Part 27 (1/2)
”It's not the same. I needed one-on-one time with you ladies. No baby, no Joe-just us.”
Izzy pointed to the table, looking up at the waitress. ”Another round, please.”
The waitress nodded and headed off toward the bar.
”I'm going to be drunk if I have another,” Suzy whined, sucking down the last bit of her drink until she was slurping air.
”You can use a drunken night. I'm sure Joe will thank me.” Izzy winked at Suzy.
”He didn't last time.” Suzy laughed, slapping the table and snorting. Then she sobered, turning her attention toward me. ”So, Angel, how's it over there at Casa Bada.s.s?”
I almost spat out my drink as I sipped the last of my martini. Then I set down my gla.s.s, wiped the vodka off my face, and smiled. ”It's going really well.”
”Tommy is so d.a.m.n s.e.xy,” Suzy said before hiccupping.
”All right, tiger. You're cut off,” Mia said, pulling the gla.s.s away from her as soon as the waitress set down the drinks.
”My hormones are a hot mess. I can appreciate the beauty of man. There's no one like my Joe, though. He's it for me.”
”Good answer,” Izzy said, giggling as she pushed the drink back in front of Suzy. ”Keep drinking.”
”When's the date, Mia?” I asked, changing the subject.
”We haven't set one yet. I waited forever for him to ask. I'm happy knowing it'll happen.”
”You know Ma isn't going to let you two be engaged forever,” Izzy interrupted, a giant smile on her face.
”She's lost in Gigi world for now. Speaking of which, when is your a.s.s going to get engaged, Izzy?”
”I'm not ready for all that. Let me just enjoy the man for now, Mia. I don't need a ring to know he's mine.” Izzy toyed with the gold choker around her neck, rubbing the dangling heart locket.
”Did James buy you that beautiful necklace?” I asked, noticing that she'd played with it many times this evening. Stroking it, she caressed the cool metal.
”He did.” She nodded, releasing the locket from her fingers and grabbing her drink.
”Is that a collar?” Suzy blurted, moving her face closer to inspect it.
”What the f.u.c.k are you talking about, Suzy?” Mia asked, her eyebrows knitting together as she looked at her.
Suzy turned to Mia and smiled. ”I read a lot. I'm into erotic books. It reminds me of some of the BDSM books I read during my pregnancy.” Turning her attention back toward Izzy, she asked again, ”So, is it a collar?”
Izzy's face flushed as she bit her lip. ”I never knew you were such a kinky b.i.t.c.h, Suzy,” she replied.
”By the look on your face, I'd say she nailed it,” I added, knowing that Izzy was usually truthful. That response had been evasive.
”Like a dog?” Mia asked, rubbing her forehead. ”I'm shocked.”
Izzy rolled her eyes, blowing out a hard breath. ”It's not like a dog, Mia. Jesus. Get out more, woman.”
”Then 'splain it to me, sister.” Mia lifted her drink, tipping it toward Izzy and taking a sip while waiting for her response.
We stared at Izzy, watching her turn ten shades of pink, before she cleared her throat. She straightened her shoulders, slammed back her drink, and then began to speak.
”James is into the lifestyle.”
”I f.u.c.kin' knew it. I knew I loved that kinky b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” Suzy said, her body shaking as she giggled.
”Does Joe know you're into this s.h.i.+t, Suzy?” Izzy asked, still avoiding the topic.
”He does.” She nodded, a giant smile spreading across her face. ”He reaps all the benefits of my reading. We may not live in the 'lifestyle'”-she used air quotes-”but we do like to role-play.”
”Oh, Jesus. Way too much information,” Izzy said, blanching and making a gagging gesture.
”You asked.” Suzy smiled, taking a sip from her daiquiri.
”I'm waiting,” Mia said, tapping the table with her fingernails.
”The necklace,” Izzy said, rubbing it again with her fingers, ”just means that I'm his. We're committed to each other. No one else can touch me.”