Page 105 of Tito

“I told him,” he blurted.

Raymond was right. He couldn’t keep a secret. Not even ours. I pulled up my jeans in case I needed to make a run for it when Reggie figured out what really happened.

“You told him what?” she asked.

“I told him that you rode him like a stolen bicycle while he was sleeping. I can’t play a part in weaving this web of lies.” He took another glance at me and lowered his head in shame. “I’m sorry, Taddeo.”

“That’s quite alright, Raymond.”

Reggie looked at me. “You knew?”

I nodded. “I did.”

“The swollen balls?” She looked me up and down. “It was a trick?”

I filled with shame. “It was.”

Her eyes shot to Raymond. “One that you helped orchestrate?”

“Orchestrate? Oh. My. God.” He shook his head. “No.” He raised his hand. His thumb and forefinger were a centimeter apart. “Assist?” He squinted. “Just a little bit.”

Her eyes darted between us. She huffed out a sigh. “I can’t believe you two.”

Obviously aggravated with our assembly of playful lies, she disappeared into the sea of clothing behind Raymond.

I stepped off the bench and buckled my belt. “That could have gone worse.”

“Mush worse,” Raymond agreed. “She’s got the temperament of a rabid badger when she’s angry.”

I stepped to the doorway and paused. “Good to know.”

He moved aside. “I guess if nothing else, you two could have makeup sex tonight. Hopefully you’ll be able to last longer than fifteen seconds.”

“You noticed?”

“I had my ear plastered to the door the entire time.” He glanced at me and then shook his head in disgust. “That was pathetic.”

I chuckled. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“I close my eyes and think about being chased by an angry mob of Blake Shelton look-alikes,” he said matter-of-factly. “It really helps with my stamina.”

“Thanks, Brother,” I said with a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”