Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
I giggle.
“Did you watch all the documentaries on hairless cats on Netflix?”
She pulls a face.
“No, just those two. I’m an expert now,” Alvina jokes putting her nose in the air like some sort of academic snob.
“You really need to call Derek before you lose your mind,” I laugh.
“I know. I just needed you to knock some sense into me.”
“Happy to do so, but I need some advice too. And save your judgment because I’m already beating myself up about this. I just don’t know what else to do.”
She straightens, putting her popcorn to the side.
“Ok, this sounds serious. You know you’re my best friend and I’d never judge you. Let’s have it.”
I go on to explain about the cam girl show and Peter. I tell her how hot he is and how comfortable he makes me feel in my own skin. Of course, I leave out the particularly naughty parts because that would be too embarrassing.
But Alvina takes it all in a stride. She’s silent for a moment, thinking, but then she speaks.
“So what do you need advice about? There doesn’t seem to be any harm in talking to some guy online. He’s probably out in California or something. And if you are getting enough money to help you get by during this crisis, who cares?”
I gulp. The dirty details are coming.
“So, that’s not all of it. Peter lives here in New York and he’s given me almost fifteen thousand dollars in the past week alone. And now, he wants me to meet him in person.”
“Wow. That is serious,” Alvina is suddenly more somber than I’ve ever seen her the entire time I’ve known her.
The silence stretches for too long. I think maybe she is judging me after all. I feel like I might cry.
“So, the money you’ve been sending everyone isn’t from the GoFundMe page you set up for SugarTime? You’re not doing gangbusters with delivery, are you? The money is from this Peter dude?”
A tear rolls down my cheek.
“Pretty much, yes. The GoFundMe page got us some donations, but not very much. The delivery business is okay, but no one has extra money for things like dessert. So yes, most of the money is from Peter. But he knows I’m trying to keep my bakery from going under and he knows I’m sending money to my family and employees. He’s in our industry, and he understands.”
Alvina shoots me a long look.
“You told him about SugarTime?”
“Only that I own a bakery, not the name of it.”
She takes another deep breath.
“What’s your intuition on this guy Whitney? I can’t really tell you what to do.”
I pause as well, thinking.
“I really like him. I like who I am when I talk to him. I can be crazy or silly or serious. I can talk about the business and he understands. And I have never felt so sexually free before. An hour ago, I was standing in front of him in nothing but a pair roller skates and I felt like a goddess on wheels.”
Alvina’s mouth drops open.
“Are you serious? You go, girl! I had no idea you were like that. But honestly, Whit, that’s really powerful and it sounds like you have a connection with him. I don’t want to tell you not to go, but I do want you to stay safe. Promise me if you decide to go you’ll be careful.”
I take a deep breath.
“Peter said I could give you his address, just so someone would know where I am. Can I give that address to you?”
Alvina nods so vigorously that it looks like her head might fall off.
“Yes, of course. You know I got your back.”
I thank her, and then hang up. Then, I send Peter a message through LiveFans with my phone number telling him I’ve made a decision and that he should text me to find out what it is.
He must have been by his computer because I get a text almost immediately.
Peter: Are you going to make me soar in the clouds or send me crashing to the rocks?
Me: That’s a lot of pressure on a girl
Peter: You should have seen the pressure I had to release after our chat ended
Me: Were you making tea in a tea kettle?
Peter: I’ve never described it that way, but I guess you could say my tea kettle whistled
Peter: I’m impatient. Tell me. Will you meet me in person?
Me: Only if I can send my best friend your address and a selfie of us together. That way, if you cut me up into pieces and use me in meat pies, Allie can go to the police with a picture of who I was last seen with
Peter: Deal. And I am not Sweeney Todd, although I am a Johnny Depp fan so I sort of appreciate the reference
Me: I’m impressed you got the reference