Thank fuck I hadn’t.
“No, I couldn’t go through with it. My dick was feeling it, but my heart,” and stomach, “protested.” I wouldn’t mention the fact that puking my guts out had been what stopped my drunk ass.
And I wouldn’t tell her about Norah yet. Things had gone a bit farther with Norah and I’d just got my girl back.
She slapped my chest. “Dammit, Caleb! You’re not supposed to tell me your stupid dick was into some other girl!”
“First off, don’t ever call it stupid, you’ll hurt its feelings. And second, I was wasted and horny after eight months imprisoned. Let’s not forget I couldn’t go through with it because my heart belongs to you, little liar.”
Her eyes dropped to my chin. “Are you mad at me?”
“Hell yeah, but I’m also happy to have you back. I can be mad later.” I jostled her in my arms. “Now tell me you’re my girl.”
She giggled through saying, “I’m your girl.”
“Tell me you love me,” I ordered.
Her laughter stopped and her fingers stroked my face. “I love you, Caleb.”
“Good, now erase Gage from the contacts on your phone.” I pulled her cell from my pocket, handing it over.
“Gage is my friend,” she said sternly. “Besides, I think you’ll like him once you really get to know him.”
“I won’t be able to resist kicking his ass again next time I see him.”
“You’re not allowed to kick my friends’ asses, Caleb.”
“Well, not in front of you,” I teased. “And to answer your earlier question, I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“What if it’s eight more months?” she asked in all seriousness.
I managed not to wince. “Eight years if that’s what it takes.”
She grinned. “It won’t be that long.”
“Thank fuck,” I muttered. “Now since it won’t be sex, what are you going to do to make it up to me?”
Her shy smile only had me wanting to do nasty things to her more. “Cuddle and watch a movie.”
Keeping my face blank, I said, “It’s a start.”
*****
You haven’t called.
The text message was expected, but also unwanted
Is it because we didn’t have sex?
Her second text was just ridiculous. I’d been the one who backed off from actual screwing.
If I was going to make it clear things were over before they’d begun, I would do it face to face. Only wimps broke up with a chick over the phone or through a typed message.
Which was why I’d stopped by the gallery.
Approaching the entrance, I saw her through the window. She wore another of her skintight dresses, this time in white. Her glossy brown hair hung loose in a dark wave down her back.
The bell on the door chimed as I stepped inside. She looked over, smiling when she saw it was me and said something to the customer studying a painting.
Her walk was pure sex and I was actually surprised when it produced zero response in me. Seemed like my dick wasn’t into it anymore. I always knew it wasn’t stupid.
“Caleb!” She grinned, reaching out to brush her fingers along my arm. “I would kiss you, but I’m at work.”
Not returning her greeting, I scanned what I could see of the gallery. Another potential customer, an older woman, browsed in the back.
“Do you have a break soon?”
She glanced down at the delicate watch on her wrist. “Twenty minutes until my lunch break.”
“There’s a cafe a block over,” I suggested.
“Wildflower Cafe?”
“Yeah, meet me there?” I asked, dreading it but wanting her to hurry so I could get it over with.
Her excited expression fell, finally realizing I wasn’t quite as happy to see her as she was me. “Okay.” Despite her assertion of professionalism from a couple minutes ago, she came in for a kiss. I swerved, pecking her on the cheek and turning on my heel.
If it had been Gianna I waited for, I would’ve ordered a sandwich for her so it’d be ready and she’d have more time to eat. I definitely wasn’t ordering anything but the cup of coffee I drank. It was unlikely this would go well and I’d planned for a hasty retreat. At least I’d been polite enough to order her coffee. Hopefully she refrained from throwing the hot beverage on my lap.
The door of the cafe also had a bell on it. It dinged as Norah entered, her face expectant. “Did you order yet?”
“I was waiting for you,” I replied calmly, setting down my cup.
Relief seeped into her eyes. “Aren’t you going to kiss me now?” She hadn’t sat down, instead standing there stubbornly.