Page 16 of Love Triangle
“How the heck did you learn to cook so darn good?”
“My mom was a terrible cook when I was little. She got sick when I was older and decided before she died, she was going to learn to do it well, and she wanted me to learn too so I wouldn’t be useless in the kitchen. I did okay, but after she died, I kept learning until I was good enough to feed a family, should I ever have one. I certainly don’t feed myself well though.” His nose wrinkles as he cringes in embarrassment. “It’s basically gas station food most days.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s not good.” I suck air through my teeth and shake my head.
“I know. I’m just so focused on other stuff and it seems such a waste to make a lot of food for one person. But I think we should stop talking about how unhealthy I am and we should talk about you instead.”
“Terrible segue, but I’ll allow it,” I laugh.
“Sorry, sorry. We just have talked a lot about me and not about you. I want to know more about you.” He smiles at me, and I can’t help but blush a little. He’s so dang cute.
“Well. Besides the fact that I like salsa, and pie, I like things that aren’t food.”
“Wow, really? Amazing!” He slaps his hand to his chest in faux shock.
“It’s true.” Okay. What can I tell him? Now he’s going to expect something real. “I really like animals. When I was young, I went to veterinary school but decided it wasn’t for me. Too hard to see the animals in pain. I’m just a wuss, I guess.”
“It’s okay to have a soft heart. Not everyone can be the strong one. Besides, there are lots of ways to be strong. I bet you have plenty of them.” He fiddles with the hem of my dress, and I wonder if he even realizes he’s doing it.
“Well. I guess I’ve always been good about staying calm in emergencies. Like if there’s an oven fire, I never panic, I just put it out. Or when someone needs help, I just do what’s got to be done. Does that count as being strong?” I twirl the ends of my hair nervously.
“It certainly does. If there wasn’t someone like you in a crowd when something bad happened who would be calm enough to call 911 or give CPR or something? We need people like you. So, you may not have been able to do vet work but it doesn’t mean you’re weak.” His smile is ridiculously bright now that the sun is fully out and shining on his face. “I love animals too, by the way. I have a cat named Pytha, after the Pythagorean theorem.”
“That’s so nerdy. So, so nerdy.” I can’t help but laugh.
“Well, what’s your dog’s name?” he asks, affronted.
“His name is Plato. A perfectly normal name.”
“Plato is a nerdy name too. There are so many nerdy facts about Plato I don’t even know where to begin. Did you know he thought that each element was sort of represented by a shape? He thought my favorite shape, the tetrahedron, was fire.” He continues to mess with the hem of my dress absentmindedly as we talk.
“That’s beyond nerdy that you even know that.” I raise my eyebrow.Add the fact that his favorite shape is apparently the one I become every night to the list of “coincidences.”
“I only bring it up because I have a new favorite shape now.”
“Ok?” What a weird thing to say.
“Mhm. Yours.” His eyes drift down to where he’s rubbing the hem of my dress. Letting go of it, he slowly, so slowly, slips those two fingers under the hem to stroke the bare skin of my thigh.
I inhale sharply half in surprise at how forward he’s being and half because of how good his touch feels. Each pass along my flesh feels electric, hot, like whips of flame intended to please, yet still so gentle.
“That was the weirdest and nerdiest way to try to get in my pants I’ve ever heard,” I try to sass back, but the way my breath shudders out of me betrays me.
“I’m glad you’re not wearing pants then, so I don’t have to worry about getting you out of them.” He catches the edge of my skirt on his thumb and pulls it up with the stroke of his fingers, revealing more of my thighs. “Is this alright?”
His eyes flit to mine, seeking permission. I don’t exactly know what he wants, but I know whatever it is I want it too. I nod, waiting to find out what happens next.
Chapter Eighteen – Trig
Wow, I didn’t expect to move this fast. I don’t know what came over me. As soon as I accidentally touched her thigh, it was like my head went blank and then all I could think about was touching her more. And she’sletting me.This is amazing.
When she nods, I lift her dress a little bit more, just a fraction of an inch at a time. I want to give her time to stop me if she wants to, and admittedly I’m enjoying the reveal. Continuing my perusal, I find a tiny freckle on the side of her right thigh. Pale stretch marks softly crawl up the sides of her inner and outer thighs, reminiscent of the ghosts of vines. I want to trace them all with my tongue.
Finally, I see a peek of yellow satin panties, just the tiniest bit where her legs are first pressed together. Dropping to my elbows to get a closer look, Crystal gasps and squeezes her thighs tighter together. Looking up, I meet her nervous eyes again.
“Crystal, if I’m moving too fast, it’s okay to tell me to stop. Just say so.” My voice is raspy but still sure.
“No, it’s fine. I promise. It’s just that I haven’t dated anyone in a long time, let alone…been withanyone.” She looks embarrassed, so I figure I might as well tell her my truth too.
