Chase accepts the takeout bag and gets out to let me drive. After wincing when I sit down, I crank up the heat and start driving.

“Sorry if the soup’s cold.”

Chase slides the chopsticks from their wrapper and digs in. “Still tasty.”

“You know how to use chopsticks?” I ask.

“I grew up here. You go to enough Asian restaurants, you pick it up.”

“They have forks.”

“Wuss.”

“Can you eat any louder?” I ask after he shovels large mouthfuls of noodle.

“I’m hungry. So who’s this guy anyway?”

“Said his name was Jack.”

“Jack what?”

“I don’t know. Why do I need his last name? I’m not dating him.”

“You don’t want to look him up on the internet? He seems loaded. Bet that would make your parents happy.”

“My dad’s set on Kenton,” I remind Chase.

“So if you and Jack aren’t dating, does that mean you’re not seeing him again?”

I smile broadly. “Actually, I’m meeting him tomorrow night.”

“Lucky you.”

“I know, right?”

I beam the whole ride home. When I make it home, I encounter my dad in the hallway. He’s dressed in a suit.

“Why are you back so late?” he demands.

“I was hanging out with Aleisha,” I reply. It’s the truth. I was with Aleisha, just not the whole time.

“Aleisha. Who’s Aleisha?”

I can tell he’s not keen on the sound of the name.

“A girl I met when we first moved out here. She’s really cool. You should meet her.”

“I’m busy,” my dad replies. “In fact, I’ve got to hop on a call with someone in Saudi Arabia.”

No wonder he’s in a suit at this hour of the night. I yawn, wish him good night, and head to my room.

After changing out of my clothes, I lie in bed thinking about Jack. The hours are going to pass by so slowly. I’m too excited at first to sleep, so I text Aleisha that Jack agreed to play with me again. I don’t get a response because Aleisha might be asleep. I hug myself. There’s something about Jack that’s so magnetic, apart from how he can inflict such delicious pain to my backside. I’m used to brash, cocky men. Jack is so…quiet. But he’s no less confident. Maybe even more so because he doesn’t feel the need to show off.

I think about my still burning ass and wonder what he has planned for me tomorrow. He had said something during our play that he already expected me to blow him, or something to that effect. But I never got to touch him. He didn’t even take off his shirt, like he hadn’t broken a sweat. What does he look like without clothes?

I recall the orgasm I had. I want another. Like, right now. Getting out of my bed, I dig through my dresser drawer for my vibrator. I replay the scene with Jack. It was definitely my favorite birthday gift.

My climax with the vibrator takes the edge off my need, but it’s nothing compared to my orgasm with Jack. At least I feel more relaxed now. I drift off to sleep wondering what Jack will do with me tomorrow night.