming as fast as she needed. The reality of their commitment came crashing through the dream, right down onto her shoulders. “Honestly, a million’s not even enough for what we just agreed to.”
“Lola, honey. Calm down. I’m not asking to take a vacation, all I’m saying is for this one night, we can afford to—”
“Do you think I fucked a stranger for a bottle of champagne?”
The tables around them got quiet, but Lola kept her eyes on Johnny as her words hung in the air.
“Christ,” he said. “You really believe that’s what I think? That might be the shittiest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
She covered her mouth. “Oh, God. You’re right.”
“You can quit staring,” Johnny said to someone behind her. “Nothing to see here.”
Lola’s phone chimed with a text message. She pulled it out to see the same unknown number that she’d answered earlier.
* * *
You’re still here with me. Say yes.
* * *
“Who is it?” Johnny asked.