Hooked 2 (Hooked #2)(9)

And so we feasted together, there in his beautiful, sparkly-clean Porsche. I remembered how my mother had never wanted me to eat in her minivan. And here we were, enjoying some of the greasiest food the world over. I shook my head at Drew as he changed lanes, spinning us back to our illustrious Wicker Park.

We arrived outside the apartment building, stuffing our trash back in the damp, greased bag. I shook my head, licking my fingers. “You know. Nothing makes you hungrier than thinking you’re about to die,” I said to him.

Drew tossed his head back, padding his napkin across his mouth. “I’d say that’s infinitely true. We were in the wake of death up there on that platform, and now we’re in the wake of death eating too much cholesterol.” He shrugged. “You win some; you lose some.”

I laughed in the darkness outside of the apartment building. I looked up at my balcony, thinking only of the drabness of my apartment, of all the Netflix waiting for me in my bedroom. And yet; the light, the passion behind Drew’s eyes kept me outside, lurking. What was I waiting for?

Our eyes met. Drew brought his face forward and clasped his lips against mine, there in front of the building. I closed my eyes, even as swarms of people passed us, even as the cars of the great Chicago city honked and jabbed at each other. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, sliding it past my own, sending shivers down my spine. He was, remarkably, the most wonderful kisser I had ever known. I felt so horny; my * was damp in my tight, slim-fitting black pants. I longed to pull him on top of me, to have him f*ck me.

But I couldn’t.

He pulled away, sensing a change in me. He paused. “Do you want to head up to my apartment? Marty’s not there this evening. And I have really good whiskey. The best whiskey.” He looked at me hopefully. His eyes screamed at me, forcing me to remember the expert skill of his sexuality, the way he had f*cked me there against that window all those days before.

But my mind raced. “I—I can’t,” I murmured. I backed away, running my fingers through my hair. I was certain this was it, in that moment. If I didn’t go up with him, if I didn’t allow him to take me home, then it was over. I would no longer be a notch in his belt. I could be free of this strange, sexual, “love game” that he so often played. Instead, I could focus on bettering my own life.

I continued; “I have to wake up early tomorrow. I have a huge job interview on Monday morning, and I need to prepare all day.” I raised my eyebrows at him, as if to say I didn’t care at all; as if to say it was his loss.

I expected him to stomp away, to accept his loss. But his eyes looked large, hopeful. “I understand,” he murmured. He put his hand on my waist. “But I have to see you again.”

I wanted to rush away. What was this guy’s plan? Wasn’t he going to move onto the next notch, the next woman? Wouldn’t I hear him talking about some other bimbo on the balcony in just a few days, when memory of this truly spectacular day together had faded in his ever-seeking mind?

But he looked at me hopefully. “You can choose the place this time,” he said. He moved his fingers along my trim figure. “We don’t have to do any extreme sports or even eat any—burgers. If you don’t want.”

I laughed for a moment in spite of myself. I bit my lip. My heart was racing. “You know. I have to ask you something, Drew. Why are you so interested in me, in dating me?” I swallowed, allowing the understanding of who I truly was to come rushing back to me. I was a poor, lifeless sap. I had nothing to give, nothing to offer. “If you really knew who I was, you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. Trust me.” I allowed my neck to drape down. My chin met my chest.

But Drew didn’t respond to this. “I want to know who you are,” he murmured. “I want to know everything about you. Why don’t we just go on another date, and you can tell me everything?” He took a step closer to me and peered deeply into my eyes. “That way, I can decide on my own. Don’t you think that’s fair?”

I felt his breath, hot on my neck as he kissed me there, moving up toward my ear. I felt my breasts pulse into his chest. I wanted him. I wanted him inside me. I closed my eyes. “One more date. Okay,” I murmured. Our eyes met once more in the darkness. I heard a catcall across the street; someone was watching this moment between us.

I started toward the door, confused why Drew wasn’t following me. “Don’t you live here, too?” I called back.

He smiled, nodding. He gestured with his head. “I have to take the Porsche back to the garage. She’s no good out here on the street by herself. I’ll see you tomorrow? Your choice?”


I nodded, feeling a bit let down. I longed to feel his arms around me again. “Yes, of course,” I murmured. I turned back toward the apartment building and placed my key in the lock, feeling his eyes on me as I entered. I sauntered up the steps, down the familiar hallway, and into the tiny, grey apartment I shared with Boomer.

There, I collapsed on the couch and brought my hands to my face, to my breasts. I didn’t realize that I was breathing so heavily, that the passion from the previous day’s events had nearly brought me to my knees. I lay there, daydreaming for many hours before finally falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.



CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, I woke with a renewed sense of hope—and a cat strewn over my belly. I had slept on the couch, and the late September morning sunlight was coursing in through the window. I grinned, picking my cat up and holding him in my arms.