Page 87 of Candygrams

“Late night study sessions. She always stayed up late doing homework and studying.”

Tandy stiffens in my arms and burrows deeper. God, I could just back a car over this guy and not feel bad about it at all. And trying to act like he knows her so well? Fucker!

“Uh, yeah, studying. Look, truthfully, it isn’t books keeping her up all night. It’s me!”

“With Tandy?” The disbelief in his voice has me standing up taller. “Sweet innocent Tandy?”

“Look, buddy, when I’m with Taffy, candy ain’t the only thing melting on my tongue.”

“Rip!!” She turns in my arms and hides her face in my chest.

“See ya man.”

Instead of trying to walk in sync I just lift her up in my arms and carry her away. It might not be right, what I’m doing to him but when I glance into her eyes and she’s got a little smile tilting her lips, I would say it’s not enough. Her arms are wrapped around my neck as I carry her away from the asshole who hurt her.

“Thank you. That was…thank you!”

Chapter Eleven

Rip

A week later and our relationship has changed a lot. For instance, Tandy doesn’t mind coming over to my place now and we’ve actually studied there for the past three times we’ve met up. Not that we have to ‘meet up’ very often since she’s become a part of nearly all our practices. So it’s no big deal that I come to pick her up at her sister’s shop. Or that we get into a game of faux wrestling which we’ve done before -last time over the last fry in the box of take-out we ordered.

What is a big deal, is how I put my hand out to keep Tandy from falling and wind up with a whole hand full of her soft, round boob. She gasps at the touch seconds before the door to the shop opens and we both turn to stare at who came in when the shop is closed.

“Gray! Bonny!”

“Oh, your sister. Hi! Hey! Uh, I already met your brother.”

It takes me a full minute to realize I still have my hand on her tit. I remove it as stealthily as I can but don’t do a very good job because her brother-in-law is shooting me go-to-hell looks.

“We saw the light still on and I wanted to make sure you were alright since I knew you were closing alone. Well, I thought you would be alone.”

My manners finally catch up with me. “Oh crap, uh, I’m Rip. Ripley Bowman.”

I hold out my hand and wait for her to take it.

“The football player she’s been tutoring.”

“Yeah. We were going to meet to go over an essay I have to do tonight but, uh, I didn’t really want her to drive all the way back only to stay for a couple of hours and then have to drive home late at night. So I was just going to pick her up.”

“And he didn’t like me closing up alone either.” She rolls her eyes, but BIL relaxes a little and her sister starts a whole conversation about what my essay is about.

I might carry on a conversation and even participate in a debate with Gray about what grill works better but the entire time all that is on my mind is having my hand on Tandy’s soft, round breast. How fucking full and…soft it was when it was nestled in the palm of my hand. I end up excusing myself quite a few times before we finally lock the door and say goodbye to her family.

During the car ride to my house, I barely say a word. She finally asks me if I’m feeling okay. And I’m not sure how to answer her. Am I okay? Now that I had my hands on her. When we settle in the living room, she starts out on the couch but ends up lounging in the floor and I follow her so I can be closer to her.

I finally break down and address the elephant in the room.

“Sorry about copping a feel in front of your family.” Wait, did that come out right?

“It’s not your fault. You kind of saved me from falling and busting my face on the floor. I should be thanking you.”

“So,” I’m a breath away from telling her I’ll take her home and we need to be done for the day when her eyes meet mine.

“What’s wrong? Is your back hurting? We can get back on the couch if you need to.”

“No. I’m good. I’m fine.”

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