Page 46 of Every Inch of You
“I like your place. This is a goodstreet.”
“Yeah, I likeit.”
“It’s very pink inhere.”
“Well. I needed to make a statement after the ex moved out. Also, I find itsoothing.”
He seemed uncomfortable with the mention of “the ex.” I likedthat.
“Let’s get this stuff into the kitchen. What’d youbring?”
“Donuts from Tonalli’s and ice cream from Salt &Straw.”
I fucking love you.“For dinner? You are definitely sending me mixed messages as a personal trainer.”And in every wayimaginable.
“I’m notyourpersonal trainer anymore. Cheat big or gohome.”
I grinned. “In that case…why don’t we have hot fudgesundaes?”
“Don’t push it,Sparks.”
“Gimme that.” I couldn’t believe he brought me ice cream. He got my favorite flavors. Heremembered.
“Here, take a probiotics supplement and a digestive enzyme first.” He handed me two little plastic pill boxes that he kept in his jacketpocket.
“You carry those around with you? That is sohot.”
“Shut up. I have a world class digestive system.” He patted his stomach and it sounded like slapping awall.
“It’s my favorite thing aboutyou.”
He brought spoons and napkins so I didn’t have to do anything but eat. We ate in front of the TV and I gobbled up one of everything, promising to get up early to jog again tomorrow, but knowing that I wouldn’t and not feeling bad about it atall.
Eventually, Justin Timberlake came out to see who this other man was. Brad got very still and waited for my cat to approach him. “Wow,” he said, quietly. “He really does look like Justin Timberlake. That’s insane. Hey buddy.” He held his hand out, palm down, like I showed him, and waited for JT to come over and sniff his fingers before patting him on the head. My cat leaned into his hand, and I was sorelieved.
I almost asked him if he wanted to go to my sister’s wedding with me then. But Ididn’t.
Once JT got used to Brad’s smell, he crawled under the sofa for the rest of thenight.
Brad watched me scrape the bottom of the sea salt and caramel ice cream container, amused. I was shocked and impressed that he didn’t criticize me for the fervor with which I consumed all that artisanal junk food. “Good,huh?”
“I’m glad I didn’t wear jeanstonight.”
“I like what you are wearing,” he said, raising hiseyebrows.
I licked my spoon and put everything on the coffee table, while Brad put his hands on my thighs. I shivered, because his fingers were still cold from holding the ice cream containers, but also because Brad touching my bare skin always made mequiver.
“Whatcha got on underthis?”
“Why don’t we move to the bedroom before I reveal that. I don’t want to rock this sofa with JT underit.”
“Lead the way,” hesaid.
“Fuck, what are you wearing?”
Under my easy-access swing dress I wore a pair of black lace bikini panties that I’d recently purchased at a local boutique. It was a “peek-a-boo” bikini that made my lower lady bits easily accessibletoo.
With one swift move, he had me on my back with one leg up over his shoulder, and he was kissing me through my peek-a-boopanties.
