Say You Love Me(36)

“No, you couldn’t have, and maybe the reason you didn’t is because you like her.” TJ’s blue eyes looked into mine intensely.

“I’m telling you that I like her as a friend. She’s Mila’s best friend and, well, we’ve become a lot closer recently as well. I consider her a good friend.”

“Really, dude?”

“Really.” I nodded. “That’s it. I mean, yeah, she’s pretty and she’s pretty awesome, but you know me, I don’t do relationships.”

“I know you don’t.” He shook his head. “But I’m telling you this as a friend—if you have feelings for Sally, you’d better act on them soon. And if you don’t, don’t play around with her anymore.”

“I’m not playing around with her.” I glared at him. “What sort of man do you think I am?”

“I know how it can be, Cody.” TJ made a face at me. “When I started falling for Mila, it was really hard for me to accept. I never saw myself as this guy who could fall in love and want to be with one woman forever, but I learned to accept that I was.”

“Dude, we’re not the same. Also, you were sleeping with my sister.” I glared at him. “You were already taking advantage of her, so I’m glad you manned-up, because you know I would have had to kill you if you didn’t.”

“Look, I’m just saying that I think we’ve all noticed your hostility when it comes to Sally and other guys and, well personally, I think there is only one reason for that.”

“I’m not in love with Sally.” I shook my head vehemently. “I’m trying to be a good friend to her. I want her to meet a good guy,” I said, though inside I wasn’t sure I was ready for her to actually start dating someone seriously. I didn’t know what that said about me and how I felt, though I knew I didn’t love her or anything.

“You can tell yourself what you want, Cody, but I’m just letting you know what it looks like from this side. Just don’t ignore your feelings until it’s too late.” TJ shrugged. “I know you see yourself as the ultimate playboy, but sometimes you need to dig a little deeper.”

“Dig a little deeper?” I laughed. “What is this, a sermon from the Oprah Winfrey show?”

“You’re an idiot.” TJ shook his head at me and laughed. “I’m just telling you man-to-man, I don’t know that Sally’s going to be single forever and I don’t want you to wake up one day and think to yourself that she’s the one who got away.”

“Trust me, bro, it’s not like that,” I said, starting to feel annoyed. It was at that moment that Mila and Sally walked back in the room with the cheese and crackers. I looked up into Sally’s laughing face and studied her long black hair and big brown eyes, her lips wide as she laughed, and for a few seconds her smile was turned towards me, her eyes gazing deeply into mine with a happy expression, and I felt my mood lifting. She was so beautiful. It was a pity that we wanted different things. I knew in that instant that I didn’t want her going on a first date with Luke. I didn’t want her sleeping with him, but I knew that was selfish of me. I wasn’t looking for anything more than casual.

Sally and Mila sat down then, and I found myself leaning forward and resting my hand on Sally’s leg under the table. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to touch her, but I did.

“Cody?” she said and looked at me with a hesitant smile as my hand moved up her leg slowly.

“Yes?” I said with a smile, teasing her.

“Cheese?” she said, her eyes asking me a question she didn’t dare ask out loud as my hand slid up under her skirt.

“Sure.” I nodded, my fingers finding their way to her panties. I felt her shifting in her chair and I tried not to laugh. I rubbed gently against her bud and I could feel her panties growing wet. I felt a surge of power running through my body as my fingers increased their pace. I felt powerful and happy. Let her remember this moment when she’s on her date with Luke.

“So, do you know what movie Luke will be taking you to tonight?” Mila asked Sally, and I could feel myself growing pissed again at the fact he was being brought up.

“No, not sure,” Sally said softly. “Something he really likes, though. He said he knew one of the cinematographers or something.”

“Impressive,” Mila said, and Sally nodded.

“Yeah, I’m really excited.” She smiled. “I think it will be fun.”

“Sounds like a lot of fun,” I said simply and then slipped my fingers inside the side of her panties so that I was touching her, skin to skin. She gasped and her legs tightened as I rubbed her even more intimately now, her panties pushing my fingers close against her as I continued to play with her. “I’m sure you and Luke will really hit it off,” I continued as I tried to slip a finger inside of her. Unfortunately, given our position, I couldn’t, but that didn’t stop me from trying.

“Yeah, thanks.” Sally glanced at me, a bedazzled look on her face, and I felt her hand coming down on mine and tugging gently to remove it from her panties. I rubbed her for a few seconds more until she was even wetter and then I withdrew my fingers and sat back. I stared at her face for a few seconds and smiled. She was flushed and her lower lip was quivering. I knew she must be horny as hell right now. Shit, I was horny as hell. I wanted to make sure that tonight, while she was on her date, she was thinking of me.