She could do this.
FIVE
“What did you think?” Anne nearly shrieked as she burst into Kayla’s house. She had brought take-out, which was what Kayla really cared about. Grabbing a plate and dumping a pile of noodles onto it, Kayla began to chow down on the still-slightly-warm food.
“About what?” She muttered through a mouthful of noodles.
“Come on,” Anne insisted. “Bruce! You never said anything. What did you think? Did you guys…you know?”
“No.”
“No?” Anne seemed genuinely surprised. “But it’s…Bruce. It’s Bruce. And he’s so…Bruce.”
“Yeah, Anne, I got his name.”
“So what happened?”
“We just talked.”
Anne just gawked.
“Seriously, close your mouth before a bug flies in.” Kayla knew she sounded harsh, but why was it so crazy to think she didn’t sleep with this guy the first time she met him? Bruce had been absolutely great. He had been really sweet. He also seemed like he was into some weird stuff. While there was nothing wrong with that, she needed some time to get used to the idea.
Was he going to wrap her up like a mummy?
“Okay, so what happened? I thought you wanted a quick fling. You know, something fun, something casual.”
“I did. I do. It’s just…I don’t know.” She dropped her fork and brought her hands to her head. “It’s just a lot to take in, Anne. When I walked into that bar…it’s a fetish bar. Did you know that? You probably did. Okay, whatever. I’m not mad you didn’t warn me. It’s just…it’s a lot.”
“I knew it was different, but I haven’t been there. Didn’t know it was all kink.”
“It is. I walked in and saw two giant bears making out with two giant turtles.”
“Seriously?”
“No lie.”
Anne choked back a laugh, trying to take the situation seriously. Kayla obviously was.
“How do you know Bruce? You said you guys were ‘bros.’ What did you mean by that?”
“He used to work with me before he went to law school. We always kept in touch, though, even when he
was away. I don’t know. Nothing ever happened between us. We were just always really good friends. I always felt like I could confide in him.”
“He sounds like a good friend,” somehow, this made Kayla feel relieved. He was normal, at least on some level.
“He is. And after I’d confided in him about some things that I’d done, he let me in on the mummy thing.”
“What exactly is it?”
“It’s just this weird fantasy he has. I don’t know all the details.”
“He was in the costume last night. It was weird. It wasn’t sexy, but I wasn’t scared or anything.”
“I’m not sure how he likes to use it, honestly. I know he needs to be dressed up during sex, but how much of the wrapping comes off, I don’t know.”
“Least helpful friend ever.” Kayla rolled her eyes playfully. She couldn’t expect Anne to do all the legwork for her. At some point she’d have to decide to go for it or back off and stop wasting Bruce’s time – and her own.