Finally, she picked up her phone again.
WINONA: Staring is rude, too, Mitchell.
MITCHELL: You make it very hard not to. I meant what I said. You’re beautiful. You take my fucking breath away, Winona.
Winona glanced at her screen. Then to the person speaking. Then back again.
I had no idea who was talking now. I was wholly absorbed in Winona, unravelling before my eyes. When I’d seen her in that kitchen, I was half sure she was going to throw her glass at me. Now, well, she still might.
She looked torn. Like she wanted to say something, but was hesitant. I held my phone at my side, waiting. It was a full minute before I felt the vibration.
WINONA: What did you do with my bra?
Well shit. I glanced up. She wasn’t looking at me. She was smiling at her friend Sarah, who was telling a story about what, I had no idea.
But Winona held the phone tightly in her hand. Her chest rose and fell a little faster than before.
I could have told her I got rid of it. But I got the sense that’s not what she wanted to hear.
It also wasn’t the truth.
MITCHELL: I take it out sometimes, just to feel it in my hands.
That was the truth. Winona’s lips parted when she read the text, her tongue darting out just a little. Heat surged in my lower half.
The time for playing it safe was over.
MITCHELL: When I do, I picture it on you.
MITCHELL: And off of you.
I purposefully didn’t look at her after that one. I don’t think I’d be able to without doing something extremely foolish.
WINONA: …
The three dots disappeared. They appeared again, then were gone.
Come on, Firecracker. You can do it.
Finally, my phone buzzed.
WINONA: How do I look? When you think of me like that?
Fuck. Me. My brother was speaking now, and I guess I wasstaring too hard in my effort not to look at Winona, because he gave me a strange look. I had to glance over at the window to keep him from saying something. When he looked away, I snatched up my coat from the chair next to me, holding it in front of my lower half so I didn’t embarrass myself.
I took a breath as I thumbed out the next text.
MITCHELL: You look fucking glorious, Winona. I already know you have the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen.
MITCHELL: I almost don’t want to see them, because I know when I do, all other tits will be ruined for me.
They already were. I couldn’t think of anything but her. It was a sickness. I realized too late I’d said when and not if, but I didn’t care anymore.
MITCHELL: Some nights, I swear I can almost feel them in my hands. I’m almost positive they’d fit fucking perfectly. The only thing better would be getting to taste them.
There was a loud clunk as Winona’s phone fell to the ground, landing face up, my text right there. “Oh, let me—” Cassandra started, but Winona snatched the phone away, laughing a little too loudly.
“I’m fine,” she said.
