“Yeah. Let’s go.”
I follow her down the hall to the elevator, fighting the urge to slip my hand along the small of her back, to take her hand in my grip. It’s the thing Vaughn and I have been dancing around. We’ve been dealing with the fact that Corrine was fucking murdered. Trying to wrap our minds around that. That she had a stalker we knew nothing about. Of course we miss her and there are layers of emotions. All the stages of grief and trauma, but I still can’t get over the weight of her physical absence. I can’t deal with how addicted I was to Corrine and what she and I had with Vaughn. What Vaughn and I had with her.
When Vaughn told me about Brooklyn Lewis, I thought he was grasping at straws. I thought he was out of his fucking mind even wanting to be around her. What the fuck purpose would it serve? If we need outside support, there are groups for that. Counselors and shit. Bonding in our trauma won’t do any of us any good.
“Why did you kiss me?” she asks as the elevator doors close.
“Is it okay if I don’t have a good answer other than I wanted to?”
“I guess I’ll have to take that. Let me kiss you next time, okay?”
“Do you want there to be a next time?”
“I’m not sure yet. But let me make the move. Okay?”
“Of course.”
“And don’t apologize for kissing me. Ididwant you to kiss me, in the fantasy files of my brain. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“So, it was a good surprise?”
“Yeah. At least I know my pussy’s not broken,” she says with a little smirk as the elevator chimes at the lobby floor. I follow her out of the glass door back to Dalton Street. We walk down to Newbury Street. I glance in the comic store window as we pass. It’s still closed.
“You into comics?” she asks as we continue up the block.
“More into the movies, but Vaughn buys them when he can.”
“What’s his drug of choice?”
“Batman.”
“I can see that,” she says as we arrive at Breakers. “He has a way with that tailored trench coat.”
I smile to myself as we join the short line at the door. He was wearing a similar coat the first time I saw him. “Fighting intellectual crime suits him,” I say.
“I’m sure it does.”
There’s a wait for larger parties, but the hostess can seat parties of two immediately. We sit by the window. I watch Brooklyn as she peels off her jacket and starts to look over the menu.
“Hmm. I love eating my feelings,” she says. I should be looking at the menu too. I’ve had coffee, but nothing to eat and it’s past time to fill the tank. I can’t take my eyes off her though, even to see how much two sides of eggs is going to cost me. I know it’s a little on the foul side, but I can’t help but look. I couldn’t help but look last night either. Brooklyn Lewis has some of the biggest natural tits I’ve seen in real life.
I pride myself as a lover of the human body. I’m also a genuine tits and ass man. Vaughn told me she was beautiful with a figure to match, but damn. I’d love to get under that pink sweater. I know that won’t happen. Still, my mind deserves a break. Even just for a few hours.
“Okay. I know what I’m getting.” She sets down her menu and crosses her arms on the table, resting her tits on top of them. She’s not doing it to show them off. She just seems comfortable that way.
“So tell me, Shaw. What’s your deal?”
“Where do you want me to start?” I say.
“Wherever you like? I think I see how you and Vaughn fit together. I thought you were fire and he was ice, but it’s the other way around. He’s sweet and warm, and you’re—”
“A confusing asshole?”
“A little, but I think I can let first impressions go for now. You’re a pretty good cuddler too, so that doesn’t hurt your case. But no, tell me about you and tell me why Vaughn isn’t with you.”
“Vaughn isn’t here because I wanted to talk to you alone.”
“Was there something you couldn’t tell me in front of him?”
