Playing the Player(65)
He stared at my lips, so I bit down harder, wondering why it was taking him forever to just say yes. Or no.
He squeezed his eyes shut then opened them and gave me a bone-melting smile. “Sure. Whatever you want to do. Who else is going?”
I shrugged. “Just me.”
He frowned. “You go to movies by yourself?”
I nodded, embarrassed. I did a lot of things by myself, especially on nights when Mom was working and Desi was busy with Trey.
“Okay.” He nodded. “So, maybe I can just come up to your place now? We can hang out for a while, then go to the movie.” His lips curved into a seductive smile.
I knew what he was hoping for if we hung out in my apartment. Not that I objected to more kissing. But I wasn’t sure what I’d do if he wanted more than that. Plus my mom was asleep in her bedroom, recovering from her night shift.
“Um, my mom’s home,” I said. “Sleeping. She worked a night shift. I don’t want to wake her.”
“Oh.” His face fell.
“Maybe we could…go somewhere else?”
His expression brightened. “My parents are out tonight. We can go there. Jump in the pool…” His voice trailed away. “Sorry. We don’t have to swim if you don’t want to.”
Half-naked in a pool together? Just the two of us, without the perky housewives and skinny guy like before? I swallowed and stared at my lap. Was I afraid to be alone with him? Not afraid, exactly, but…overwhelmed at the possibilities.
I pictured Desi’s knowing smile and heard her tell me to get the hell out of my apartment. Saw Mom tucking away Brian’s candles until next year’s anniversary. Heard Slade’s clear, strong voice singing to me on the mall.
I took a breath. “Let’s do it. I mean, you can swim. I can make sure your shallow end complies with all state and local regulations.”
He laughed and put a hand on my thigh, rubbing his thumb in circles on my skin. “You sure?” His voice was low and husky.
I nodded, half-expecting my skin to smoke from the fire he was stirring up inside me. “I’ll just grab my swimsuit. Be right back.” I leaped out of the car.
Inside my apartment, I glanced in the mirror, wondering if I looked different now that I’d been kissed so hard I thought I might burst. I still looked like me, but like a high def version of me, with brighter colors and sharper contrasts. Or maybe it wasn’t me who’d changed, but the way I saw things.
Slade smiled at me as I slid into the car. “That was fast.”
Did I look too eager? Desperate? I buckled my seat belt. I had no idea how to play this game, or whatever we were doing. Everything in me hoped it wasn’t just a summer fling that was only happening because we were forced to spend so much time together.
“What movie do you want to see?” he asked as we drove.
I hesitated. I doubted he’d be up for the chick flick I’d been planning to see. “Maybe The Takedown?” I named the latest action movie.
He glanced at me, surprised. “I thought you’d want to see the one set at a witch college. With the frat house full of hot demons.”
I laughed with surprise. “Actually, that’s my first choice.”
His brow furrowed. “Then why didn’t you say so?”
“Because I didn’t think you’d want to see it.”
He pulled into his driveway and turned toward me. “I’m horning in on your plans, remember?” He grinned. “Besides, I like chick flicks. Just don’t tell anyone.”
“That makes two secrets I’m keeping. Show tunes and chick flicks. I might need some incentive.”
“I’ll think of something to buy your silence.” He leered at me. Actually leered. I’d never been on the receiving end of one before, but I knew it when I saw it. “Come on.”
He took my hand as we walked up the driveway, lacing his fingers through mine and squeezing gently.
I didn’t know what we were doing or what any of this meant. But I intended to follow it all the way through, because for the first time in forever, I felt fully alive.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Slade
Friday, July 12
It’s been three weeks since I first kissed Trina. As Alex reminds me daily, it’s a personal best in terms of relationship duration, other than Kristen. And what I feel for Trina is light years beyond what I ever felt for Kristen.
We’ve taken Max and Gilly to Elitch’s Six Flags, The Wildlife Experience, Dinosaur Ridge, the Children’s Museum, and the zoo (again). Max and Trina are slowly moving out of their comfort zones, so we spent a day in Heritage Square doing the alpine slide, and I’ve almost got them talked into zip-lining.
There’ve been two stripping/swimsuit escapes by Gilly (caught by me), three panic attacks by Max (calmed by Trina and her magic), and one bat-shit crazy freak-out by both kids at the circus. Turns out they both hate clowns.
Trina’s been to my house a few times. My parents are freaking delirious, but they’re trying to hide it. Well, Dad is. Mom couldn’t fake disinterest if she tried.
I go with Trina to Redemption Shelter on the nights she volunteers. She reads to the kids, and I shoot hoops with them or play hide-and-seek. Sometimes I help Sharon move stuff or box up donations or whatever else she needs.