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most nights.”
    “Is it me or does it sound like she’s talking about a baby every time she mentions the new business?” Alfonso asked Marnie. He added a semi-disgusted look for effect.
    “It totally does,” Marnie nodded. “Sorry, Nadine. It’s true, though.”
    “Okay, I know I’ve been kind of lame lately, but I’m stressed about making it. I’m putting everything on the line for this.”
    “Well, not really, since you’re working full-time.”
    “I need the paycheck and the health insurance.”
    Marnie shook her head at Nadine then gave her a slightly mocking caress on the cheek. “You and security.” She shook her head again.
    Nadine was going to defend herself, but there was no point. Marnie had known her for so many years, and she was right.
    “I’m accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Is that so weird?”
    “It’s not weird at all,” Alfonso said. “It’s just that you’re working full-time and trying to work at your business full-time and, well, sooner or later, something’s gonna give.”
    “Don’t say that.” Nadine dreaded the thought. She had nightmares about things going wrong.
    “I’m just sayin’. When’s the last time you cut loose? Had some fun? When was the last time you had sex?” he asked.
    “Um.” Nadine tried to do the math but it was a blur. “Can we just change the subject?”
    They looked at each other. “Nope.”
    “There’s even this sexy young guy at her work who’s totally crushing on her,” Marnie told Alfonso.
    “Oooh,” he said. “Do tell.”
    “It’s nothing,” Nadine protested and took another sip of her drink.
    “Name?”
    “David.”
    “Mmm. Sexy biblical name,” Alfonso said. Nadine punched him in the arm.
    “Nothing’s gonna happen,” Nadine insisted.
    “Why not?”
    “Because he’s way too young.”
    “How young?”
    “One of the students.”
    “Oh my God! That’s illegal,” Alfonso exclaimed.
    “A university student,” Nadine said, irritated. “Geez. Don’t make it worse than it is.”
    “So how old is he?”
    “I don’t know for sure. Over twenty, I hope.”
    “Girl, you are wild,” Alfonso kidded. “I take it all back.”
    “Nothing’s happened. And, like I said, nothing will.”
    “Why not?” Alfonso said.
    “Because I don’t want to have to hear ‘barely legal’ jokes every time I hang out with my friends.”
    Nadine loathed teasing and had really never been good at taking a joke. Her friends could tell by her suddenly serious tone that she’d had enough.
    Marnie’s face changed from playful to her familiar best friend. “I think you should ask him out.”
    “Come on!” Nadine said. “Would you two just knock it off?”
    “You obviously noticed him. He has the wicked hots for you, too. So why not?”
    “Yeah, girl. Get yourself laid.”
    She wondered if she was really that uptight. She didn’t even need to ask her friends for their opinion on the matter. She turned the tables on Alfonso.
    “It’s so easy for you guys. Twenty minutes and you’re done.”
    “It is not always like that,” he protested. “I will have you know that sometimes it only takes ten.”
    Marnie burst out laughing. “Guys are so lucky. Why do we have to get all mushy and overthink-y and manipulate-y?”
    “I can’t answer that,” Alfonso said.
    “Well, I envy you, too,” Nadine said. “And you know, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing. I mean he’s stupid hot. And I’ve never used anyone for sex before.”
    “Don’t think of it as using,” Alfonso said. “He wants it, too.”
    But the scenario had become too real, too fast. Just thinking about the recent conversation with David made Nadine nervous. He’d gotten to her somehow. She kept mulling over his words, all that Roman emperor stuff. What was he talking about? She was hopeless. If she was already overthinking David’s perspective now, what would happen if she actually slept with him? Nadine took another sip and decided to change the topic for