Page 36 of Is This for Real?
The song ends.
“Break?” he asks in my ear. I nod.
He sits down at a banquette and pulls me onto his lap where I fit well. His arms enfold me, and I lean against his chest. Rory whispers to me, “Curls, you know you’re my girl, right?”
I look up. He lowers his head. His lips are inches from mine.
My heart skitters. And I panic. I’m afraid. I’m afraid to jump into this with Rory. I duck my head. I nuzzle into his neck and don’t respond. Or maybe Immm. His arms are around me, stroking my back. Now I know what that romance book was talking about—my whole body is on fire. I keep my head buried into his neck. He smells of laundry and Rory. I don’t want it to stop. My heart is pounding, but I also feel a pit in my stomach. I can’t lose Rory, too.
Rory’s hand stills.
“Are you going to keep hiding in my neck?” he asks. His voice sounds deep, but less tipsy; he doesn’t sound angry, though, more amused.
I nod, keeping my head down.
“Why?”
“Shy,” I say into his neck.
He nods. He kisses the top of my head. “Shall I put you in a cab to go home?”
I nod. I peek up at him. He smiles at me. “C’mon.” I stand, and he takes my hand. We say goodbye to those colleagues still in the club.
It’s brisk outside, and I zipper up my coat. The wind hits my legs, and it’s freezing. I should say something. He hails a cab.
Rory looks at my legs as my dress whips around. “You need a longer coat if you’re going to keep wearing those short skirts.”
Another point for Zelda. He noticed.
He kisses me on the cheek and opens the cab door for me.
As I slide into the cab, I look back. Our glances meet, but there are no answers to be had. Fake dating is a dangerous game. I am so confused. I don’t know what I want. I don’t want to get hurt again. And I don’t want to lose my friendship with Rory like I lost my friendship with Jamie. We’re too different to last in a long-term relationship. He’s more emotionally open than me. For it to work, I would really have to reveal all my emotions. That’s the thing with Rory—he would ask that of me. He wouldn’t be content with a façade or keeping it on the surface. Jamie might be, but not Rory.
And why is he suddenly interested in me? When we were with Callie, he didn’t want to pretend that I was his girlfriend.
The cab drops me off at my door. I tiptoe into the apartment. Benson shuffles up to sniff me. Zelda is asleep, so I won’t get the third degree about our date. And if I told her that I turned Rory down, she’d never understand. I don’t even understand. I hope I didn’t hurt him. I feel slightly nauseous at that thought.
Chapter eleven
I’mwalkingCleo,ablack Lab mix, along Central Park West. Cleo stops short as she spots another dog down the block. She is now lying in wait to meet the other dog; she’s low on the ground, alert, tail wagging. She’s submissive, as if she’s one of those females who needs to be pursued. All demure.But no.
“She’s going to lunge,” I call out to the approaching dog owner, who looks confused.
And indeed, as soon as the other dog nears, Cleo lunges, scaring the hell out of the other dog and its owner. It’s not the most successful approach.
As I am trying to hold Cleo back, my phone rings. It’s Rory. I pick up.
“I’m sorry,” I say to the other dog owner. “She’s friendly, just enthusiastic.”
“Look, I’m sorry about last night. I forgot the rules.” Rory’s voice is low in my ear.
“No, no, I’m sorry,” I say.
The other dog owner starts to pull her dog away. “Not friendly?” she asks.
“No, no, very friendly. My dog is friendly.” My leash tangles with hers. Cleo is back down, wanting to play. “Maybe if I go under you.”
“I think that was definitely against the rules.” A slight laugh lifts his voice.
