Page 48 of Salvatore

“It’s what you wanted, right?”

“Not this slow. Even annoying Marlon had whipped off my bra at this point. Sal . . .”

“Makes you hot?”

“Yes.”

“Sharpens your girl parts to Number 2 pencils?”

I think about how he kissed my neck and left me those hickeys and how I’ve had to wear scarves all week at school. “Yes, that, too. But what I mean is ?”

“Makes you want to ride him into the sunset like a bronco with no saddle while wearing a prairie maiden dress?sorry, that was my fantasy about him.”

“Autumn!”

“Aedry, can you blame me? I have no one. I look at vaginas all day and treat for syphilis. The least I can do is live vicariously through you. Seriously, think about getting a prairie maiden dress. It’s a little-known fact, men like hot prairie maidens.”

“I’ll keep it mind,” I tell her.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bugging you?”

“I will if you let me.”

“What do you mean?” she asks, laughing. “I’m all ears.”

“Sure, you are,” I say. I shut the oven door and set the timer on my cell phone. “Autumn, it’s as if now that he knows I’m a virgin, he’s afraid to touch me or hurt me, or something.”

“You’re kidding? He doesn’t, like, touch you, touch you?”

“Not as much as I’d like. I think it’s because I remind him of his mother.”

“Oh, um. How can I say this? Oh, yes, ew.”

I burst out laughing. “Not like that.”

“Okay, then please explain. You’re seriously killing my hot cowboy fantasy.”

“You have more than one fantasy about my almost boyfriend?”

“Aedry, I have needs, girl.”

“Clearly.” I carry the plates and silverware from the kitchen to where I made up a small dining area in my living room. As I set my borrowed table, I do my best to explain my situation. “His mother was a virgin before Sal’s father came along. His father wasn’t good to his mother and I think it hurt Salvatore to see her in pain. From what his brothers tell me, she’s the only woman he’s ever loved.”

“Mm. He has daddy issues.”

I place the fork down over the carefully folded napkin. “Yes.”

“And mommy issues.”

“Apparently.”

“And now, because of it, he won’t touch you.”

I sigh. “I think so.”

“Well, that sucks.”

“I know,” I agree, trying not to grumble at the thought. “It explains why he reacted the way he did when he found out I was a virgin.”

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