Page 38 of Follow Your Bliss

Sipping from my drink, I reached into my bag, where I’d stashed a handful of blank copies. I handed them and one of his drafting pencils to him with a smile.

The dimples came out to play. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re the freaking best?”

I laughed and scooted out of my seat. “Have fun—I’m gonna hit the potty. I’m good with staying as long as you want to work.”

About an hour and a half later, we finally made it into Alabama. Jason put on “Sweet Home Alabama” because he said it was mandatory listening whenever you crossed into the state, but traffic was still thick, and we had a long way to go.

He was singing along and in the driving zone, having captured all his new ideas at the restaurant before we left. But I was all revved up with extra sexual energy after watching him professionally sketch a house layout with those hands in such a small amount of time. And after that forehead kiss? Good lord.

Lenny Kravitz’s “Always on the Run” rang out—Mom texting that she and Lily were safely in Texas with her best friend from college. I texted her back, updating her on my situation, and pulled out my iPad to work on sketches for her wedding dress. She knew she wanted something simple and elegant, but also, in her words, “more princessy than a woman my age is supposed to dress for her second wedding.” I’d started on some options for her, but I hadn’t had time to work on it for the past week.

Before long, the car faded away from my notice, taking with it all residual, icky thoughts of Michael, the stress of moving and evacuating, and the increasing sexual tension between me and the cunnilingus lover over there. Fuck me, now I was imagining his face between my legs. Great. Now I was aroused and agitated again. Steely Dan was officially on the menu tonight.

We slowed down into a snarl of traffic, and I barely noticed Jason grab his phone. Taylor Swift’s “Gorgeous” played from my phone, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

His shoulders shook with quiet laughter as adrenaline kicked through my system. I fumbled to turn off the ringer, but it was Too. Late. Just like in the song, I could barely look at his smile.

“That’s an improvement over ‘I’m Too Sexy.’ Do you have songs for everybody in your contact list?”

“Fuck you,” I muttered, smiling despite my burning cheeks.

He laughed harder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you stop drawing. I love watching artists draw.”

My face was about to catch fire. “Thank you.”

“Are you planning a general design, or is that for someone?”

“Um…it’s…” I guess I hadn’t told him. “It’s for my mom.” I turned on the layer with the little Mom character I drew.

“Ah, your mom’s getting married.”

“I probably didn’t mention it,” I said softly, trying to remove emotion from my voice.

“Do you not like Steve? Or is it about your dad?” He asked gently, checking his mirrors as he changed lanes.

“No, nothing like that. Steve’s great, my dad’s somewhere in the wind. Who cares? I just wasn’t expecting it. From her.”

He nodded, jutting his chin out, eyes darting around like he was going to ask a follow-up question.

“I like to draw the person I’m making dresses for,” I blurted before he could say anything else. “Then draw revisions of dresses in layers so they can virtually try them on before I sew anything.”

“That’s cool. You did that for Becca, too?”

“Yeah! I’ll show you, if you want.”

“Show me later. I can’t really look while I’m driving.”

A few moments of silence later, he spoke again. “Would it throw you off to play a driving game with me? Keep me alert?”

“Mmmmaybe not. What kind of driving game?”

His face lit up with mischief as he changed lanes again. “Maybe…truth or dare?”

I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?” If he was trying to get me to admit that I wanted to know what his cock tasted like, he’d be disappointed. Because that was a truth I’d never reveal.

“Yeah, why not?”

“How do you play it?” I asked, with a long-suffering intonation.

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