Page 63 of The Road Sometimes Taken

“I know. Go ahead and come, bebé. Come all over my cock.” Right on command I do, my pussy throbbing around him and my chest collapsing onto his, letting him move my hips until I feel him tense up, and then he’s coming again. There’s something fucking hot about knowing that I just made this God of a man come twice and that he still wants to kiss me and touch me. If I never felt like a goddess before, Manny definitely makes me feel like one.

“Fuck,” he groans against my mouth, once we both stop moving and it’s just the sound of our breaths around us. He squeezes my ass and says, “Your whole body is perfect, but this ass, this ass is worthy of sculpture.”

“Oh my God, stop. My ass may be big but it’s full of cellulite,” I grumble, burying my head into the crease of his neck.

“You literally need to have a fatty ass to have a big ass, Carita. It’s perfect, so damn perfect. Come on, let’s go shower,” he replies, getting us both up and into the bathroom.

31

PRETENDING

PRETENDING, GLEE CAST

Cara

Stops 11 and 12:Chattanooga and Atlanta

Five days of hiking,exploring, swimming, and dancing. Reading books every night, whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears as we spend time together with our bodies and our souls. I know I was supposed to find myself on this road trip but what I think I found was him instead. Opening my eyes to the amazing human that is Manuel Zabana has been an utter delight.

I don’t know how I didn’t notice him before. He’s so funny and sweet and kind and freaking listens. He’s giving me so many good memories, so many moments to keep as mine and I wish I could keep him too. I have no idea howanything long term would work with him. There’s no way that I can keep a man like that forever but God what wouldn’t I give to try to.

I love spending time with him. I love how we can go from laughing until we’re crying at breakfast, to him reading books to dogs at the shelter, to hiking up to a waterfall in the afternoon, to skinny dipping and fucking under the water while being afraid of being caught. I like spending time with him and sharing small and big moments. He never gets tired of my silly games and now he’s even pointing when we see a turtle-ish road or a jumping deer sign, he said that the highway patrol should rename them because my cute names are better.

We went to a soap-making class and he enjoyed smelling all the combinations for me because my sense of smell isn’t great so I don’t trust my nose. He then purchased all the soaps I loved because he said he needed to smell like my favorite scents at all times.

We saw a field of sunflowers and he pulled over to let me walk through them. I loved it. And he knew I wouldn’t want to pick any, just wanted to see them and snap some pictures. He even posted one of me on his social media from the back, you can’t tell it’s me which is why I didn’t say anything but he titled it “catching sunflowers” and I don’t know what else could’ve been more fitting since he kept running behind me trying to catch me as I bee bopped around through the flower field.

We went wedding outfit shopping and I made him do the runway strut for me which he did happily. Have you ever met a human puppy? Because that’s exactly what Manny is. Loyal, funny, and playful. Adventurous too. We have gone hiking countless times, we tent-camped one night, even though he hates bugs. Jumping from bridges into the river and eating food we couldn’t pronounce were some of the things he decided he wanted to try. We also had sex in the most adventurous and public places and I don’t think I would’ve done that withanyone else. I’ve never been as comfortable as I am with him. I feel protected, cherished, and happy, and the fact our trip is coming to an end is hurting my soul.

Another thing Manny does? He communicates. We had a whole conversation about safe sex after our condomless shenanigans that could’ve been awkward with anyone else but not with him. We talked about how important it was for me especially since I didn’t use protection before and then I was spiraling thinking the worst when I found out he cheated on me. He got a full STD panel after that. It came back clear, which I had a suspicion it would, but it felt good having that conversation and doing the responsible thing.

I’ve talked to my parents and they’re ready for me to be back home but I haven’t been able to reach Nellie. Mom says she’s traveling a lot which doesn’t surprise me since she’s about to start working full time. Nellie is such a wild child, wild grown-up now, I guess. All I can do is hope she stays safe. There’s no taming her, so might as well just show her how to not die while she’s trying to live her life.

We spent the day at the Georgia Aquarium yesterday, knowing that today will be the wedding of hell and that we wouldn’t get as much time together. We took our time and explored downtown Atlanta on electric scooters. And we ate so much food that I was seriously worried my dress wouldn’t fit today—but you only live once so I ate it all.

I’m lying in bed in this beautiful hotel, that’s also the wedding venue, waiting for Manny to come back up with breakfast, and texting Allie to check if I’ll see her before the wedding.

The Bestie: Do you want me to come to your room and we can get dressed together?? We need to talk about all the things.

Fuck. I forgot I had told her to do that with me but now that I’m in this room with her brother, I really don’t think that’s a good idea.

Me: I don’t feel great so maybe I’ll see you right before the wedding? Do you want to get drinks before? Pregame so we can deal with the shit show that today’s gonna be?

I hate lying to her but what am I supposed to say? Oh yeah, you can’t come over because I’m sharing a room and a bed with your brother? I don’t think it would be a really big deal if I told her we were hooking up, but I also don’t want to deal with this when we only have two more days on this trip. Tomorrow, we’re heading home and then I can start my new life on Monday. And on top of the Manny stuff, there’s the whole thing with Tasha and Cole and I don’t want to add more stress to an already stressful night.

The Bestie: Sure. Is Manny still coming? Let’s all go get drinks at the hotel lobby. 3:00?

Me: YASSSS! Can’t wait to squeeze you future Mrs. Clarke.

The Bestie:

“Croissants, eggs, grapes, and coffee for my queen,” Manny shouts from the door. When I look up, I see him carrying a tray and a giant smile. He’s in such a good mood today and has been since he woke up at the crack of dawn and said he was going to the gym.

“How was your workout session and thank you! That sounds delicious.” He puts the tray on the bed and kisses me on the forehead, before sitting across from me and grabbing a water bottle. He stretches a leg over his lap and takes a sip.

“It was good. I’m ready for a shower, you want to join?”

“Do you ever get enough, hotshot?” I ask, pulling the covers over my chest and grabbing the food, ready to snack on something before figuring out when to start getting dressed. The wedding is at four but if we’re meeting Allie and Jake at the bar, I need to start getting ready soon. Especially blow-drying my hair—which takes forever.

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