SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 258
258 Comparisons (Winona)
Lisa's laughter fills the apartment as she pours us another glass of wine. "Okay, but seriously, Winona- how do you really know Jayden is the one?"
She leans back, eyebrows arched, like she's just dared me to figure out the meaning of life. "You've only ever been with him, right? What are you even comparing him to?"
I blink at her, way past the tipsy stage. "I love him, Lis. That's how I know. It's not a comparison game. I just... know."
Lisa shakes her head, laughing again. "Bullshit! You can't just know. That's like saying, 'Oh, this pizza's the best,' but you've never even tried another slice!" "Pizza would be great right now," I muse.
"Bitch, you're talking about spending the rest of your life only ever having sex with one guy. It's not natural."
I roll my eyes. "Fairly sure it's natural to a lot of people
"In the dark ages maybe. Hell, you might like it with a woman better."
I stare at her.
"Well, you might and you'll never know."
"You must have gotten close with Phillip, I mean that felt good right?"
I groan, leaning my head back. "Don't. Just-don't."
"But you didn't have sex with him," Lisa presses, sitting up straight. "Why? Because you found out he was:
in cahoots with Judy? Or because deep down, you didn't want him like that?"
"Both," I shrug, taking another sip. "I thought I could trust him but he wasn't that person."
"Anyway, so sad, too bad. My point is, you didn't have sex with him. But you must have had a few times where he got past first base." Lisa says.
"He could kiss, I'll give him that. But I don't know, going all the way didn't feel right."
"Jayden's literally your only experience in bed. That's what I'm saying: You're diving headfirst into forever without having banged anyone else. How are you so sure you're not missing something?"
1 pause, the wine making me bolder. "Because... it's Jayden. That's how I know. It's not like I want to just go out there and sleep with someone else. I'm not wired like that."
Lisa leans in closer, eyes sparkling like she's about to drop the bomb. "Things can be rewired. I'm just saying-don't knock it till you've tried it."
"It's easy for you. 1 overthink everything."
"That's your problem. Stop thinking and just do. Feel."
1/4
258 Comparisons.
"I'm not sure I can."
+25 BONUS
"Sex can be fun, for pleasure. Just feeling that zing with someone and following through without thinking. That's so hot. There's a lot of sexy guys out there."
"Are you seriously suggesting I... cheat on Jayden?"
She grins, all teeth. "No, honey, not cheat. I'm talking about a good old-fashioned hall pass."
I nearly spit my wine. "A hall pass? What am I, in some rom-com now? This isn't a movie, Lisa. I can't just
"Why not?" Lisa cuts me off, laughing. "This week is practically a 'free zone, right? You two aren't even living together. No rules, no expectations. Just a little breathing room before the wedding. Consider it a redo of being single for a hot second." I stare at her, feeling the wine haze deepen. "You think should... hook up with someone before I marry. Jayden? You're insane."
She waves me off like I'm missing the obvious. "Come on. It's his idea isn't it? He wants you to be sure. You tell him this is how you'll be sure. If he loves you as much as he says, then he won't have a problem."
"He does get jealous."
"So what? He's had other women. It's only fair." "Women?"
"I doubt Ashlyn was his only one after the accident."
"I don't think it should be tit for tat."
Lisa shakes her head. "You get six days to do whatever the hell you want. Go out. Have fun. Let loose! You'll never get this chance again, unless you wanna turn into a soccer mom who cheats with the pool boy when you're 45." I burst out laughing at the mental image. "Okay, ew. And I don't have a pool boy."
"You could," Lisa counters, winking. "If you weren't about to tie yourself down to one guy for life you could have multiple pool boys, gardeners and security guys. What's the harm in a little test drive before you commit?" "This is crazy," I mutter, shaking my head. "It's cheating. It doesn't matter if we're taking a break or whatever. I can't."
"No," Lisa is up and rummaging in her cabinet. She pulls out a bottle of tequila and waves it at me. "This is crazy, but we're doing it anyway." She grins.
"I have school run in the morning."
""You'll live." She says as she pour it into shot cups.
"Not drinking "to kill ya' I won't." We both drink it straight down and grimace hard.
"But what if Jayden's not really your guy? What if there's someone else out there, and you never know."
+25 BONUS
258 Comparisons
I bite my lip, my mind swirling with alcohol-fueled possibilities. "I don't want anyone else. It's a choice."
"Here's what I think. You go tell Jayden you're both single for the week. A hall pass, no strings attached. If it happens it happens."
I narrow my eyes at her. "So, you're saying I should just tell him I'm gonna go screw around for a week?"
Lisa laughs again. "Why not? If it's meant to be, you'll both come back to each other stronger. If not, hey- you had some fun and figured out there was life before Jayden Brennan and there can be life after him." I shake my head, but the idea is sitting there, nestled in the back of my mind.
Can I really do this?
Today's Bonus Offer