Page 42 of Rebound With Me
Uh oh.I do not want to know what that means.
He lies down across the mattress, as if this conversation has exhausted him. I reach out to touch his hand. He plays with my fingers, before saying: “At least you’ve been in love.”
“You haven’t?”
He shakes his head. “Not yet.” He presses his hand up against mine. “I may be aninsensitive big baby.”
I lie down beside him. “I think you’re so much more than that.”
His arm curls around my waist as he rests his forehead against my arm.
There’s a silence growing between us, but it’s not a question mark, it’s an ellipsis...we both know there’s a connection, we both know what’s going to happen next and we’re both hovering here in the remaining space between us before the amazing idea of me and him becomes something real. The real thing will either be incredibly beautiful or beautifully terrible, but I am willing to let this man break my heart. It’s a given that it will happen, eventually, but at least I know that the journey to this heartbreak will feel good enough to make the pain worth it.
All those feelings I tucked away years ago for safe-keeping? I’m unlocking the chest and it’s up to Vince to decide if he can handle what’s inside, but he’s the first and I secretly wish he could be the last man I ever open it up for. How could I not?
He’s tracing little circles around my belly with his fingertips.
“Hey?”
“Yeah?”
“Should we go somewhere? Some place in public where we can talk and get to know each other, without the potential for engaging in sexual activity?”
“That place doesn’t exist in my world, darlin’.”
“I mean if you don’t want to be seen in public with me…”
His head pops up. “What? Are you insane?”
“Well…”
He sits up and stares down at me. “Why wouldn’t I want to be seen with you?”
“Because you’re cool and I’m not.”
“Oh right. Meet me by my locker at lunch and we’ll walk to the cafeteria together. We can hang out at the brass doors after school, but my cool friends will probably ignore you.”
“Yeah, I wish I hadn’t said that out loud.”
“If you’re free on Saturday night, I’d like to take you to a party. My partner, Eve, is having a big birthday party. She’s turning thirty-five. Should be a rager.”
“Oh gosh, I don’t know if I can handle a rager.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be the one handling you.”
I punch his arm.
“All night long, baby.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good. It’s a date. Come on. I wanna show you something.”
I give him a look.
“It’s not my dick. Get your mind out of the gutter and put your clothes on.”
