Page 66 of Whirlwind
“Is it like that every time?” I ask when I’m able to find my voice again.
Tyson falls alongside me, removing the condom and tying the end before he drops it to the floor.
“No, but it should be,” he says, craning his head to look at me. “You’re amazing.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“Don’t sell it short. You vanquished a demon,” he tells me, his own eyes misting up.
“Thank you for being my sword,” I say, then wince. “This is a really weird time for me to be imagining aDungeons and Dragonsscenario. Sorry.”
I bury my face in his laughing chest, and he holds me until I doze off.
16
Kit
Five days later, I still haven’t told Willa. It didn’t seem right texting her that I finally had sex. Over the years, she’s been my biggest cheerleader in gaining confidence and control in my life. She’s the only person who knew my desires and my fears. The news deserves to be delivered in person.
Besides, we’ve both been busy. She’s been down in the capitol fighting for a new law to be passed that helps victims of domestic abuse obtain easier restraining orders, while I’ve been in a two-day online conference for a new data visualization program. It’s more complicated and in-depth than what we currently use, but once we’ve learned it, I think we’ll be able to do some cool things with it.
I haven’t seen much of Tyson since that morning, either. He spent that day with his family, then, they were on a short road trip. Tonight, he’s taking me out on what he’s calling our first official date.
It seems unnecessary to me. I mean, we’ve had sex—we’ve already put the cart before the horse. He’s insistent, though, saying he wants to give me the experiences I never had. Willa thinks I’m not used to the attention or being pampered, so the idea of an extravagant date makes me uncomfortable.
She’s right, though I hate admitting that. Mostly because it’s a reminder of the years I spent alone, fending for myself, trying tostay quiet and unseen. My father is an angry man, and I was a reminder of the woman who left him. I paid the price for what he perceived as her betrayal. For a long time, I felt betrayed by her, too. As I grew older, I understood why she would want to leave him, and I could no longer blame her. I only wished she had taken me with her.
That isn’t a subject I want weighing heavy on me tonight, though. Roughly twenty-five percent of children are raised by single parents. I wasn’t an anomaly. Tyson, by being as understanding as he has been, has earned the right to a night with a woman who isn’t shrouded in her childhood trauma.
I’m meeting up with Willa today for brunch and shopping, because what the hell do I know about preparing for a date? She says I need a new outfit, but it’s mostly just an excuse for us to have some much-needed bestie time.
Walking into Ludi’s, my fingers twitch at my side, wanting to clutch up into fists, and I laugh at myself. Willa has never been anything but understanding of me. Yet, I worry that she’ll think I’ve moved too quickly.
Because I worry that I have. Not when I’m with Tyson, but in his absence, my mind wanders and wonders.
I see her at a booth toward the back; she’s already got a coffee and an orange juice waiting for me.
“It’s like you know me or something,” I tease, taking my seat.
“Lucky guess,” she says with a wink. “Hi, friend.”
“Hey, bestie. Long time, no see.”
“It sure as hell feels like it. I love my guys, but I miss hanging out with you every day, too.”
“Right? It’s not the same, now that I can’t walk down the hall to pester you about some silly new thing I learned.”
“Nothing you learn is silly,” she says as the server comes by to take our food orders. We both order the Ube pancakes. “My knowledge of weird facts is definitely lacking since I moved into Damian’s house.”
“But your orgasms aren’t, that has to make up for it.”
“It sure helps,” she says, looking at me curiously. “How’syourorgasm situation?”
“Jeez, is it written on my forehead?”
“Kit,” she whisper-shouts. “How far have you gone?”
“All the way,” I say, grimacing because I sound like a teenager.
