Chapter 27
Antonio
Ibroke our friendship code. Balled it up, did a crossover dribble, and shot a three over whatever line Miriam and I told ourselves not to cross.
The line is more figurative than literal, but I’m pretty sure tasting her mouth isn’t allowed.
There’s no excuse. Everything went blank when disappointment weighed in her smile. How the hell does she think she’s not my type when she’s the fucking blueprint of my desires? My toes are scraping my flip-flops right now, trying to keep me from levitating off the ground.
Every dip and curve of Miriam’s body excites me to the point of shame. She’s right that the women I mess with don’t look like her. Why would I want a copy when the original is right here?
The moment our lips touched, I saw a future with her. A house, and higher insurance deductibles. If today is my last day on Earth, I’ll happily go to the upper room with a two-step and a smile.
I kissed her. I’mstillkissing her, and I don’t have the brain cells or the common sense to tell me how bad of an idea this is.I’m pretty sure you need blood to think, and every ounce in my body is headed south.
Words were a safer option, but I went with what felt right. Apparently, that involves my tongue massaging her trachea.
I swallow another moan, unsure if it’s hers or mine. I inhale rose oil mixed with sunscreen when I kiss Miriam’s neck. Her gasp pulls my lips back to hers while my hands toy with her hips under a layer of spandex.
I’ve never wanted to be a swimsuit so bad.
I’m high on her.
The lips wilting against mine.
The thighs teasing me in that one-piece.
At this point, detaching myself from her will take an act of God.
Or a bucket of ice.
“Shi—”
“Ahh!”
Ice cubes mixed with freezing water spill over my neck and down my shirt. I move Miriam out of the way to keep her dry as I squeal at the razors shooting down my back. There’s ice in my ass.
“Yo!” A few pieces fall through my trunks.
“My bad, Cap! I was aiming for Bread!” Quincy yells, sprinting away with an ice bucket in hand. He knotted a towel around his neck to match his superhero trunks, and he’ll need special powers to outrun Bread.
“You okay?” I cup Miriam’s face. She blinks slowly but nods.
The party resettles to hits from the ’90s and ’00s. Drinks are in the air, bodies swaying through a cool breeze. No one is paying attention to us tonguing each other down. They either don’t care or have seen me with enough women to know no one sticks.
Would you be willing to stick for her?
Everything is back to normal. Everything except us.
The water droplets scattered across her glasses catch in the sunlight. She wets her lips, drawing my mouth in to follow the path of her tongue.
The DJ’s record scratch is another ice bucket.
“Whoa.”
“I’m sorry!” I lift my hands and step back. “I got caught in the moment.”
“Young’s modulus—”
