Page 18 of Falling for Roxanne

“Sorry,” he said. I swallowed hard. Then I stepped back.

“Are you parked over on the side lot?” he said.

I nodded, my mouth too dry to speak. He looked at me seriously, as if he were studying my face to memorize it for a moment. I couldn’t help it. I licked my lips, wanting him to kiss me, wanting my lips to part beneath his. I ached for him, and it was as hopeless as it was stupid. I swayed a little.

For an instant, I swear he dipped his face toward mine, just an inch or two before he thought better of it and withdrew. I wanted to scream and stamp my foot. I wanted him to kiss me, to do more than kiss me, in fact. He walked with me to the parking lot and stood by while I unlocked my car and started it. I rolled down the window, “Thank you,” I managed to croak out.

“Thank you for staying late. Drive safely,” he said, just as formally, just as professionally as if a two second brush of his arm hadn’t just nearly made me moan. I cleared my throat and nodded.

It was going to be a long night, and a long semester for that matter. I was going to have to buy an economy pack of batteries for my vibrator, that was for sure. Because I knew I’d be picturing him with those sleeves rolled up, masterful and sure of himself, doing all sorts of things to me. Things he’d never do in real life, unfortunately.

CHAPTER 11

HAMILTON

I had given in and let Colin spend the night with his cousins at my sister’s place. He was looking forward to watching a Spiderman movie and making cookies. I didn’t like having him gone overnight, and I missed him. But I took the opportunity to get together with my friends. We went to a bar near campus and ordered some greasy food and pitchers of beer.

I was on my second drink, listening to Aaron tell a hilarious story about a girl who came in for a fitness assessment that morning.

“She’s in my kinesiology class, and she showed up at the gym, wanting me personally to assess her fitness level,” he said, shaking his head.

“Let me guess,” Kyle said. “She had on something skimpy, and her idea of a fitness assessment was taking a shower together?”

“Something like that, probably, but she started out with some stretching that involved showing me that she could pull her leg up behind her head.”

“That sounds painful,” I commented.

“She was all, ‘I can hold it this way for a long time.’ Like I was going to start something with her because she was flexible or something,” Aaron said.

“Didn’t you go out with a student last year?”

“One date, and it was after the semester was over,” he protested. “I followed the rules. Also, it wasn’t worth it because if someone from the administration saw us together, they’d think it was inappropriate. I decided it wasn’t worth the stress. I felt weird about it, like those creeps that wait for girls to turn eighteen so it’s technically legal.” He took a drink.

“Was she eighteen?” I asked.

“No, she was like twenty-three. But still. I didn’t feel good about it. No offense, Kyle. Or, um, you either, Drake,” Aaron said.

“No, please, go ahead and imply that I’m a predator. I’ll let my wife kick your ass,” Kyle laughed.

“I realize it’s different with you guys,” he said, sounding a little dubious about it. “But you’re happy. And that’s what matters.”

“I’m going to pretend you don’t sound like we did something shady,” Drake said, taking a drink, “or like you didn’t tell me to go after Carla while I could still get it up.”

“It’s not my fault you’re old,” Aaron laughed. “I was just looking out for you. I didn’t want you having to hunt for a wife when you were bald and impotent.”

“Believe me, that’s a long way off. My wife has no complaints,” Drake said.

“Please stop,” I laughed. “We don’t want to hear tales of how virile you are.”

“Speak for yourself,” Rick said. “I’d love to hear the dirty details. Save money on my porn subscription.” He laughed.

“Hey, if you want to fantasize about Drake, keep that information to yourself,” I razzed him. He rolled his eyes.

We were talking shit and laughing when I went quiet, having spotted Roxanne walk into the bar with the girl she sat with in my class, her roommate Cathy. Roxanne was wearing a white top tied up, showing a sliver of stomach, and a pair of jeans that looked like they were painted on.

Rick elbowed me. “Dude, go talk to her or else quit staring like a creeper. You know her?”

“Yeah, she’s the intern at my firm.”

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