Page 46 of Privilege
“So what’s the plan, exactly?” The nervous flutter becomes a nervousbomb.
Rich is rummaging behind the bar counter for more margarita ingredients. “Dunno,” he says. “I can’t drive. Can we sleep here?”
“Oooooooh I’d love to sleep here tonight!” Cara says.
My dick kicks like a mule in response. Rich grins and turns on the blender, green slush slopping up over the sides and all over the bartop. He scowls at it, like it should have known better, and I smile wryly at him.
“You need the lid, dude,” I shout.He’s wasted.
He nods at me and sticks it on but the damage is done, margarita spray coating his chest.
I want to lick you clean.
But he’s already wiped his chest with a tea towel and is stumbling back over with three glasses full to the rim, little cocktail umbrellas tucked behind his ears.
He’s the first to pass out, head in Cara’s lap, her head still in mine. We watch him quietly for a while, until she shifts a bit so we can see each other better.
“I don’t know what the plan is, Dane. But we aren’t going anywhere.” Her voice is soft. Serious. She understood what I was asking them.
“You’re going back to school,” I murmur. “Both of you.”
“We’ll figure it out. You’re quite rich, you know. I don’t feel like travel affordability will be an issue.”
I hesitate. “You’ll want me to come?”
She rolls her eyes. “Dane. Come on.”
I could do that. I could get a place out there, something with an ocean view. I try to ignore the voice saying,That’s not the plan, though, is it?
I scrub my hand down my face. “Let’s see how the rest of the summer plays out.”
You’d never be lucky enough to have that.
She takes my hand. “I want you to come, Dane. And so does Rich. He’s better. With you. Complete, somehow. I could never put my finger on what was missing before, because I didn’t know you.”
I lean my head back on the couch and stare up at the ceiling. “That is very much your loss.”
She gently slides out from under Rich, pivots around and crawls gently onto my lap so she’s straddling me, arms wrapped around my neck. She buries her face in my shoulder, squeezing me tight.
“We’ll figure everything out. Okay?”
I kiss the top of her head absently, lost in thought.
Her body relaxes into mine, her breath warm on my skin. I try to focus on the sensations, on the weight of her, on the smell of her that is permanently altering my brain chemistry.
“One of these days, you’ll trust me enough to tell me what you’re doing in Montauk,” she sighs.
And for one moment, just one second, I let myself believe that maybe I can.
One Year Ago
Dane
Arnold pulls up toLyle’s. The music is pounding, bass cranked as high as it can go, my spine vibrating to the beat and we’re still at the bottom of the driveway.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Arnold says. His stern expression indicates that he thinks this is a terrible idea. “You could, perhaps, speak with him tomorrow.”
I shake my head. “It’s gotta be now, Arnold. Before I lose my nerve.”
