Chapter 99 Krissy

Chapter 99 Krissy
Krissy held up a hand. “Let me tell my story.”
I nodded and began to sip my coffee. I wasn’t hungry and didn’t think I could force myself to eat with these knots in my stomach, but the warmth of the liquid and the rush of caffeine did me good.
“Well, our coffee date turned into me trying to loosen him up by taking him to a bar for something stronger than an espresso. I challenged him to a drinking game, but apparently he can hold his liquor better than I thought. We were both a little buzzed and when we were walking out to catch a cab, I kissed him.”
I raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.
“It was the alcohol,” she protested. “And he just looked so cute with his hair falling in his eyes and those tight jeans showing off his firm ass. I couldn’t help myself. It had been too long since I’d gotten laid.”
I couldn’t stop a smirk. I had to duck as a balled-up napkin sailed across the table towards me.
“Anyway,” Krissy continued as she glared at me. “He has the basement at his mom’s house set up like an apartment. There’s a separate entrance and everything. So we go down there and start making out.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know how a comic book geek ever got that good at kissing.”
My smile this time wasn’t about amusement at Krissy’s expense, but just the enjoyment of the moment. I’d almost forgotten how it used to be. Us sitting down to breakfast while she told me about her latest conquest, often while said conquest was wandering around the apartment, half-naked, looking for his pants. It was always me living vicariously through her sex life, wondering what it would be like to have someone make me sound the way Krissy’s partners made her. I wished things had never changed, that I’d never even laid eyes on Gavin that day at Huggins. I wouldn’t be sitting here, hoping I wasn’t going to throw up when I stole files from my firm’s client. I wouldn’t have this pit in my stomach that burned every time I thought about how Gavin had used me.
“Carrie?” Krissy sounded concerned.
I pulled myself back. “Sorry, continue.”
For a moment, I thought she’d see right through me and ask what was really going on, but she didn’t. She just continued with her story.
“Anyway, he’s rambling on about how beautiful I am and I finally have to tell him to shut up and get on with it. And holy shit, does he.” Krissy shivered and I knew it was because she was remembering how good it had felt. “I swear, he’d been good the last time we were together, but this was phenomenal. I came twice just from him going down on me and then when we started fucking... It was amazing. He rubbed on all the right spots and I saw stars.”
My face flushed. I’d forgotten how detailed she liked to be in her retellings.
“We must’ve done it in three different positions and I came every time. I’ve never had that many orgasms that weren’t fake or courtesy of myself. I ended up nearly passing out, and trust me, it wasn’t from the alcohol.” She sighed. “And then it was morning.” Her expression of bliss faded.
I was puzzled, and a little annoyed. Was she seriously going to regret her amazing night with Pete just because he was a bit of a geek? I wanted to tell her that was a stupid reason. Better someone who liked comic books and didn’t have his own place than an asshole like Gavin.
“I woke up to his mother coming downstairs and asking if we wanted breakfast. She was making heart-shaped pancakes.”
I choked on a laugh and Krissy scowled at me.
“It’s not funny, Carrie. I was buck-ass naked, half-lying on top of her equally naked son. His bits were covered but I gave her an eyeful.”
Now I did laugh, and, after a moment, she joined in. “What did you do?” I asked.
“What do you think I did?” She grinned at me. “I asked if she had strawberries to go on top.”
We laughed even harder and I was surprised by how good it felt. It reminded me of something I’d nearly forgotten. No matter how much damage my heart took, my best friend always had my back, and she would cheer me up, even if she didn’t know she was doing it.
As I got up to put my cup in the sink, I was grateful I’d taken the time to talk to her this morning. I’d needed something positive to get my mind off of what I was about to do. I could tell by the look on Krissy’s face that we were going to have a more serious version of this conversation at a later time, but for now, we were good. I didn’t know exactly what she was thinking, but I had a pretty good guess that she wasn’t sure how she really felt about Pete and wanted my advice. I wasn’t sure I was the best person to ask, but that was another conversation I didn’t have time for now.
I said I’d see her later at the office and then headed downstairs. I took a cab to Howard’s office, again partly out of convenience but also because I wanted a record of where I’d been and where I was going. If Howard reported me stealing from him, my leaving a trail might backfire, but I’d followed enough cases where people disappeared without a trace that I was willing to take the chance. If Patricia had made sure her moves could be easily traced, she might not have disappeared, or at least would’ve been found by now.
When the doors opened on the top floor, I fixed a smile on my face and walked into the reception area in front of Howard’s office. Annie was sitting at her desk. I hadn’t seen her since that incident in Howard’s office. When I looked at her now, all I could picture was how he’d bent her over the desk and used her.
“I’m here to see Mr. Weiss.” I made my voice professional and chose my words carefully. I wanted it to sound like I was here on business.
“Mr. Weiss isn’t in yet,” Annie said brightly. Her eyes didn’t meet mine though, and I wondered if she was thinking about what Howard had said regarding me not being ready enough to be the replacement “package”. “He should be here shortly, if you’d like to wait.”