Kylie: Wow . . . that’s noble of you.

Cade: Eh. I just like to help out where I can. I don’t like to sit on all my money like Scrooge McDuck.

Kylie: Did you just compare yourself to a cartoon duck?

Cade: Depends. Are you laughing?

Kylie: Yes!

Cade: Then yes, yes I did.

Kylie: You’re so noble. Seriously, a clinic. Wow. I don’t even know what to say.

Cade: I’m not all that noble. I keep thinking about kissing you again. How your lips felt against mine. How the . . . rest of you felt against me. I’m obsessing.

Kylie: You shouldn’t.

Cade: Why not? You’re an adult and I’m an adult. Do you want me to leave you alone?

Kylie: Not really . . . but the whole Daphne thing. It makes it awkward. You know she wants you. And I want my job.

Cade: But I don’t want her.

Kylie: Really? Didn’t seem that way the other night when she was sitting in your lap.

Cade: First of all, she dropped herself there, and second of all, is that jealousy I hear in your sweet voice?

Kylie: Text. The correct term you are looking for is “sweet text.”

Cade: Don’t avoid the question.

Kylie: I’m not.

Cade: You just did again. And as for Daphne, I’m just trying to be a friend to her. She desperately needs a few that aren’t ready to push drugs her way.

Kylie: . . . which is why we shouldn’t get together. It’s hard for me to be her friend when I want to pull her hair out for sitting in your lap.

Cade: So it was jealousy.

Kylie: I shall plead the fifth.

Cade: I miss you. I wish you were here in Botswana with me.

Kylie: Why, do you know someone there in need of a makeup artist?

Cade: Me! But not for obvious reasons. I just need to make a certain one scream with pleasure again.

Kylie: Oh my lord, why are you texting me dirty things??

Cade: Because it makes me smile and I’ve been stuck traveling for the last eighteen hours. And because I’m picturing how pink your cheeks are right now. When did you say I could see you again?

Kylie: I didn’t. Busy busy busy.

Cade: I’m looking at Daphne’s schedule online and she doesn’t have a concert scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday. Tuesday in Vegas but Wednesday is free. I can fly in and see you.

Kylie: Cade, we shouldn’t.

Cade: Just a meeting between friends. She doesn’t have to know.

Kylie: I’ll . . . think about it.

Sunday

Daphne: U coming 2 visit me tonight?

Cade: Overseas on business, sorry.

Daphne: Fine. Fuck u. I thought we were friends.

Cade: You know I have to work, Daph. You work, too. Doesn’t have anything to do with our friendship.

Cade: Hello?

Cade: Sigh. Daph, I hope you’re staying clean. Not for my sake, but for yours.

Monday

Cade: Still thinking about it?

Kylie: It’s a long, involved thought process. Truly.

Cade: What can I do to persuade you?

Kylie: Promise me that Daphne will not lose her shit if she finds out about it? Actually, just promise me she won’t find out at all?

Cade: She won’t find out.

Kylie: Uh-huh.

Cade: But we’re still discussing it, which must mean that you want to go with me after all.

Kylie: It’s not a question of want. It’s a question of practicality. Like, is it practical for me to date the man that my rich and famous boss wants? Risk my job? I consulted my Magic 8 Ball this morning and all signs point to no.

Cade: Those things are liars. Mine told me that you would say yes.

Kylie: They ARE full of lies!

Cade: What if I offered to buy an orphanage in some third world country?

Kylie: Now you’re not playing fair.

Cade: I don’t have to. I have money.

Kylie: Fine, fine, we’ll go out. If we must.

Cade: Excellent. I will see you Wednesday night.

Kylie: Just . . . I’ll send you my hotel info, okay? Let’s keep this out of Daphne’s eye. I don’t want her to even know you’re in town.

Cade: That makes two of us. I won’t say a thing. Looking forward to seeing you, then.

Kylie: Just FYI we’re not sleeping together.

Cade: I’m fine with that. I just want to see you. Maybe kiss you.

Kylie: Maybe?

Cade: Well, I thought it might frighten you if I said that I intend to kiss every inch of you at least twice.

Kylie: Not frightened here.

Tuesday

Daphne: U coming 2 the show tonight?

Cade: Can’t. Busy schedule. How goes keeping clean?

Cade: Hello?