Free Getting Some by Kayla Perrin

around two in the afternoon—”
    “ This Thursday?” Samera interjects. “As in two days from now?”
    “That’s the date. July twenty-sixth.”
    “You’re serious about this.”
    “Absolutely. Start packing!”
     
    Next I call Claudia, who resists the idea at first, until I tell her that the trip is paid for—and that Lishelle is going, too. I don’t mention that my sister is also going, because the truth is, Claudia doesn’t know her well, and I don’t want to give her a reason to turn me down. After about five minutes of arm twisting, Claudia agrees to the impromptu getaway, though she sounds somewhat reluctant.
    I expect the most resistance from Lishelle, and when I call her at the station, she cuts my suggestion off midsentence.
    “I can’t. Gotta work.”
    “Actually, you don’t have to—”
    “You know I always work weekdays. I can’t book off Thursday and Friday last minute. I’m free Saturday and Sunday, which would barely give me time to fly to Vegas and back.”
    “Lishelle?”
    “Yes?”
    “You didn’t let me finish. You don’t have to go to work because I booked you off from Thursday to Sunday.”
    “What?”
    “Okay, I’ll be clearer. You don’t have to go in on Thursday. And your next day at work will be Monday—July thirtieth.”
    “How—”
    “I spoke with Linda Tennant last week because I didn’t want you to have any excuse to say no. Plus, I wanted this to be a surprise.”
    “And Linda said yes?” Lishelle asks, her tone saying she’s surprised.
    “She did. And quite frankly, she sounded relieved that I was taking you away somewhere. According to her, you’ve been moping around, not at all like your usual self.”
    “Moping around?”
    “Her words.”
    “I ought to smack her. But, if she says I can go, then fuck, I’m outta here.”
    “Oh, Lishelle. We’re gonna have a blast,” I tell her, relieved that she’s down with the idea of getting away. “Sin City, watch out!”
    “I hear that. Four days of drinking, gambling…”
    And a little something extra, I think.
    “You’re a doll. How much will I owe you?”
    “Nothing! This is my treat.”
    “No, I can’t accept—”
    “You can and you will. I’ve got an excellent chunk of change coming my way, probably in the next couple weeks.”
    “All right, girl. If you insist.” She still sounds uneasy.
    “You can buy the drinks,” I tell her.
    “You’re on. Look,” Lishelle says, “I have to get going. But we’ll talk tomorrow at least.”
    “For sure.”
    I squeal with happiness, and so does she.
    “So much to do,” Lishelle says. “So little time.”
    “I know, I know. Talk to you later.”
    No sooner do I hang up with Lishelle, than I head to the kitchen and snatch up the Yellow Pages. I flip through until I find listings for limo services, and I book one for early Thursday that will pick each of us up.
    “Okay,” I say to the person who has confirmed the pickup. “Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. Thanks a lot.”
    “You sound happy.”
    I whirl around at the sound of Dominic’s voice. He’s leaning against the wall at the entrance of the kitchen, holding his blazer casually over his shoulder.
    He looks sexy as hell.
    “Hi, sweetheart.” I get up from a chair at the small kitchen table and float toward him, my arms outstretched. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
    Our lips meet first before we fall into a warm hug. Dominic kisses the top of my head before releasing me.
    “What are you up to?” he asks.
    “Booking the limo for our ride to the airport Thursday morning.” I told Dominic about my plan for the trip last week. “And I told all the girls today. Everyone’s onboard.”
    Dominic settles onto the chair I vacated. “So that means you’re leaving me.” He reaches for me and pulls me onto his lap. “For four whole days.”
    “Four long days. I know.”
    Dominic brushes my hair over one shoulder, his fingers skimming the back of my neck as he does. The gentle touch sends