Author's Note: Really appreciate the amazing feedback about Book Four. Count on it. It's happening. I've been inspired by this story more so than I ever thought possible, and I think a continuation will honor the characters. Thanks for the time you take to read.
* * *
The next day, to my pleasure, the girls were very forthcoming about the Mexico trip. I had played dumb, saying that I was too distracted by Rita to watch their escapades at the party. It was a little test. And they told me everything I had overheard -- Johnny, David, and Bryce, the wide receiver, would charter a plane to a small resort outside Cancun. Kat, Jess, Gloria, Shelly, and David's wife would accompany. They'd be gone for two days of partying and then come back.
"Daddy, I have a confession," Kat said, just before she and Jess were going to shower off. "I tried something new last night."
"Oh, what was that, Kitty Kat?" I asked. I was anxious for her to come clean.
"Davey did it for me," she said. "I thought it was just a joint, but it turned out that he sprinkled some coke on the weed. It's called a primo."
"A primo?" I said, playing dumb.
"It was the most amazing high," Kat said. "Maybe even better than a booty bump."
"Are you serious?" Jess asked.
"Totally serious," Kat said enthusiastically. "I thought it might be super fun to try it sometime, especially because the sex after I smoked it? Oh my god. It might have been the most intense thing I've ever felt!"
"That sounds hardcore," I said.
"Yeah," Jess concurred. "Really hardcore. I'm totally down to try it."
"Davey said you should only do it for special occasions," Kat said. "So maybe when we get back from Mexico the three of us could smoke one together?"
"I can't wait," I said. "Go get showered up. I'm not going to lie. You smell like used and abused hookers."
The girls shot me playfully annoyed, hurt looks but bounced off to the shower. It had been a long night for them. They didn't come home until after breakfast. I hadn't checked the video again, even after waking up on the couch to the TV stuck on its blue screen.
Alone in the living room, I couldn't resist the urge to look in Kat's purse. I did and easily found the off-white baggie of heroin. I understood why she didn't want to mention it. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. She probably was going to mention it after the three of us had smoked a primo together for the first time and save it for our comedown. Kat had never given off the addictive vibes that Jess did, so I didn't think too hard on it.
* * *
The two days before Kat and Jess left for Mexico we spent taking a much-needed break from partying and the outside world. We sat by the pool and drank juices and detoxed. I couldn't remember the last time I had done that. We enjoyed each other and made love sober, which had become almost a foreign feeling. I can't say I didn't like it, though. It was a good hint that settling down would work just fine.
I also spent the down time planning what I'd do while the girls were away. Rita asked for Tuesday night and a morning quickie on Thursday. I had jumped at the opportunity but was curious how she would get away on a night her husband was home. Wednesday night I had some work to do. Since Shelly was escorting less now that she was with Johnny Burris, Jess had a new candidate for me to interview. She was a friend of Gloria's. The agency had been stable the previous several months, so it would be nice to have a fresh tryout.
While the girls showered, I ran over this itinerary in my head. It was going to be a busy forty-eight hours.
* * *
When Rita arrived for dinner Tuesday evening, I greeted her at the front door with a glass of Champagne. She stepped out of her Mercedes G-Wagon in a form-fitting tennis skirt and top. I handed her the glass and kissed her. She welcomed it, and I could feel the passion flowing from her. She pushed her body firmly against mine.
"I missed you," she said breathily and walked inside.
"Do you need me to get your racket?" I said playfully as she walked inside.
"Nope," she said, "just bring your balls."
We laughed and made out enthusiastically against the bar. I had never felt such urgency from Rita before.
"I love that you could get away on a weeknight," I said, finally breaking the kiss. "How'd you pull that off?"
"John, I'm going to be honest with you," Rita said, turning suddenly serious.
"Okay," I said, intrigued.
"I found out my husband didn't go hunting last weekend," she said.
My heart skipped a beat, and I was flushed with adrenaline -- though I wasn't sure whether it was from fear or anticipation.
"He took his girlfriend to LA for the weekend," Rita continued. "And I confronted him about it."
"How'd you find out?" I asked.
"One of my girlfriends was out there and saw him," she said. "So she texted me. Girl Code."
I nodded and said, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said, waving a hand nonchalantly. "We've always had a kind of detente about his philandering. But since you and I have become ... well, I don't know how exactly to describe it. But I have feelings for you, John."