Page 21 of Ask Me To Stay

“It is if you want to try this with me.” He smiled and that’s when our food came.

“You have to know I’m only going to be here for four more days,” I winced before barreling on, “but I’m willing to try whatever this is. Russ the friend was cool. I’ll try Russ the boyfriend.” I popped a shrimp in my mouth.

ooooooooo

Dinner was awkward to put it mildly. Our conversations consisted of the weather, the past, and the bits of food I kept getting stuck on my face. When we finished, Russ suggested a walk up to the ice cream shop.

“So, you’re really leaving in four days?” He nudged my arm as we strolled along the street. There wasn’t much traffic tonight, and it was warm out.

“I only asked for a week from my mom.” I shrugged.

“Don’t you get the whole summer off? I do. I’m staying until August.” His brows furrowed.

“Yeah, but… I only asked for a week,” I reiterated.

“Why?” Russ turned to walk up to the window. We’d reached the ice cream shop at this point, and there was a line.

“I wasn’t planning on this.” I waved my arm between us. “I came down to escape. My life kinda sucks right now.” I kicked at the rocks by my feet, causing one to skip over and hit Russ’s ankle.

“What is up with you trying to inflict pain on me?” He bent down and rubbed the small mark the stone had made.

“Just lucky, I guess.” I giggled and leaned into him. It felt weird being like this. We’ve been friends for so long, and now I feel like every movement is measured and has a double meaning.

When it was our turn, Russ ordered a double fudge cone for me, and a vanilla cone for himself. He directed us over to a walkway that led onto the beach. I slipped my sandals off, and carried them in my free hand as we walked in the soft sand. “Can I tell you something, and you not get mad?”

“That right there says that it’s bad.” Russ sighed.

“Not bad, just not what I’d planned.” I knew I wasn’t making sense, but a lot about today wasn’t normal.

“Fine.” He licked his cone, and I watched, wondering what it would be like to have him lick me like that.

“When we were kids, I always thought about walking down the beach at sunset with my boyfriend. It would be romantic, and we’d hold hands, and then he’d kiss me at the end of the night.” I glanced up him. “Is it bad that I never pictured it being you?” I felt guilty saying that. In my mind it was Casey, but now, I could clearly picture Russ.

“I guess all our fantasies are different.” He turned us, and we faced the water. “When I was kid, I always dreamed of the day you would notice me. I tried to be funny, sensitive, cool, whatever was the in thing at the time for guys with you. It never seemed to matter though.” He finished his cone. “Now, I’ve got four days to show you what you’ve been missing.” He turned to face me, cupped my cheek, and leaned in, brushing his lips lightly over mine. He tasted like vanilla and sugar cone. I stepped closer, forgetting what I was doing, and moved to wrap my arms around his waist. When he yelped, I realized I was still holding my double fudge cone. “Ahhh.” He sighed. “Guess that ends this part of the night.” He stepped back, shaking his head at the same before chancing a look at the nice smudge of ice cream on his back. “You are a mess.” He laughed before reaching behind his neck, and pulling his shirt off the way cool guys do. “Guess laundry day is tomorrow.”

“I planned this.” I tipped my head to the side as I nibbled my bottom lip. I stepped up and placed my palm flat against his chest. “I like this shirt better.” I rose up on my tiptoes, this time keeping my arm holding the ice cream as far away from us as possible, and planted my lips against his. I licked at them, and when he opened, I tossed my cone to the ground, and jumped into his arms. “This is much better than any fantasy I could have dreamed up in my teenage mind,” I mumbled against his lips. “Let’s go back to your place and relive some more.” I bit lightly on his lip and pulled. He growled, and started speed walking back to the walkway.

When we reached the path back to the parking lot, he let me slide down his front. When my feet hit the ground, I slipped into my sandals, and we rushed back to his truck. It seemed to take forever, but in reality, it was only a few minutes.

ooooooooo

“Are you sure about this?” Russ glanced over his shoulder at me as he fumbled with the lock on the front door.

“Sure about what?” I watched his face morph into some confusion. “What do you think we’re doing?”

“You said fantasy. My fantasies of you involve a bed and very little clothing.” His eyes widened.

“We’re not doing that tonight.” I crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn’t prepared for sex. I needed to clean and polish everything up. I hadn’t been with a man in a few weeks. When David ended things, I kinda took myself outta commission in that aspect.

“What are we doing, then?” The door opened, and Taco came rushing out.

“Hey, boy.” I squatted down and scratched his ears as I was covered in puppy kisses. “Oh, you’re a good boy.”

“Great, the dog is getting more action than me.” Russ tossed his hands in the air as he stepped over the threshold.

“You’ll get action, just not that,” I yelled to his retreating form. “Come on boy, Daddy needs some attention too.” I stood and Taco followed me inside. When I rounded the corner, Russ was bent over, staring into the refrigerator. “What are you doing?” I giggled.

“Getting something to help with this crash landing you just gave me,” he muttered.

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