Page 72 of Embody

“No one interrupts or adds commentary, understood?” She eyes the crowd, one at a time, ‘til they all nod their agreement.

“Have you slept with her?” She grins like the devil she is, cocking one brow.

“Way to jump right out there,in front of my mother!” I snarl at her.

“You said you’d answer,honestly. Already pulling out, Quick Nut?”

“Presley! I know what that means and I’m about to call your father!” Aunt Em may seriously fall the fuck out.

“No,” Bennett shakes her head rapidly. “No, no, no. Donotcall Sawyer. He’d think it was funny and we’ll be here all night if you get him started. Presley, some tact maybe?”

“Fine,” she gives me her classic “Presley’s Calling You a Pussy” look of challenge. “Sorry JT, thought you could handle it. Never mind.”

Yeah, that’s gonna work.“Mom, plug your ears.” I wait until she does, then stare Presley dead in the eyes. “No, I haven’t.”

“Have you slept with anyone else since you started spending time with her?” She grins, loving that I’m playing along.

“No,” I answer immediately.

“Do you want to?” She hits it right back to me, and out of my periphery, I see every head snapping back and forth to watch our volley.

“Want to what? Sleep with her or someone else?” I ask.

“Answer both.”

“Of course to her, no to anyone else.”

“You can listen again,” Presley pulls on my mom’s arms and she unplugs her ears. “Hard part’s over. Next question.” She pins me with her hardest stare yet. “Are youpositivethat yours, hersandBrynn’s relationships will all be salvageable if things don’t work out?”

“Yes,” I nod. “We’ve all discussed it, up one side and down the other.”

She doesn’t so much as take a breath, next question locked and loaded. I’d expect nothing less. “When she’s gone, like right now, do you miss her? Think about her?”

I tug at my collar…is it hot in here? Feels hot. Scorching even.

“Constantly,” I finally mumble, immediately regretting it as multiple cooing noises explode around me.

“Just a few more, Romeo,” Pres laughs. “Has any other girl ever held your interest this long?”

“Never,” my reply pops out itself.

“Earmuffs again, Aunt Laney,” she warns and waits for Mom to comply. “What’s your plan if she never sleeps with you?”

Find a good Occupational Therapist for my Carpal Tunnel? But really, I think about it, while sensing the women closing in, scooting to the edge of their seats, salivating for my response, and find my honest answer. “Wait. For the end of never.”

Another round of female mewling. My mom must read their expressions and unplugs her ears again. “What?What’d I miss?”

“I’ll tell ya later. Now sshhh,” Bennett orders.

“Last one.” Presley rolls her neck and cracks her knuckles for the final blow.This oughta be a doozie. “Suppose Bellamy went on a date with another guy, say, next week. How would you react?”

“Not. Well. I would kill him.”

“Then yes, JT, you need to ask her, outright, to be your girlfriend. Agree to only see you. And,” she beams, “promise her the same. Tit for tat, playboy cat.”

I don’t dust off the glitter covering me or give hugs—I fly toward the door—ready to find her and pounce.

“Atta boy, Son! I withdraw my earlier vagina comment!” My father’s shout from the back is the last thing I hear.

 

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