Sarah Shelby scoffed. "Cold feet? That’s just her side of the story. Who knows? Maybe there was some other secret. Otherwise, why would she have ever left Seth Quinn?"

"A secret?" Clara Grant glanced at her, pondering for a moment without coming to any conclusion. "Whatever secret she had, it doesn’t matter. She’s in the past now. Her business has nothing to do with us."

"Mm, that’s true," Sarah Shelby said with a smile. "Wherever you want to go today, I’m with you."

"Oh, I was out in the suburbs filming for over a month! It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to really go shopping. Let’s hit the stores today!" Clara Grant clapped her hands, looking excited.

"You got it. Today, I’ll help you shop ’til you drop."

Clara Grant nodded, then suddenly remembered something. She pulled her phone out of her purse and turned the ringer volume up.

’Oops, I almost forgot. What if Seth Quinn calls and I don’t pick up? He’ll get mad, and then what if he decides to find some new way to torment me tonight?’

She finished adjusting the volume and was just about to put her phone away when it started ringing. She glanced down and pouted. She’d barely even left the house, and he was already calling!

Clara Grant answered with a sigh. "Hello?"

Seth Quinn seemed quite satisfied with how quickly she’d answered. He hummed in acknowledgment, a smile in his voice.

"What are you up to?"

"What do you think? I’m in the car. We just left," Clara Grant said. Though her tone was resigned, it was also gentle.

Sarah Shelby couldn’t help but glance over at her. Seeing the bashful look that had unconsciously appeared on her friend’s face, she smiled to herself. ’Clara is the very picture of a woman head over heels in love right now.’

Clara Grant chatted with Seth Quinn for a few moments before hanging up.

Sarah kept her eyes on the road, but a teasing smile spread across her face. "What was that all about? Was that your Seth, checking up on you?"

Clara Grant pouted and sighed. "Ugh, how did I never realize Seth had such a clingy side to him before?"

"What’s wrong with him being clingy? It just means he really cares about you. He wouldn’t be all over you if he didn’t."

Clara was suffering in silence. She bit her lip and mumbled, a little bashfully, "But he’s a little *too*... clingy."

"Why’s that?" Sarah shot her a glance and joked, "Don’t tell me he’s this clingy in bed, too? He doesn’t give you a break at night, does he?"

Clara blushed and didn’t answer.

Sarah had only been joking, but Clara’s reaction made her gasp. "For real? Wow, sounds like you’re very... ’satisfied’." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She then gave Clara a mischievous wink and asked in a conspiratorial whisper, "So, spill. How many times a night? And how long does he last?"

Even though Sarah was her best friend, Clara was mortified to be discussing something like this so openly—especially when it was about her and Seth.

Flustered and annoyed, she shot her friend a glare. "I’m still on my period! There’s no ’how many times a night’ or ’how long does he last’!"

"Huh?" Sarah clicked her tongue. "He’s already wearing you out this much and you guys haven’t even gone all the way? When you finally do the real deal, how are you possibly going to survive?"

Hearing the mix of mock sympathy and sheer gloating in her friend’s voice, Clara got annoyed. "Sarah Shelby, you’re an unmarried woman! Aren’t you ashamed to be talking about things like this?"

"What’s there to be ashamed of? It’s just a normal part of life between a man and a woman. Perfectly natural. I’m just not married yet. When I do get married, I’m definitely finding a man with stamina." Sarah, however, showed not a hint of embarrassment.