Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
"So, you did just vape enough to get high," he says.
"I'm being serious, Rome. No surprise you can't tolerate that for a minute." She shakes her head. "But I'm being rude too. What do you think, Ivy? What's your PhD in?"
"I'm a sex therapist," I say. I don’t want to lie about that part. Or talk around it. I’m not sure if his family knows or not, but I’m going to go forward sharing all the details.
"Daniel left that out," she says. "Interesting."
"I can't prescribe medicine, but I'm not against alternative therapies," I say. "MDMA was initially used for couples counseling."
"Maybe that's what we need to liven up this weekend." She laughs. "You think your mom would go for it?"
"Oh? You haven't heard her stories about clubbing in Ibiza?" he asks.
"What about you, Ivy?" she asks. "Do you dabble in anything fun?"
"Mostly alcohol," I say.
"Have you ever wanted to try something?" she asks.
"Don't peer pressure my girlfriend," Romeo says.
"I didn't bring any drugs with me, don't worry. Danny would have a cow," she says.
"How does he put up with you?" Romeo asks.
"You don't know everything about your brother, Rome," she says.
He raises a brow.
She shrugs, refusing to elaborate. "Have you ever been curious to try anything? When you were younger?"
"I liked the thought of MDMA," I say. "The idea of feeling all that love. A sense of connection to the universe. There is something beautiful about that sort of awe. It doesn't come naturally to me."
"Is there any place where you do feel connection?" she asks.
"The beach, sometimes," I say. "Or in the pool, when I get into the zone, become one with the water."
She nods. "I used to run. It was the same." She looks to Romeo. "See? I can talk about more than drugs. Although, I could tell you so many stories about Romeo on drugs. If he thinks I'm a fool high, he should see the pictures from high school."
So they didn’t just get high together the one time when they were fifteen? They did it a lot?
She notices the confusion on my face and looks to Romeo. "You asshole. You didn't tell her we're old friends?"
"It didn't come up," he says.
"He's embarrassed by me," she says. "Daniel too. They both ask me to pretend I'm a lady around Mama Galante. Not that she gives a fuck. The woman is a poet. Do you really think she hasn't dropped acid?"
"That's my mother," Romeo says.
"I swear, I'm not obsessed. It just comes with the territory. Here." She digs through her purse and pulls out something. A small metal tin. " As an apology for your boyfriend forgetting to explain our relationship dynamics."
"Are you giving my girlfriend drugs?" Romeo asks.
"It's called manners, yes. Besides, I have plenty," she says.
"She works in the legal marijuana industry," he says.
"And Daniel is okay with that?" I ask.
"Have you met my fiancé?" she asks.
I shake my head.
"So, you've only head what your boyfriend thinks of him?" She shakes her head of course. "Sure, he's not Mr. Laid Back, but he's got a rebellious side."
"Where?" Romeo asks.
She waves him away and motions to the tin. "Those are prescription strength. Start with half."
"I do appreciate it." I slip the tin into my pocket. "And Rome will too. I, uh…" My cheeks flush. I don't even have to try. "I get really horny when I'm high."
Romeo raises a brow. He shares a look with Cynthia. A knowing look.
One that hints at a sexual past. My stomach flares with envy. Not fake envy. Real envy.
She notices. "Don't worry. I've never slept with your boyfriend. We were friends when we were kids. Then I meet Danny and…" She lets out a long sigh… "He thought I was the most annoying girl in the world, I'm pretty sure. But I thought he was the most handsome, smart guy I'd ever seen."
"How did you get together?" I ask.
"I'd given up on him noticing me at that point, but I still wanted to make him realize he'd messed up, if he did suddenly notice me. When Rome and I were hanging out, I'd wear the sluttiest outfits. All through middle school and my first three years of high school, I walked around here with my tits out. Well, what I have." She motions to her shapeless sweatshirt. "You can't tell, but they're not the biggest."
"Me neither," I say.
"No, honey, those are nice," she says. "And grapefruits compared to mine."
"Cynthia!" Romeo exclaims. He says something to her in Spanish.
She replies back with a perfect accent.
"Fuck. Don't go straight to SAT words. You know my Spanish isn't that good," he says.
"Then don't play that game, honey. You know Danny is as fluent as a native speaker." She smiles. "Sorry if I offended you, Ivy. I don't mean anything by it. You have a nice figure. But I'm sure you also have many other traits Romeo appreciates. Like what, for example, Romeo?"