“They’re not that big,” his bride replies with more snark than is necessary.
Phoenix’s shoulders shake, and he leans closer, giving me the body contact I’ve been craving since that night in Philly over a month ago.
“You know what they say about men with big feet,” he whispers.
“That they’re terrible dancers?” I quip, earning me a raised eyebrow.
“Not all of us.” The look he gives me is pure molten lava.
Damn.
We finish the lesson, and I manage to hold myself back from climbing my partner and humping him like a bitch in heat. But to be honest, that description isn’t too far off the mark. I’ve completely worn out my rose and a wand vibrator and had to make a trip to that Love Nest sex toy store for replacements.
I’m so hungry for another taste of this man, but he’s given no indication he wants to go for another round. Or five. He picks me up for dance lessons every week, and I’ve been to one more spa night with him and Reece. Aside from a little light flirting, he hasn’t made a move.
Just move on, Jordie. Get it through your thick skull that it was a one-night fling. He helped you out with your V-card situation, and now it’s done. Over. Finito.
Yeah, but someone needs to pass that little memo on to my needy body.
My eyes move over the menu at the burrito joint Phoenix drove us to after our dance class.
“I’ll have the blackened steak bowl. All the veggies, light on rice, and with extra green salsa,” I tell the nice woman at the counter.
“I’ll have the same,” Phoenix says before pulling out his wallet.
I stop him. “Would you quit trying to pay for our dinner every week? The deal is you get the dance lessons and I get the food.”
Two divots appear between his eyebrows, but he replaces his walletin the pockets of his gray sweatpants. “If you ever tell my mother I let a lady pay for my dinner, I’ll pull a Frank and step on your toes every opportunity I get.”
Miming zipping my lips, I hand over my debit card to the worker.
Once we’re seated with our food, we dig in. The steak is juicy and tender, and the roasted corn adds a distinct smoky flavor to every bite.
“You seem awfully quiet,” Phoenix notes. “The Dragons are three-and-oh, and your stats are fantastic, so it’s not football bothering you.”
He lets that sentence hang, and I stir the food around in the pretty brick-red bowl. After a few seconds, I blurt out, “My mom hasn’t come to any of my games.”
His fork pauses halfway to his mouth, and then he sets it down, giving me his full attention. “Isn’t that why you’re paying her rent? So she can come to your games?”
My nose wrinkles. “That sounds really transactional, doesn’t it?” Before he can answer, I rush to explain. “It’s more that I wanted her to stick around. Yes, for games, but also so we could continue getting to know each other. But she seems to be ghosting me lately. She’s even canceled our last few weekly lunches.”
Phoenix takes a bite and chews thoughtfully before swallowing. “Maybe this is why your older siblings have nothing to do with her. Didn’t you say Juliette and Bubba were teens the last time they saw her?”
I nod in confirmation. “Yes.”
He reaches across the table and rests his big, warm hand on the back of mine. “You’re an adult, and I can tell this is weighing on you, so can you imagine what that was like for them when they were kids?”
My heart aches for my siblings when I think about it. “You’re right. I’m sure they were just protecting themselves.” I swallow hard. “She was so genuine at first, and I thought she truly wanted to get to knowme. But I’m beginning to think my mother is as selfish as Bubba says she is.”
Phoenix’s thumb tracks a soft line against the back of my hand. “Why do you think she’s ghosting you?”
The skin at the base of my throat warms as I stare down at mybowl like I’m counting grains of cilantro rice. “I think it’s because she owes me money,” I mumble.
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.” Phoenix’s thumb stills, and my eyes lift to his face to look for the judgement I know is probably coming. But all I see is concern.
The gentle caress continues, soothing me like a warm breeze. “That’s a significant amount, Jordie. What was it for?”
