Page 33 of Between Us

I wonder what my librarian mother would think.I mean, it’s not a book, but it is reading.

I accidentally let out a quiet laugh, and Adrian gives me a curious glance. Yet he doesn’t push, somehow always knowing the right moments to leave me be. Instead, he just settles back into our comfortable silence.

Either way, my point is, even though I haven’t experienced an orgasm with a partner yet, I don’t feel totally helpless either. I feel like with the right person, we could figure it out together.

And now my thoughts have spiraled out of control all because of a song and the steady, somehow erotic bob of his head. I’m not sayingAdrianis that person. Not that he couldn’t be either…

Only that I’ve had a lot of experiences tainted or taken from me in general. And yet, somehow, even though I went to an all-girls school and haven’t ever had arealboyfriend, all of my sexual experiences have been pleasant. Not earth-shattering, stars-bursting euphoria, but learning experiences that I never left feeling hollow. I can’t say the same thing about how I felt going home from school every day.

So, I feel hopeful that one day I’ll experience a mind-blowing moment like that.

But no matter how great of a day it was, or how much he flirted with me, today isnotthat day. Turning into the parking lot and finding my dad standing against my car, phone to his ear most likely talking to my mother, is a stark reminder.

Adrian pulls into a spot near my car, leaving enough room to put the new tires on.

“She’s here,” I hear my dad mutter into the phone.Yup, my mom.“I’ll call you back, sweetheart. I’m going to help Adria—yes, of course. I’ll stop. I love you too.” His screen goes dark, and he pushes off the car. “Hi, honey. Adrian.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and nods toward the guy carrying one of my tires over.

“Hey, Tim,” Adrian answers before I can. He drops the tire and crouches to start lining it up. “How wa—”

“You don’t have to do that.”

Grinning over his shoulder at me, he just shakes his head. “I don’t mind at all, Blake.” I’m equally relieved and disappointed that he didn’t use his new nickname for me. I bite back my response and shrug shyly out of my dad’s hold. “How was the clinic today?” he continues without missing a beat.

And with that, they fall into a comfortable conversation as Adrian replaces my tires, and I stand to the side, shocked and watching.

It’s interesting watching my dad and Adrian interact outside of work. Last night, I had the same thought. It’s so easy for them.

My dad’s not as social as my mom or brother, but he’s not awkward like me either. Adrian, on the other hand, could have a full conversation with a taxidermied cat if he was left to his own devices. Yet there’s this underlying comfort between them, and more interests than just animal medicine. Like cooking—or in my dad’s case, grilling—and chess.

I’m embarrassed to say I never knew my dad was in his high school’s club until he mentioned it to Adrian last night. When I texted Grady and he said he didn’t know either, I felt slightly better.

Butstill.

After about twenty minutes, they’re finished and putting the spare back in the trunk of my car.

Slowly closing the small distance between me and them, I grab my keys from Adrian. “Thank you for doing that. And thanks for today, Adrian.”

“It was a good day,” he promises.

Clearing his throat, my dad turns to shake Adrian’s hand. “Thanks for all your help today. It made Selena feel better knowing Blake had someone to go with.” I scoff and roll my eyes but don’t say anything. “Anyway, I’m running to the store, so I’ll see you at home, honey.”

“Bye, Dad,” I call after him and face Adrian again.

“So,” he draws out and sways a little awkwardly. “I was wondering if I could have your number?”

“I—oh,” I start to answer before his question is fully processed. “You want mynumber?”

“Uh, yeah,” he chuckles and looks away, running a hand down the back of his neck. “We’ve had dinner and spent the afternoon hanging out. I’d say that makes us at least friends. Right?”

Twirling my keys in my hands, my stomach sours at the prospect of being friend-zoned by him. And it confuses me a little bit after the day we spent together.

Against my better judgement, I nod and hold my hand out. Quickly, he unlocks the device and hands me it with his contact list open.

“There you go,” I mumble and hand him his phone back. Without saying anything, he takes it and types something in. Watching for a few seconds, I can’t tell what he’s doing exactly so I say, “Okay, well, I sh—”

Suddenly, my phone vibrates, and I have a message from an unknown number. Before I open it, I know who it is. And the short message that reads, ‘Adrian :),’ is confirmation.

When I look back up at him, he’s slipping his phone into his pocket and taking a step toward me. “In case you ever need a ride or anything else, you have my number now.”

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