Page 43 of Defect
“Do you have any tattoos?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “One. It’s big though.”
“It’s big?” I looked her up and down and shook my head. “I’ve seen you in shorts and tank tops and never once did I see a big tat on you. You’re only big as a fucking minute. Where is it?”
“Can’t tell you.” She winked and my chest burned. My fingers twitched with the need to peel away her clothes until I found the treasure I was seeking.
“So I need to take you swimming is what you’re telling me?”
“I’m down. Let me know when.”
“Monday. After work.”
“I have a class at the college on Monday. They have a pool. Come register for classes and we can go for a dip afterward.” She leaned forward and I stared at her pretty face. Her eyelashes were impossibly long. She looked like a doll baby. My gaze climbed down her face, lingering a bit on the beauty mark on her cheek.
“Deal.”
“Good. I get to see you in swim trunks.” She bit her bottom lip then shoved a forkful of food in her mouth. She was pushing it. I couldn’t pretend like I didn’t know she was flirting with me. I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t flirting with her either.
We both knew better.
“Not like you haven’t seen me shirtless before.”
“I know but there’s something about swim trunks that make it even better. You know…from a friend’s point of view.”
“Yeah whatever, Solo.”
“What? Maybe I like having a friend that also serves as eye candy.”
“Remember to look and not touch. I’m too young. Too young and too broken.” Solana’s smile slipped away and she shook her head at me.
“Ezra, you’re not broken and if you were twenty-one I probably would act like I didn’t have any morals. I love your personality. I love the way your mind works. Nothing that I’ve seen from you so far scares me away…besides the fact that you’re a baby.”
Our eyes locked. Her brandy gaze on mine.
“So in another lifetime…” I let my words hang in the air. Her fingers danced across my knuckles while her eyes drilled into me.
“In another lifetime we’d light up the sky with the energy between us.” I saw a flash of sadness in her eyes and I wanted to chase it away with a sword and shield. I didn’t know how to be a knight in shining armor but for Solana, I’d learn to be whatever she needed.
“We do have crazy energy,” I agreed.
“We do. That’s why we’ll have to settle for being amazing, beautiful friends.”
“We’re going to have to have this conversation a million times because every time I look at you, I forget what platonic means. Defective brain…remember?” I tapped my forehead and cracked a smile.
“Ezra Fredericks, are you making jokes on your own behalf?”
“I am.”
“Good. Laughter is the best medicine.” I could think of something else that would top medicine but I kept my mouth shut.
The entire time Solana and I ate and laughed, I kept playing the songNext Lifetimeby Erykah Badu in my head. I’d look for her in every corner of the world next lifetime.
Sometimes you know when you’ve found something special and Solana was special to me. I knew if I ever was able to have a normal relationship that I’d always compare every woman to her. I never even had the chance to taste her lips or be inside of her and I was already ruined for every other woman in the world.
“Thank you for lunch, Solo,” I said before getting out of the car. As much as I hated to see her leave, I was glad to climb out of that tiny ass tin can she drove around in. I was too tall for that shit.
“No problem. I guess I should leave before your mother comes back.”
