“The house looks pretty good.” She pointed at the spot I was wiping down for the second time. “And I say this as someone who grew up in a house where all the furniture was covered in industrial-grade plastic and the Fabuloso was purchased by the gallon. This place is pristine.”
Her comment stopped my hand in mid-motion. I immediately felt like she was judging me, like she could tell my obsession with cleaning my house was part of my baggage. No matter how much I worked on my hang-ups, the most innocuous word or comment could put me on the defensive. Now that I thought about it, this hadn’t happened once since I’d started hanging out with Julia and the rest of the crew. But I felt it now.
I stood there, watching as she assessed me with her eyes half-closed like she was trying to figure out if she’d hit a nerve or overstepped. I reeled in the impulse to say something sharp or caustic. Instead I said something I hadn’t shared with anyone other than Coach Brito or my therapist.
“I like to keep my space clean.” I lowered my eyes, feeling exposed just from that. “My parents’ house growing up was always a mess. I don’t like to feel like my place is dirty.”
She nodded and put the vacuum down. As she came closer, all I could think wasshe knows about me and she’s coming closer instead of pulling back.
“Like I said, my mother’s dedication to cleanliness is on the fanatic side, so I’m not judging. You call it your parents’ house.”
I looked at her, confused for a second, and then realized the point she was trying to make. “I haven’t lived with them for a long time.”
She dipped her head. “Right, you were with your coach.”
I swept my hand around the room with generic art on the walls and the nice but pretty plain furniture that had come with the apartment. “It’s not like I’m obsessed with how the place looks or anything, because this IKEA modern isn’t exactly stylish. I just like it neat.”
She turned her head, her dark brown eyes sweeping the room. As if looking at it with a different lens. “This is a pretty swank place. I always envisioned consultants staying at the Holiday Inn or something, but this is real nice. You have a great job. You’ve done well for yourself.”
By now she was standing in front of me, so close that if I leaned in just a couple of inches, I could have pressed my lips to her forehead. The sleeve of her dress had slid down some and I could see the black strap of her bathing suit and her deeply tanned shoulder. There was just a tiny bit of peeling happening, and I lifted my hand to run my finger over it. But at the last moment, I caught myself, and let it hang in the air. Not wanting to break any rules, but not ready to give up on the idea of this. Without saying a word or taking her eyes off me, she laid her hands over my fingers, caught.
My eyes zeroed in at the base of her neck and how it dipped into the valley between her breasts. She smelled like lemon and coconut, but also a little like the chlorine from the hot tub. I wanted to taste every inch, and as if she was reading my thoughts, she leaned in.
This was not a good idea, but with every no ringing in my head, there was a yes pounding in my chest pulling me closer. Her hand gripped my fingers harder and her breath hitched just as our mouths met.
This was it. This was the place where I could lose my head, but instead of pulling back, I pressed in. I would quit this. I would, but I had to get a taste.
Julia in my arms was intoxicating, my head filled to the brim with her. Of the way her warm skin felt under my hands as I ran them down her back.
“Rocco.” My name slid from her mouth like a command, and who was I to deny this woman what she wanted? I pressed my lips with my heart galloping in my chest. I’d thought about kissing Julia so many times since the moment I’d seen her. I’d thought about those generous lips, pressed to mine. But nothing would’ve prepared me for the real thing.
I nipped on her bottom lip as her arms came around my neck, bringing us closer. She was soft and warm and I knew even from this small taste that I could lose myself in this woman. I slid my tongue between her lips and she opened up to me with a gasp.
“Yes.” The noises she made, fuck I was hard as a rock and ready to plunder through every single one of my boundaries to get more of her. I was about to lick into her mouth, when my phone rang, shattering the moment.
Julia jumped back like my touch had shocked her and I instinctively held up my hands to let her know I was keeping them to myself. I grabbed my phone and looked at the screen before taking the call. It was Sofia. I realized it was seven, the time we usually talked on Sundays, and if I didn’t pick up she’d get worried. I answered, holding my finger up to Julia, who was looking decidedly uncomfortable. I hoped she didn’t just grab her bag and go before I had time to apologize.
“Hey, sis. How’s you?” A long tired sigh came over the line, and I braced myself for whatever litany of complaints about what my parents had been up to come over the line.
“Not much. Tired but I had the day off and I took Blue to the park while it’s still nice out.” I smiled, imagining Sofia and Blue having some time outside.
“That’s good. Did you take any photos?”
She chuckled and I heard Blue yelling my name. “Yeah, I’ll send them to you. She won’t take off those boots you sent her. Let me put her on, she wants to say hi.”
I looked up and saw that Julia was leaning against my breakfast counter, watching me as I rambled on the phone. I must’ve blushed because she waved me off and started gathering cleaning products and putting them back in their place.
My heart lurched when I heard Blue’s excited voice, and I felt proud of my sister and the happy little girl she was raising. Because no matter how fucked things were with my parents, her daughter had constant love and safety.
“Hey, love bug, how are you? Did you have fun at the park today?”
A resounding yes was her answer; she chattered for a while and soon my sister was back on the line. “Sorry, her attention span is like a mosquito’s.”
“Hey, so is mine. That kid is a genius.” I looked up and saw that Julia was already putting on her shoes. “Sis, let me call you back in a few. I have a friend over at the house right now and she looks like she needs to go.”
I was sure Julia heard my sister’s exaggerated yelp, and my face heated from embarrassment. “A lady friend? I need to know every single detail as soon as possible. Call me later!” She ended the call before I could say anything, and when I glanced over to where Julia was standing with her bag perched on her shoulder, she was grinning. I was so ready to see her shut down or tell me how I’d overstepped that it took me a moment to react.
“My sister gets a little overexcited at the idea of me having some friends.”
