“But isn’t that kind of cheating the system?” Caroline said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Aren’t the Slaters going to want us to be…I don’t know…sexy? How can they not care if they’re the only ones performing?”
“Nah,” she answered, waving a hand. “They love that stuff. Emma and Pete have always been up for anything, anytime. I don’t know how they do it.” She shook her head and forked another bite of salad. “They are the most flexible people on earth—figuratively and physically. Emma is ridiculously limber. That woman can contort her body in ways that defy gravity. Whew.” She ate the salad, and then picked up her water and took a quick gulp like she was downing a gin and tonic. “I think I’m getting a wettie just thinking about it—”
“Ladies, can I get you anything else?” the waiter asked, surprising them both.
They jumped in their seats.
“Jesus, man,” Piper said as she cleared her throat. “You must have marshmallows on the bottoms of your shoes. No, we’re fine. Thanks, though.” She waved him away, and he went without argument.
“Do you think he overheard us?” Caroline asked, covering her mouth as she began to giggle. “I’m not sure my heart can take it. I’m never going to be able to have another one of these paninis again!”
“Chill out, worry monster. If he did, all he heard me say was the word wettie, which I’m sure he has no idea what it means. He’s, like, twelve.”
“Piper, it’s not that hard to suss out the meaning of that word. It’s in the urban dictionary. Kids his age—who are closer to twenty than twelve—are the ones who invented that kind of slang. I’m totally embarrassed.”
“Suss out? What are you, British?” Piper peered at her friend. “And how do you know it’s in the urban dictionary? Did you do a little research?”
Caroline tried not to cough as she blushed. “Yes, I did.” It was hard to admit it, but she confessed, “The first time you used it, I had no idea what it meant. So I had to look it up.”
Piper tipped her head back and chortled. “Well, the word is pretty self-explanatory, if you ask me. Girls don’t get hard, they get wet. Therefore, they get a wettie when they get turned on. It’s the only real equivalent to a male hard-on we have.”
“Yes, but I thought a wettie was when someone licks their finger and sticks it in someone else’s ear. That’s what I always thought it meant.”
Piper began to belly laugh, her head bobbing forward, a palm slapping the table. “Oh…oh, you slay me, Caroline! And I love you for it. I really do. That’s a wet willy!” Once she calmed down, she added, “I wish I could remember that conversation. You must have thought I was a libertine at the time.”
Caroline laughed with her. “Well, actually I did. We’d just met, and when I looked it up, I was shocked that you’d said something so personal to me so soon after we’d been introduced.”
“It was probably a good thing it happened that away. Then you had to make a decision to like me or leave me. I must’ve been like sandpaper scratching against your dignity.” She hooted with laughter. “Or a brazen slap against your proper cheek.”
“Actually, once I got over my initial shock, I enjoyed it. I found you…refreshing. In college, I could’ve sought out girls like you if I’d tried. But I didn’t. I stayed in my comfort zone, sticking with Southern girls—as you refer to them—even though I was dating a decidedly Yankee boy. Coming to Madison has really been one of the best things I’ve ever done, next to marrying Jason. It’s really let me find the real me, and surprisingly, I’m not a proper Southern belle.”
Piper reached over and patted Caroline’s hand. “You are a Southern belle—but in the best way possible. You’re a free-spirited, forward-thinking, not-afraid-of-change Southern belle. I think those are the very best kind in the whole wide world.”
Caroline smiled at her best friend. “I hope you’re right, because this Southern girl is going to need all the help she can get to make it through Saturday night without swooning.”
* * *
Caroline was still in the bathroom.
Jace glanced at his watch.
It was eight thirty, and at this rate, they were going to be late. Emma and Pete lived in a suburb of Madison at least twenty minutes away. They were supposed to be at their house by nine.
But Jace wasn’t going to push it.
He’d been psyched when Caroline had come home from her lunch with Piper on Thursday happy and ready to keep their date with the Slaters. But this morning she’d awoken to some trepidation, which hadn’t been surprising. He’d had some, too, but ultimately, he was willing to see where the night took them.
Jace had told Caroline that once they arrived at Emma and Pete’s they could leave any time and she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to. He’d told Pete that as well.
Everyone was in agreement.
Now he just had to deliver Caroline to their doorstep.
After another minute or two, he walked to the edge of the staircase and called up. “Are you ready, Care? We have to leave soon or we’re going to be late. I know you hate being late.”
“I do,” Caroline said as she emerged at the top of the stairs. “It’s rude. But in this case, I believe the timing is a bit flexible. Don’t you think?”
Jace smiled up at his wife. “I agree. It’s so flexible we don’t even have to go if you don’t want to. Rescheduling would be a snap.” To illustrate his point, he snapped his fingers. He didn’t want to force his wife into anything.
She started down the stairs, her heels clicking as she went. They were a pair of his favorite sandals, strappy and sexy. “Believe me, I considered that today many times,” she said. “But in the end, that only staves off the inevitable. We’re both too curious not to meet them. I’m horny, and I don’t want to wait any longer. Let’s just go and play it by ear. If we like it, we stay. If we don’t, we go.”
“That sounds very logical to me.” Jace chuckled. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right? What have you done with my wife?” he joked as he held out his hand. She took it. “You look gorgeous.”
She glanced down at her outfit. “I decided to go casual. Do you think I should’ve dressed up more?”
“Not at all. I love that shirt on you. The blue brings out the color in your eyes.” His wife had the prettiest blue eyes, and she always looked fantastic in her skinny jeans.
Before she could change her mind, he led her to the back door.
Just as his hand hit the doorknob, she tugged his arm, and he stopped. “Jason, I want you to promise me one thing. We can leave at any time, right? I need to hear you say it one more time. The panic is starting to flutter up in my chest, and we’re not even in the car.”
He turned and pulled her close, closing his arms around her waist. There was no mistaking her anxiety. He was proud of her for trying to muscle through it. “Of course. I told Pete that, too. We’re all set. If you’re uncomfortable, we leave.”
She blew out a breath. “Okay. I can do this.”
“Care, it’s going to be great. Let yourself enjoy the ride.”
Caroline nodded as she pulled out of his arms. “I hope they have liquor, and plenty of it. I’m going to need a few stiff drinks. But,” she added hastily, “I don’t want to get drunk like last time. You’re going to have to have my back on that one.”
“I won’t let you get wasted. I promise.” Jace led her out the door and locked it behind them. They walked to the garage and got into the SUV. He glanced over at Caroline as she buckled herself in. “You’re my hero, you know that?”
“What? Why?” She looked up, startled. “Because I like kinky sex?”
“No, because you’re open to trying new things. So many people would be opposed to even thinking about doing what we’re doing. I’m just glad I married someone with an open mind who appreciates life as an adventure.”