“Never.”
“Does that mean ‘never’ or ‘not-never’?”
“Double negatives,” I said with disapproval. “Dangerous territory.
Especially this early in our not-relationship.”
She hugged my chest. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“Thanks for dragooning me.”
“You and your beautiful words,” she said with a teary laugh.
I slowed and turned into the driveway. We sat in silence as she composed herself.
“I think I’m ready,” she said at last.
I nodded.
“Would you believe I’m hungry again?”
“Maybe Wren left dinner in the oven.”
“I hope so.”
She hadn’t, but she’d left us a note on the kitchen table.
Hope you had fun with Danny. It sounded like everything was fine when you left, so we went to bed. Wake us if it’s a real emergency. If not, see you in the morning. Love you both, Wren.
P.S. - Your dinner’s in the fridge if you want it. Heat for 20
minutes at 300.
“You want me to?” I asked.
“Yes, please. I’ll be right back.”
I slid a foil-covered plate into the oven. Christy returned after ten minutes or so. She’d washed her face, pinned her hair up, and put on her flannel pajamas.
“These were Laurence’s,” she explained. “I know they’re big and goofy and make me look like a little kid, but I like wearing them.”
“Makes sense. What about the bunny slippers? His too?”
“No, but he gave them to me. He used to…”
She reminisced about him and her other brothers until the timer dinged.
“Hold that thought.” I retrieved her second dinner from the oven.
“Aren’t you having anything?”
“Maybe a slice of pound cake. A small one. I’m pretty full from dinner.”
“I wish I was.”
“And I wish I had your metabolism.”
“No, you don’t. It’s a major pain. Sometimes I think I spend more time eating than sleeping.” She dug in.
I cut a slice of cake and ate about half of it.
Christy finished her dinner and then my dessert.
“You ready for bed?” I said at last.
“I think so.”
We put the plates in the sink, turned out the lights, and went upstairs. We lingered at her bedroom door.
“Thanks for all your help this afternoon,” I said.
“My pleasure.”
“I couldn’t’ve done it without you.”
“I like watching you work.”
“And I like having you there.”
“Thank you.”
“It was nice to meet Danny too.”
“I knew he’d like you.”
I grinned. “Did you really tell your family we’re dating?”
“Maybe by accident.”
“Maybe on purpose?” I chuckled. “That’s okay. I’m not upset. I… kinda like the idea.”
“You do?”
“Why so surprised?”
“I dunno… I just… I mean…”
“Shhh.” I held a finger to her lips.
She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh.
I left my finger where it was.
Her face slowly transformed with desire. Then, as though in a trance, she pursed her lips and kissed the pad of my finger. I felt her breath on my skin as she planted another languid kiss, and another. My pulse raced as my penis filled with blood when her kisses slowly turned into suckling. She pulled my finger deeper and held it gently between her teeth. Her tongue circled the tip.
I let her suck a moment longer before I slowly pulled my finger free. She swayed toward me, her lips still parted. I bent and kissed her, and she returned it hungrily. Then she moaned when I pulled her against me and our bodies curved together.
After several heartbeats we both seemed to come to our senses. I pulled back and breathed hard through my nose. She moistened her lips and looked up at me with a mixture of emotions.
“Wow,” I said after a moment.
“No kidding.”
“I didn’t see that coming.”
“Me neither.”
“But… it was nice.”
“Mmm, you’re a good kisser.” Her eyes crinkled with a smile. “And you taste like cake.”
Chapter 21
Christy and I didn’t see each other the next day until after aerobics. She was her usual bouncy self, full of energy. Wren smirked at me, though, so Christy must’ve told her about the kiss. Christy skipped ahead of us and walked backward. I couldn’t help but smile, and she returned it with interest.
“Oh, yeah,” Trip said, “I’ve been meaning to ask. My dad wants me to listen to a band on Friday. They’re playing in Gatlinburg. Wren and I are just gonna spend the night rather than drive home so late. Y’all wanna go with us?”
“What kind of music is it?” I asked cautiously.
“Country and bluegrass.”
“Um… would you be offended if I pass?”
“Not at all. How ’bout you, Christy? Any interest?”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll stay home too.”
“You don’t like country music either?” I said.
She scrunched up her nose and shook her head. Then she twirled and danced away down the sidewalk.
Wren leaned forward and grinned at me. “Home alone on a Friday night?
Just the two of you? Whatever will you do?”
“Oh, behave,” I said.
“Is it too early to call it three to zip?” she asked Trip.
“Don’t count your chickens,” he warned.
“Exactly,” I said. “One kiss does not a romance make. Then again, ‘as in the soft and sweet eclipse, when soul meets soul on lover’s lips.’”
“You did not just make that up,” Wren said.
I chuckled. “No. Percy Shelley beat me to it.”
Trip turned the conversation back to plans for Friday night, and I watched Christy gambol through a patch of leaf-strewn lawn by the library. She danced for the sheer, uncomplicated joy of it, and I found myself smiling again.
The phone rang after dinner. Christy was already in the kitchen, so she answered. She talked for several minutes and sounded like she was chatting with a friend. She eventually stuck her head around the doorframe.
“Paul, it’s for you.”
“Why were you talking so long?”
“Just catching up,” she said without a trace of guile. “It’s Sara.”
“Oh. Okay. Um… I’ll take it in my room.”
She nodded and began talking to Sara again.
Upstairs, I closed my bedroom door and gingerly lifted the handset.
Dammit, Erin! I covered the mouthpiece and listened for a moment.
“—you find out?”
“She said before the weekend.”
“Good luck,” Christy said. “I hope she adds you.”
“Me too.”
I uncovered the mouthpiece and fumbled to make it sound like I’d just picked it up. “I’m here.”
“Okay,” Christy said. “Great talking to you, Sara. That’s really exciting about the show. I hope you get good news.”
“Thanks. And good luck with your exhibition too.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that.”
“Thanks, Paul,” Christy said. “She’s all yours.”
The line clicked as she hung up.
“What the heck was that about?” I asked, a bit too brusquely.
Sara ignored the question. “Hi. How’re you?”
“Fine, thanks. You?”
“I’m good.”
“Now, what the heck was that about?”
She laughed. “We were just catching up.”
“How do you even know each other?”
“We met after her little rumor stunt. I could’ve sworn I told you.”
“Oh, yeah! Right. You did.”
“She came right up and introduced herself,” Sara recalled. “Apologized and everything. We had a good talk. I like her.”
“And I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s cute and female.”
“That doesn’t hurt, but from what you’ve told me, she’s already fallen for you. I’m not the type to steal someone else’s girlfriend. Unlike someone I won’t name.”