Nick coughs loudly, almost choking on his wine.
“You okay?”
“Fantastic,” he says, clearing his throat. “But it’s best if you don’t say things like that – at least not while I’m trying to eat.”
“Don’t be such a wimp,” I say, teasing him.
“Jesus, Casey. I’ve been hard since I kissed you in my parents’ hallway yesterday. And I know that you’ve been thinking about it, too.”
I feel my body immediately go up in flames, heat rising from between my legs.
God, Nick.You have no idea how I feel right now.
“Maybe that was too honest,” he says, downing his entire glass of wine. “But the truth is that I’ve actually been hard since you first stepped foot in my parents’ house, wearing that bloody T-shirt.”
“Which one?”
“The one about wearing no underwear. Fuck, Casey – every time I look at you, I always wonder whether or not you’re wearing any.”
I burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“There you go. He’s back.”
He looks at me confusedly, deep lines etched into his forehead.
“Now you’remyNick.”
44
Nick
Her Nick.
NowI’mthe one who’s about to come. I want to throw her down on top of this table, pull her on top of me, and show her what it really means to be hers.
“I’m always like this,” I say, defending myself – or, at least, trying to defend myself.
“Sometimes you hide yourself away when you do things like this,” she says, gesturing to the food spread out on the table. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it, and it was a really nice surprise, but you don’t need to use your moves on me.”
“Oh, no?”
She shakes her head.
“Does this mean my charm is enough?” I say, winding her up.
“I mean, sure, the lasagne was a taste explosion…”
“Please, stop there. Or I’ll have to rip that useless dress from your body, and then you’ll have to wander around naked.”
She laughs again. She always laughs at my shit jokes – even at the worst ones – and I know that she isn’t just doing to impress me, like other women do. She does it because she genuinely appreciates it. I think she’s the only person whoreallyfinds it funny, with no hidden agenda.
“I’ve decided to be on my best behaviour. We won’t do anything until we’re eaten everything. Dessert included.”
“Let me help you carry this through to the kitchen, then,” she says, getting up. “That way we’ll be finished quicker.”
Holy shit.
