Thank goodness her nipples had a reason to get hard, right? She reached up and counted. “One. Two.”
Neither of them said three, but Marissa helped her out of the tub, into her slippers and wrapped her in her robe so quickly it felt like magic. Marissa pulled the hood up over her head and looked at her again. “Good? Breathing? Not frozen?”
“Uh-huh. I mean, uh-uh.” She shivered, gulping in air as they hurried inside. “Man, tell me there’s cocoa or whiskey or coffee or something!”
“There’s gotta be.” Marissa closed the door behind them and sat her on a fancy chaise at the foot of a giant four-poster bed. “There’s a bar…ah. Whiskey, coffee, and cocoa. I’ll make us something.”
“Oh, wow. All the options.” She curled up in her robe. “You think my brother would notice if I stole this robe?”
“I don’t know, but mine will be going in my suitcase. They’re amazing, right?” Marissa turned the heat up and started making coffee.
“Wonderful. I could live in it, I swear.” Goddess, Marissa was still so pretty…
Marissa added a little of the instant cocoa to each coffee and then poured in whiskey shots from the minibar. “This might be the most disgusting thing ever, or, I might have invented something awesome. Either way, it’s whiskey.” Marissa handed her a cup, then sat on the end of her bed, grinning. “You first.”
“Oh, that’s cheating.” She went for it, though, and it burned happily all the way down. She imagined the second sip would be better.
Marissa’s eyes were on her. “It didn’t kill you, so…” She took a sip and hummed. “Oh, not bad. More chocolate next time I think.”
“It’s got a burn, doesn’t it?” She licked her lips and took another sip. Yeah, the second sip was better.
“Might be the whiskey, might be the very mediocre coffee.” It didn’t seem to matter; they were both sipping it. “That warms you up though, right?” After another sip Marissa sighed and looked at her curiously. “So, your brother said you have a business now?”
“I do tarot readings for clients.” And she wasn’t ashamed of it, either. She helped folks a lot.
Marissa’s head tilted. “And that pays the bills?”
“It does.” And she had her Masters in Psychology, so she was qualified to be a counselor as well.
“It’s great that you found a way to turn what you love into a business.”
Okay, that was almost nice… “Thank you.”
“Mhm.” Marissa nodded and the room went awkwardly silent.
She stared into her cup, wishing she was like Sandra Bullock inPractical Magic, and could stir the concoction with her will alone. Wouldn’t that just rock?
Marissa cleared her throat. “And you’re…in Dallas now?”
“I am. Well, basically. Not the city limits. I have an apartment in Flower Mound. It has a balcony; there’s a pool.” It was comfortable and fine.
“Sounds nice.” Marissa pulled the towel off her head and dark waves of hair fell around her shoulders. She stuck her hand in it and shook it out.
“What about you? What are you up to these days?” Bekka asked.
“I’m in marketing. I oversee an entirely remote art department. I’m in New York, and they’re all over the place.”
“That’s cool. Do you like it?” It sounded like something Marissa would be into. Control. Being the boss. Being the head honcho.
“It’s what I went to school for basically, so, yeah. It’s good. Fun. Creative.” Marissa stood up and dropped her empty cup in a garbage can. “That wasn’t awful.”
“No. Thanks.” And that was her cue to stand up and go into her own space, she thought. “I appreciate you sharing your hot water.”
“Sure. Glad I was there to fish you out.” Marissa watched her, hands tucked into the deep pockets of their fabulous robes.
“Me too. I—” Bekka just didn’t know what to say.Do you want to play rummy?
“Yeah, look. I’m sorry I was such an ass earlier. Whatever happened with us was a long time ago. I’m really not that petty. I’m just not in the best headspace right now.”