Sophie is standing outside and I can tell by her posture that she’s in a bad mood. Her shoulders are slumped and her hands are tucked inside her sweatshirt.
As I pull up, she climbs in without a word and won’t look at me as she buckles up.
“Hey, kid. Why so glum?”
She shrugs. “I’m fine.”
“Look, I’m sorry for missing game night lately. I’ve been busy.” When she glances up at me, I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. Getting bossed around by my Domme hardly seems like a good enough reason for not responding to her messages.
“I’m quitting D&D,” she replies.
“What? Why?”
“Because I think Kyle is going to break up with me,” she mutters into the sleeve of her sweatshirt. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel and my blood starts to boil. If that little asshole gave her any shit or treated her different than he would other girls, I swear to God, I’ll kick his ass.
“I didn’t know you were dating him. Fuck, I didn’t know you were dating at all. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“Why? Because I’m trans I can’t date?”
Well, that felt like a straight slap across my face. My brow furrows as I shake my head. “I didn’t say that. Of course you can. I just know how guys are, okay? And they’re all selfish dickheads.”
“Takes one to know one,” she retorts with a smug expression.
“I deserve that,” I reply, nudging her shoulder. “Okay, so wait a second. What makes you think Kyle wants to break up with you?”
She shrugs, sadly chewing on her nails. “He just doesn’t respond to my texts.”
“That little asshole. Let’s go to that game night and kick his ass.”
With a roll of her eyes, she shakes her head. “No.”
“I’ll cast a Ray of Douche-ness on him. Make him roll a restitution check.”
“A constitution check,” she corrects me with a laugh.
“I’ll sic my imaginary dragon on him and burn his stupid douchey castle down.”
She’s giggling into her hands now, and it makes me feel a fuck-ton better to see her smile.
“You’re a child,” she replies with a laugh.
“Yeah, I know. Come on. Let’s go get ice-cream wasted.” I throw the car into drive and take off toward the DQ we usually stop at after game night. It’s packed when we pull up. Teenagers with nothing better to do on a Friday night are lingering around the tables outside. It’s not normally so crowded, and I tense as we get out of the car, but I quickly follow Sophie’s lead as she confidently crosses the parking lot and heads inside.
“So, what’s her name?” she asks after I pay for our chocolate cones and find a seat at one of the tables inside.
“What?” I ask with a mouthful of ice cream.
“The reason you couldn’t check your phone all day. What’s her name?”
“I was working,” I reply, and she shakes her head.
“Bullshit.”
“I’m telling your mom you said that,” I reply.
“No, you’re not. So, do I know her? I saw you flirting with my cousin at the shower. Is it her?”
“No,” I snap. “You’re nosey.”
She smiles at me before I notice the way her eyes travel to the window behind me. Suddenly, her face falls. “Let’s go,” she mutters quickly.