Page 9 of Pretend to be Mine
“That’s true. It’s taken me days just to make the little dent I have.”
“See? And we’re already on the last box for the kitchen.”
After the kitchen we move onto the living room. She places books on the shelf while I stack up CDs and movies. She looks over her shoulder at me and snorts.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she says, shaking her head with a smirk.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s just that…nobody has CDs anymore. What are you, fifty?”
I can’t help but smile at her playful tone. “I know, I know. Everyone downloads everything now, but I have thousands of dollars of CDs here. What are you suggesting, throwing them away and buying them all over again but in digital form?”
“No, but I mean, maybe your favorites.” She walks over and starts looking through the selection. “Salt-N-Pepa?” She starts laughing.
“Hey!” I say, jerking the case out of her hands. “This is basically an antique.”
“No way you’re old enough to be into that.”
I roll my eyes. “It was my older sisters’. I wanted a CD collection when I was younger, and she gave me everything she was tired of.”
“So, why do you still have it? Don’t tell me you actually listen to it.”
“I don’t,” I lie, sliding the case onto the shelf.
She smirks and rolls her eyes, but lets it go as she gets back to the books.
By the time the living room is emptied of all boxes, it’s getting late. I had completely lost track of time. “How about I order a pizza to thank you for helping?”
Savannah checks her watch. “Okay, sure.” She tosses an empty box into the corner of the room with the rest of them and flops down onto the couch. “You should order it from Zorella’s, they’re amazing.”
I take her suggestion before grabbing us two beers from the fridge. I sit next to her on the couch and turn on a baseball game. I’m curious to see if she actually knows sports as well as she says she does, but to my surprise, she’s right there with me, yelling at the TV and rooting her team on.
The doorbell rings and I get up and pay for the pizza. I set it on the coffee table. “I’ll grab some plates.”
“Who needs plates?” she asks, sitting up and flipping the lid on the box open. “Not me.” She grabs a slice and sits back, eyes glued to the TV as she watches.
I laugh. “Guess I should’ve figured that out after seeing you with that pie.”
Savannah smiles. “I’m telling you, it’s the only way to eat it. When we split one, you can put your half on a plate and see how much it changes the taste.”
I smile and agree.
The two of us watch the game, eat, and drink a few beers before she calls it a night. “I can’t believe it’s already going on ten.”
I check my watch, surprised by the time. “Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this late already.”
“Yeah, time flies when you're hammered.”
I scoff. “I’m nowhere near hammered,” I say, following her to the door.
“Thanks for the pizza and booze. And pie!” She opens the door and pauses.
I laugh. “Thanks for helping me unpack. Same time tomorrow? Still got the bedroom and office.”
“Ha! Not on your life, pal. Now you can cook and sleep. My conscience is clear.”
I smile. “Good night, Savannah.”
She gives me a smile that makes my heart race. “Night, Ben.”
I watch her walk into the darkness towards her house before I close and lock the door. I clean up the coffee table, which is littered with our beer bottles and uneaten pizza, before shutting down the house and retiring to the bedroom. I decide to shower before bed tonight, and the moment I close my eyes to wash my hair, her face is all I can see. My heart quickens, and my body comes alive. I imagine kissing her goodnight, maybe pulling her back inside where I can press her back against the wall. My eyes pop open, clearing the idea from my head completely.
I’m confused by the overwhelming feeling to take things further with her. In the last seven years, I’ve never had this happen before. But I guess I never allowed myself to get this close to a woman either. I tell myself that it’s lack of sex more than anything, so I take care of the problem at hand, like I usually do when the need arises, and I climb out of the shower feeling looser, more at ease. The alcohol in my system, the excitement of the day, and the recent release is enough to have sleep tugging at me the moment I slide into bed.
