Page 64 of The Import Slot
“How many other girls have I slept with in the last two years? None. It’s been just her, mate. Just her.”
He drains his mug and sets it down, and I think he’s going to call it there, but he keeps talking for another hour about how she’s the one for him and that he can’t even think about sleeping with anyone else. Then he does a complete one-eighty and reaches a decision he wants to share.
“Right, mate, after our game tomorrow, we’ll get back here and go out on the pull. Us lads.”
“Nah, man. I’m not interested. I’m supposed to be focused on hockey, not women.” Or a woman, in my case. As soon as I’ve said it, I feel a pang of regret.
“What about Jen? Are you just leading her on?”
“No, she knows what’s up; anyway, we won’t get back ’til late. Isn’t it a four-hour drive?” I say.
“Shit yeah, actually, I’ll text the group now and see if the boys fancy it during the week.”
He pulls out his phone and taps away then I feel my phone vibrate again.
“Right, that’s settled,” he says. “I’m off to bed. At least I’ve got something to look forward to. Thanks for listening, mate. You’re a good friend.” He sets his mug in the sink and pauses, adding, “I am sorry about before too.” And then he disappears into his room.
I can’t get to my room quick enough. As I slip inside, I can see straight away that Jen is asleep. I can’t blame her, of course. The side lamp is on, and she’s pulled the bedcovers right up to her chin.
I can see she’s let her hair down. It looks so smooth down her back as she faces away from my side. I strip down to just my boxers and slip into bed, moving close to her and pulling her toward me. PJs? Really?
“Hey, babe,” I whisper.
“Hmmm?” she stirs before answering. She rolls over and blinks a few times to adjust her eyes to the light. We’re lying facing each other now, and she scoots closer and plants a tender kiss on my lips.
“Is Danny okay? I thought I heard him crying?” she asks.
“Not really. He’s brokenhearted. He saw Becca on a date, but Becca just acted like Danny was nothing to her by the sound of it.” I sigh before filling her in with the rest of the details.
“For fuck’s sake. Poor Danny,” she says, shaking her head. Then she reaches over and grabs her phone, but then puts it back. “I think I’ll speak to Becca tomorrow and find out what’s happening.”
“Hey, are you still on that dating app?” I ask. Ever since Danny mentioned it, it’s been on my mind.
“Well, I haven’t deleted it, but I haven’t gone on there either,” she says. “I’d just compare everyone to you like that shit show with Zane.”
“Well, I am kind of a big deal,” I say with a grin.
She laughs; it’s the laugh I love to hear. “You’re such a twat.” She bumps my arm with her fist playfully, and we giggle, relaxing into a kiss.
“Are you ever going to tell me the full story of what happened on that date with Zane?”
“No. It’s firmly locked in my ‘dates to forget’ box,” she says as she taps her temple.
“Let me give you a date to remember,” I say.
She rolls her eyes at me.
“Come here,” I say, rolling onto her and resting my elbows on either side of her head. I lean in and kiss her, and she kisses me back. I’ve been waiting for moments like this my entire life, moments where nothing else matters. I roll onto my back and pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her.
“Oh my god, you’re so warm!” she says, rolling away, laughing.
I reposition myself on my side and look at her.
“It’s probably because you have so many clothes on,” I say.
“Nah,” she rolls onto her side, too, so we’re facing each other, and she’s back within my reach.
I move my right arm to run my hand up the side of her body, brushing my fingers just under her breasts before she gently pushes my shoulder so I’m lying on my back. She scoots in again and props her head up with her hand, her other tracing my chest, sneaking lower.
