“Nothing.” I crossed one leg over the other and froze. This is the only problem about having my piercing: it makes everyday life so difficult when I’m already in the mood.“I’m perfectly fine.” I forced a smile and uncrossed my legs, trying to cause as little friction as possible.
“Anyone wanna watch a movie?” Sean asked.
“Sure.” Ari dropped her controller as he stopped the game.“What do you guys like?”
“Everything,”Mateosaid.“You can pick.”
“What do you wanna watch, Emy? I vote something scary.” She got the remote and started scrolling.
“I can’t do this.” I hopped up like the couch was on fire, then crossed the room and tugged my suitcase out from behind hers.
“Where’re you going?”
“To Dennis’room.” I was digging through a side pocket, rummaging for one specific item. It was a given that Ari had packed them in here somewhere. She knew me well enough. I finally pulled out some condoms of each size—I wasn’t sure which one he’d need—and stood.“I’ll be back sometime today,” I said, kicking my suitcase aside. “Invest in earplugs and don’t open the door.”
“Will do.” Mateo grinned as Sean started laughing, but Ari didn’t seem so amused.
“You better not be that loud! I know how you are. You like to make your presence known to the whole neighborhood and I don’t wanna hear it this time.”
“Have fun.”
“Trust me,” I smiled at Mateo’s words as I passed,“I will.”
“What about your rule?” Ari called after me. “We talked about this!”
“Too late. I’m making an exception.”
We’d talked about it during our shopping spree, but that didn’t change a thing. My mind was set.
Perfect Reactions
I reached Dennis’room andentered without knocking. He turned to me as I shut the door. He was lying on the coffin with both arms folded behind his head.
“You’re back.”
“You know what I want.” I tossed the condoms and he sat up to catch them. I bent to unlace my boots as he turned one over.
“That didn’t take long at all.”
“Gloat all you want, I don’t give a fuck, but do it after.” I kicked myboots off and pushed them aside.
“I don’t know,” he said thoughtfully,“I’ve been celibate for so long, I might not even remember what to do. It’s been a whole day since you said it.”
“Do you always have to be so sarcastic?”
“No, but I prefer it.” He smiled mischievously. “Can you tell me your rule now?”
“You still don’t know it?” I asked. He shook his head.“I thought you could hear everything.”
“I can’t. Not that.”
I smiled. It was nice having a thought to myself for once. But I guess telling him won’t hurt since I’m about to break it, anyway.“My rule of being a free spirit is to never do it with someone I know because it leads to emotional attachment, and I don’t trust that shit. So I stick to people I either see often but don’t know anything about, or will never see again. I don’t mind sleeping with women I know and see often because I trust them more and they never treat me differently after, but my rule always applies to men. That’s why I’m so conflicted. I already know you too well, and I’ll definitely see you again.”
I could see the wheels turning in his head before he asked, “You’re making an exception for me?”
“You and only you.”
“Why me?”
