Note: There's some build-up before the sex and, as always, your comments and feedback will be very much appreciated! I hope you enjoy reading this one and I hope you check out my other stories, too. Thanks!
***
"So you're not even going to discuss it with her?" Lucy asked before she took a sip of her coffee. She frowned slightly, letting me know that she thought it was a bad idea.
For the past three days, I had managed not to tell Lucy the tiny detail of Jamie's ex making an appearance during our first date. My blonde friend simply knew me all too well, however, and immediately sensed that I was keeping her out of the loop about something. She had been relentless ever since until I finally cracked over our Wednesday brunch.
I leaned back against my chair, having already finished my bagel, and shrugged at her. "We've only been on one date, Luce. I'm not sure there's something to discuss."
Lucy raised an eyebrow at me and a wisp of her blond hair fell slightly as she tilted her head to the side and set her cup down.
"You've had four separate sexual encounters with her in the past two weeks," she pointed out matter-of-factly. "Those count, don't you think?"
A guy at a nearby table glanced towards us as Lucy spoke, but he looked away quickly enough when I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I think you know
way
too much about my sex life," I sighed, rolling my eyes at Lucy. "Maybe you should focus on having one of your own instead."
"I'm just saying, Shaie," she grinned, not at all put off as she took another sip. "It wasn't
just
one date."
"Or maybe," I ignored her. "I just don't tell you any of it next time."
She started to laugh, but then stopped. "Wait. You don't mean the next time
with Jamie
still, do you?"
I did.
Jamie and I had kept talking after our date, although I did try my best not to send her any messages that Sunday after seeing her with her ex. It became increasingly clear as the day went on, however, that Jamie wasn't inclined to send me any messages either and it began to get under my skin. I knew
my
reasons, but why the fuck wasn't she trying to talk to me?
I had ended up texting her that evening anyway and she had replied, even seeming happy to hear from me. As before, we had kept off the subject of her ex and mostly swapped light—oftentimes, flirty— messages well into the rest of the night.
But then the same thing happened the next day, and the day after that. Jamie never initiated conversations but she was always warm and welcoming whenever I did, and we always ended up having the sort of exchange that left me feeling good about where Jamie and I stood—even though I had no idea exactly where that was.
Every day, it felt like I had to start over with her but the end result was always a connection so undeniably good, I didn't mind the tiny bit of frustration that came along with it. I wasn't used to being ignored by women and, with Jamie, there was always that underlying feeling that I was more of a luxury rather than a necessity.
It intrigued and challenged me at the same time, which was why I had invited Jamie over for dinner Thursday night.
Lucy took my silence now for the confirmation that it was and her blue eyes slightly widened. "What, are you into open relationships now or something?"
"Again," I told her as I reached for my glass of water. "We've barely just begun dating. There's no 'relationship' to speak of."
"Yet." Lucy said pointedly as I took a sip. After a while, when I didn't say anything, she let out a soft breath and slowly shook her head. "Who knew Jamie had it in her, eh? Juggling two women at the same time..."
She was grinning, but it was clear from Lucy's tone that her opinion of Jamie had changed. She didn't seem so worried now about me breaking any hearts.
"Aren't you done with your bagel yet?" I asked her, definitely not liking where she seemed to be taking this conversation.
Lucy broke off a piece of her bread and chewed for a while before she continued. "Of course, why she'd want someone else besides
you
is another matter."
I scowled at her, not sure which irritated me more—that Lucy was stating the very thing that, if I were to be honest with myself, was actually bugging me, or that my friend was clearly amused by my predicament.
"This ex of hers must be very pretty." Lucy mused with an incorrigible smile as she studied my reaction. I decided my best defense to her deliberate goading was not to take the bait.
"She is!" Lucy exclaimed, delightedly certain that she had guessed correctly. I casually studied my nails, pretending to be bored with the subject as she went on. "Should we still be calling her an 'ex', though, if they're still... you know?"
Lucy casually waved her own question off as she paused to eat another piece. Then she leaned over just the slightest bit, drawing my eyes back to her.
"Do you think she's really good in bed?" She asked in amused earnest, causing my hands to drop on the arms of my chair in exasperation as she continued, "I mean, I can't imagine how one even makes the comparison but Jamie
must