Present Perfect(13)

I heard the wheels of Noah’s chair roll in my direction across the hardwood floor. The noise stopped and the music got low. Shutting my eyes tight, I swallowed hard. My body heat shot up at the same time I felt tremors ripple through my stomach. My head began to spin.

I continued tapping my foot in the air to the rhythm of the music, pretending that, that was my focus. Did he want to talk? Am I going to have to look into his dreamy light blue eyes and look at his perfect ass?

Damn Beth and Brittani. I have got to get these thoughts out of my head. Focus, Amanda.

Aunt Agnes in a bathing suit. Aunt Agnes in a bathing suit. Aunt Agnes in a bathing suit. Noah in a bathing suit that hung low on his hips, right above his perfect ass. Shit.

I heard him clear his throat. “Tweet,” he said, the sound of his voice causing my pulse to rev up.

“Yep.”

“You know that girl who sat at lunch with us today, Brittani Monroe?”

“Yep.”

“What do you think about her?”

“She’s a slut with a stripper name.”

The sound of him chuckling made me smile. “Tell me how you really feel. Don’t hold back.”

Lowering my legs, I swung them over the side of the bed, and faced him, trying hard not to make any eye contact. I leaned back on my arms, propping myself up. My gaze staying focused downward.

Trying to sound very nonchalant, I said, “Why are you asking me about her?”

“She asked me out.”

I shot straight up. “On a date?!” I couldn’t hide the shock in my voice.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“That’s crazy talk!” My expression was pinched. Jealousy oozed out of every pore of my skin.

“What’s so crazy about it?” He asked.

Glancing up, I saw a little smile appear across his face. I wasn’t positive, but it seemed as if Noah was enjoying my reaction. The bastard.

“Um…well, number one, we’re only fourteen and not allowed to date until we’re sixteen. Number two...”

“I can date now.”

Folding my arms across my chest, I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re kidding?”

“My parents said it was okay.”

I was desperately trying to think of other reasons for him not to go out with the slut/stripper, the slipper. My list of pet names for her was growing by leaps and bounds.

“How are you going to get to the date? You don’t even have your driver’s permit yet. I’m pretty sure your handlebars aren’t wide enough for her to sit on. I mean, have you seen the ass on that girl?”

“I’ve noticed her ass,” he said, smirking at me.

I did not like his choice of words. Seeing her ass and noticing her ass were completely different.

“She asked if I wanted to go bowling. Her dad’s going to drop us off.”

“So you’re going to go through with this?”

“I guess. Why not? She seems nice enough, and she’s kind of pretty.”

Pretty? Pfft! Had he been smoking crack? She had big tits, a big ass, and was willing to let any guy crawl all over them.

Looking down, I began picking at an imaginary piece of lint on my jeans, “Well, do what you want. It’s your life to ruin.”

“It’s just bowling, Tweet,” he said, the smile evident in his voice. He was having fun.

Tilting my head back and towards one shoulder, my eyes focused on the ceiling, I said, “Yeah. Well, first it’s bowling, then it’s a movie, and then you’ll get married, buy a house, and have little slutty stripper kids. But, if that’s what makes you happy, who am I to stand in your way.”

Several seconds passed before Noah said anything. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Shoot,” I said.

He hesitated for a moment. “Have you ever kissed a guy?”

“I’ve kissed my dad and my granddad.”

He shook his head. “I don’t mean relatives. I mean a guy. Have you ever had a real kiss from a guy?”

“You know the answer to that is no.” My voice was weak. I tucked my chin to my chest, looked down at the floor, and nervously shuffled my feet back and forth.

“We’ll, I’ve heard from a reliable source that Brittani has kissed a guy, a few of them, in fact.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” We sat in silence for another moment, and then a thought crossed my mind. “OH MY GOD!!! Are you going out with her so you can get some?”

Noah bolted up in his chair. “What?! Get some what?!”

“Brittani, lovin’.” I glared at him. The muscles in my neck and shoulders stiffened.

“No! I’m going because…I don’t know…She asked me. Besides, you know how much I love the fries at the bowling alley. If you don’t want me to go, I won’t go. Just say so.”

This was it. I needed to make a decision. I could hold on to him for a little while longer, and hope that eventually my feelings would change, or I could let him go. Maybe if I saw him with another girl, it would help knock some sense into me, even if it was with the slipper.

I looked away from him when I said, “Go.” I paused. “It’s just…I don’t think she’s the right girl for you.”

“Oh, I’m positive she’s not the right girl for me.”