The Night Off by Meghan O'Brien

get her back.” Emily’s voice wavered. “Unfortunately.”
    “I’m sorry.” Wanting to offer her very real empathy for the tragedy of a lost childhood, Nat ignored the twinge in her gut that warned her not to get too personal. It was a little late for that, anyway. “I had to grow up fast, too. My mother left my father when I was just a couple months old. Apparently I ruined their lives and their relationship…or at least that’s what my father always told me. My mother died when I was two years old—beaten to death by her new boyfriend.” Emily’s soft lips brushed over her shoulder, sending a shiver through Nat’s body. “My father raised me after that. He never forgave me for her leaving him—or let me forget that I was a burden he wouldn’t have chosen to bear alone. I moved out of his house at sixteen.”
    Emily sighed, pressing her hand to the center of Nat’s chest. “Sounds like neither of us won the parent lottery. Mine were addicts for almost my entire life. Mom did clean up for a bit when she was pregnant with my sister, but after Colleen was born it got so much worse.” She snorted quietly. “I remember being eight years old, making sure the baby got fed while they were passed out on the floor. I may have only gotten custody of Colleen six years ago, but I’ve been taking care of her for our entire lives.”
    Nat could hear the love in Emily’s voice when she spoke about her sister, along with her pain. It tugged at her heart, as did the thought of the childhood Emily’s parents had stolen from her. “You’re right, that is a lot to have on your plate. No doubt.”
    “Yes.” Emily ran her fingernail between Nat’s breasts. “Don’t get me wrong, I love having my sister. I’m not sure I’ll know what to do with myself when she goes away to college in a few months.”
    “Maybe take up cuddling?”
    She could feel Emily smile against her shoulder. “Maybe.”
    By now Nat wasn’t surprised by the pang of longing she felt at the thought of being the one to introduce Emily to the pleasures of real intimacy. Emboldened by how comfortably they fit together, she whispered, “If I tell you something, will you believe me?”
    Emily’s mouth twitched. “I’ll try.”
    “That was the best sex I’ve ever had, too.”

Chapter Six
    Emily went still, listening to the thump of Nat’s heartbeat beneath her ear. She wasn’t certain how to respond to Nat’s words, because even though she’d promised to try to believe her, and even though Nat sounded wholly sincere, Emily simply couldn’t fathom that what she’d just said was true. Nat had obviously fucked a lot of people. Even if most of the sex had been bad or unpleasant, surely one or two experiences had surpassed what they’d just shared. Granted, Emily had found the sex transcendent, but she’d assumed it was partially due to her inexperience.
    “Do you believe me?” Nat murmured.
    Emily weighed what to say. She didn’t want to call Nat a liar, especially because she was sure Nat just wanted to make her feel good. “I wish I could, honestly, but…it is a bit hard to believe.”
    “Why? Didn’t you think it was mind-blowing?”
    “Well, yes.” Taking a deep breath, Emily raised up so Nat could see her face. “But surely you’ve had plenty of great sex. And I’m…not very experienced. So I sort of assumed—”
    “What? That I was faking it?”
    Emily’s face burned with embarrassment. Was Nat teasing her? “Well, you’re obviously good at your job. I’m sure every woman you fuck walks away convinced that she was the best you’ve ever had. Because that’s what you do, right? Make lonely women—women like me—forget how sad their lives are, for just one night. Isn’t that right?”
    Nat frowned. “I’m being honest with you. And just so you know, I don’t make it a habit to lie to my clients. There are plenty of other ways to make a woman feel good.”
    Emily sighed. She hadn’t wanted to offend Nat, and now