Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
I let out a breath. I don’t really understand it myself, so maybe I should take a closer look at it. “I think you’re pretty. I love your body. I like the way you fight. I like the fact that you’re never gonna have sex with me—”
She reaches over to slap my shoulder. “You do not.”
“Irina, it’s like a dream come true.”
She guffaws again.
“There’s no pressure. You’re easy to please. Your laugh is big and your smile is contagious. You’re also… honest. And the best part about that is that you’re not even trying. It’s just not in your nature to lie. You might not want to talk about certain things, but when ya do, it’s always the truth. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but the world is full of liars. So when you find an honest person, you don’t dismiss them easily.”
“Hmm.”
“Your turn.”
“Why do I like you?”
“Do you like me?”
“What’s not to like? You’ve got neck tattoos.”
I smile and look out to sea.
“For real though. I think you’re handsome.”
“Thank you.”
“Your confidence is off the charts.”
“Is it?”
“Eason, please. Nothing bothers you.”
“Girl, I’ve been trying to die for years now. It all bothers me.” Her smile falls and I’m instantly sorry for reminding her of this little bit of truth.
“It’s not that hard to die when you put yourself in death fights. And you’re still here. So. I’m calling bullshit on that part.”
“Hmm. You might be right. Or perhaps I just like to win.”
“There’s no difference.”
“Because we’re all playing the game.”
She stretches her legs out, her feet coming to rest on my knees.
I pick up her wounded foot and look it over. The liquid bandage is still there, all shiny and clear. “How’s it feeling?”
“Throbbing again. But not bad enough to need anything.”
“We should wrap it up and call it a day. Nandy’s coming for dinner, remember?”
But just as these words come out of my mouth, she’s leaning forward. Grabbing my shoulders as she slides herself into my lap.
It’s… delightful, but unexpected, so I’m not sure what to do. I just kind of stare at her. And then, before I can have any more thoughts at all, her lips touch mine.
It’s a soft kiss. A little bit lingering. And I have a desire to kiss her back, hard.
But I don’t. I let her do it all. Because this is the very first time she has ever kissed someone on her own.
When she pulls back, her eyes are open, staring into mine. She shrugs and smiles. “I just really wanted to know what that felt like.” Then she gets up out of my lap, stepping around the helm, and disappears aft.
I just sit there, dumbstruck, playing that kiss over and over in my head like a teenage boy.
We’re quiet as we boat back. She sits next to me at the helm the whole time, relaxed, smelling like sun and salt, her face a little flushed from being outside. And tired, I think. She’s got her legs all crossed and folded up, kinda leaning against me. I think she even falls asleep at one point. But she’s awake by the time I’m sliding the boat into the slip.
And then I cut the engine and it’s quiet. Just the dim sound of people laughing and talking down the dock, and gulls calling out, begging for food from the customers at the little sandwich shop nearby.
She gets up, holding her foot above the floor and bracing herself on the galley railing while I put everything away and tie up. Then I crouch a little and point to my back.
She doesn’t even hesitate, just grabs my shoulders and hops up. I carry her down the dock, into the parking lot, and deposit her into the car. She settles and I close her door, then get in on the other side.
The AC blasts us when I turn it on and she sinks back into her seat. “This was fun. I like your boat.”
“I like you.” And I wink at her.
I’m still thinking about that fuckin’ kiss. It’s kinda driving me nuts. I was a hundred-percent honest when I said I wasn’t looking for sex. I’m really not.
But… a guy can dream, right?
“Oh, my God. What are you thinking right now?”
“Who? Me?”
“You look… devious.”
I just chuckle.
“I know what you’re thinking about.”
She probably does, so I don’t say anything back. Besides, we’re already at her apartment. I pull up in front of the turquoise-blue gate and turn the car off.
“Oh.” She stares at the gate. Then her eyes wander to her front door. “I had forgotten about this.”
“Moving out.”
“I’m not really. I’m just… moving in. That’s all. And anyway, I can’t take that much. We don’t even have boxes.”
I reach into the backseat and pull out a pop-up grocery bag I keep in here for domestic reasons.
Irina is laughing at me. “You’re really determined to get me out of this condo, aren’t you?”