Page 45 of Bump and Run

Ten

Eliza

I take a long,deep breath. Then another one. And another one.

Grant and I are up next to audition. Nervous butterflies have rarely ever been a part of my pre-stage routine but this time, I can’t seem to shake them. It might have something to do with Mr. Young’s endless supply of doubt and misery that he’s always so insistent on bludgeoning me with. Or I’m just hungry because I haven’t been able to eat anything all day because of how nervous I am.

But most likely, it has something to do with Junior Morgan.

I’ve been with men before but never in my life have I been pursued like this. Junior obviously desires me and I can’t say that’s something that happens often. I’ve been wanted, I’ve been liked, I maybe have even been loved, but none of that compares to what I feel when Junior’s hands are on me.

Around him, I feel like a glass of water out in the desert or a blanket on a snowy mountain. I’m not just something he needs for convenience or luxury. No, if he doesn’t get me, he’ll die. That’s how badly he wants me and I can’t go a single minute without thinking about how much that excites me.

Grant nudges my elbow from the seat beside me. “So, you gonna tell me about it?”

“Tell you about what?” I whisper, keeping my voice down to avoid interrupting the other act on stage in front of us. Oh, and they’re also really freakin’ good. Not that I wasn’t nervous enough already…

“About the two minutes and forty-three seconds you spent alone with Junior Morgan in the pool house last night,” he answers.

I stare at him. “Okay, you have got to stop being so creepy.”

“Come on. What happened in there?”

My lips curl on their own. “We talked.”

“With your genitals?”

I smack his arm. “No.” His eyes burrow into mine, reading me for every lie. “In a way…”

Grant twitches with excitement. “I knew it.”

“Let’s just say that the player and I have come to an understanding.”

“Like…?”

“Like if the team wins the game tomorrow, then… he and I can talk some more.”

“With your genitals?”

I hesitate. “Yes.”

“Well, well, well…” he chuckles. “Sounds like your dad isn’t the only new coach around here. I’m impressed.”

“I just don’t want to be another girl he bangs and forgets about,” I explain. “I have more self-respect than that and if wants to bang me, then he’ll show me that same respect and earn it on my terms.”

“Oh, you don’t have to justify it to me,” he says. “I’m all for it. You just have to worry about what daddy thinks of it.”

“What daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“That’s always been my motto,” he jokes.

“Which is why I trust you to keep this quiet.”

Grant holds up his hands in surrender. “I swear on my life, Eliza. If this gets out, it won’t come from me.”

“Thank you.”

“Next!”

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