Natalie said, “Aleks kept all his emotions bottled up. Unlike his brother! When Maksim toasted love and held up his glass to you, everyone in that room knew he was lost.”

For me. It struck me that if Máxim was legit, my whole life might turn around. I was making friends and had seen snow. I’d ridden a horse and gotten laid in a covered bridge. I possibly had a boyfriend who could help me fight for my life back. I couldn’t stop a smile. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now.”

Jess told Natalie, “That sounds like something a prisoner would say.” To me, she said, “I can’t let Natalie get nervous about anything the night before her wedding. So pony up the deets.”

To distract them, I said, “Let’s do one more round.” Famous last words.

Lick-shoot-suck-gasp.

Lick-shoot-suck-gasp.

Lick-shoot-suck-gasp.

Sometime later, I patted myself on my back. I’d distracted them and was having serious fun in the meantime! I’d missed hanging out with people my own age so much.

And I loved watching the rapport between Natalie and Jess. Natalie was the most laid-back girl I’d ever met. Jess was absolutely the craziest. Yet they totally fit.

As we grew drunker, Jess turned philosophical. “Why do guys think I want to date just because I bounced their dick for a night or two? Men are so predictable, so boring! Especially compared to women. If you and the Russian don’t work out . . .” She made a phone gesture against her head, mouthing, Call me.

Lick-shoot-suck-gasp.

Eventually Natalie admitted that Aleks had taken her to a masquerade at Le Libertin, an exclusive BDSM club in Paris. So both brothers had that interest? Did Dmitri as well?

Natalie would’ve been sparing on the sex club descriptions, but Jess, who knew the story, kept prodding her: “You left out the best part! The metal dildo! And the sexual circus.”

The details of that night scorched my eyebrows—and fueled my curiosity. What else would Máxim show me?

Jess pouted. “For some reason, I didn’t get an invitation to Cirque du Cock. So I have to live vicariously.”

Natalie said, “The weird thing was learning Maksim is a member too.” You don’t say. “He’ll probably take you.”

“Mamí gets to go to Cirque du Cock? And not me? Now you two are just being twats.”

Lick-suck-shoot-gasp.

Jess also grew more physical, seizing Natalie in a headlock. “Who’s your wedding coordinator, now? Huh? Huh?” She rubbed her knuckles in Natalie’s red hair until she’d created a huge rat’s nest. “I am the wedding coordinator—the coordinated terminator. Say it.”

Natalie just laughed. And she let the rat’s nest stay.

Lick-suck-shoot-gasp.

“How did you meet Maksim?” Natalie asked me, slurring. “He usually only ‘dates’ ”—she made air quotes—“blondes.”

Oh. We were back to me. My head swirled. Bob and weave, Cat. But I didn’t want to with these girls. They were so nice and real. “Oh, it’s not a big deal.”

“Sure it is!” Natalie said. “I want to know how my future brother-in-law would meet a smart co-ed.”

I considered telling them about my escort foray. They probably wouldn’t find it a big deal. I didn’t know if it was gut instinct or the tequila advising me to trust them, but at that moment, I felt like I could. To an extent. I would never tell them about Edward—apparently, I couldn’t yet gasp out the words husband and murderous sociopath in one sentence—but I could put their minds at ease about Máxim.

“Tell us!” Jess shoved her shoulder against mine, nearly sending me off my bar stool. “We’re all drunk, and it’s obvious that you and I are long-lost sisters—which means I can’t fuck you.” Leaning in, she added darkly, “In certain states.”

“Anything you tell us stays between us.” Natalie hiccupped.

“Okay, well, um, I needed some money quick. So I . . . took my friend’s place on an escort date. Máxim ordered tall and blond, but I went instead. He’s my first and only client.”

When I saw the disgusted look on Jess’s face, I instantly regretted my admission. Then she said, “You mean I’ve been doing it all this time for free? Who’s the chump?” She pointed a thumb at herself. “I’m the chump.”

Natalie was more romantic about it. “If you hadn’t gone that night, you never would have met him!”

Never to have met Maksimilian Sevastyan? The man steadily turning my world inside out?

“How do you feel about him?” she asked.

“I’m falling for him, but I try not to. I know he’s a player. He’s a gorgeous billionaire and could have any woman he wanted.” Even with his issues. Maybe they were fixed now? “Yet sometimes I get a sense of déjà vu around him, like we’ve known each other before. Does that sound stupid?”

“It sounds romantic,” Natalie said.

Jess nodded. “Totally romantic. Hey, do you read romance novels? Of course you do. I’m sending you some faves. Give me your addy when I sober up.”

I smiled and nodded, though I had no addy. It was such a simple request. No one else would give it much thought. But I had no home. I wanted a home. And a Russian. And a dog. “I’ve only known Máxim for thirteen days. I can’t be feeling what I think I’m feeling.”