"I don't know. Maybe one of the girls?" Then she laughs, adjusting her glasses as she gets up and puts the flowers on her mantle. "You know, I do have a couple of not-so-secret admirers."
Jealousy rips through me. "Oh?"
"Yes, one in the third grade, one in fourth. I got some very ardent Valentines from both of them." Her stomach rumbles loud enough that I give her a look, and she rolls her eyes at me, smiling.
"Where do you wanna eat?" I ask.
"In here. I'll get some napkins." She's already bounding into the kitchen, curls bouncing, her ass in those fucking shorts screaming my name.
I don't know what I'm going to do with her. It's taken every shred of restraint I possess to keep myself in check, not get rough, not go too far. But I have a feeling that at some point, I'm gonna really let go of the leash and turn into a fucking animal. A shudder clicks down my spine at the thought, my mouth watering.
I flip open the box, and the salty, garlicky scent hits me--I pick up a piece and shove the narrow end in my mouth, taking a mannerless bite. I moan., my eyes rolling back
"It's good?" she asks, smiling as she plops down on the floor next to me, tossing the napkins on the coffee table and reaching for a piece of her own.
"Mmhmm." I take another bite before swallowing the last one.
"You sound like you haven't had pizza in a million years." She takes a bite, and I shrug, swallowing.
"I haven't," I answer around what’s in my mouth then take another bite. All that's left is the crust.
She chuckles with her lips together, watching me. "You're gonna make yourself sick."
"Worth it."
"How come you don't have pizza? You seem to like it plenty."
"Don't have anybody to share it with."
I catch a flicker of a smile on her lips, her eyes softening a touch, like she sees past the casual statement and into me. Something about that small smile hits me. My loneliness feels real and raw, and it's all because of her. The contrast of her presence is dizzying--—when I'm with her, it feels like everything I thought I knew is wrong. It's liberating. It's intoxicating. It's terrifying. It's everything.
"Sure, but you could eat the leftovers."
"Listen, peaches--after forty,this--" I gesture to my torso. "--doesn't come cheap. And eating a whole pizza isn't gonna do me any favors."
"Well, I'll share a pizza with you," she says happily, leaning toward me puckered lips first like a cartoon character for a kiss.
When my lips meet hers for a peck, they're smiling. My heart, thrumming in my chest, is scared to death of how bad I want to share every pizza with her. "Thanks, babygirl."
"Anytime, coach."
Internally, I rankle at the word. It's never bothered me before. But now it feels flippant, too casual. Like I'm an acquaintance. I don't want to becoachwith her anymore.
The chemistry between us is electric, that I can't deny. But it's the light in her, the hope, her effortless sparkle that twists my chest, that leaves me aching for her. I don't just want what's between us, I wanther.The fullness of her, the moments where she's just herself.
Moments just like this.
Fuck. I really need to go. Problem is, I'd rather die a grizzly death by meat grinder.
I pick up another piece of pizza and eat my feelings.
Whatever movie was on is over, and she reaches for the remote. "What do you want to watch?"
You come.I almost said it out loud. "I should go. It's late."
She frowns at me. "It's ten."
I chuckle. "That's late."
