Page 17 of Tattletale

With pizza out, the only other nearby option was a hole-in-the-wall, 24-hour, serve-yourself, Chinese food restaurant. But the buffet was picked clean of lo mein and orange chicken—Cricket’s favorites.

I might be overthinking this. One time in Sudan on a mission, we survived for three days off of beef jerky and orange Tang powder in a tent with no access to a shower. There’s not much left to hide from each other. But admittedly, I’m a little nervous. I know Cricket better than anyone on the planet. But all of this is new, and tonight is technically our first date. I mean, Ialready told her I’m in love with her, but if this goes all wrong, what do we fall back on? Can we go back to friends?

I highly doubt it, which means I can’t fuck this up.

On my very first date with Cricket, I want to deliver. She deserves a damn good meal. I’m on my way back to the room to check out the hotel’s room service menu when I notice two giant takeout bags resting in front of Room 347A. It’s only two doors down from us. I sniff twice. Oh, that’s most definitely Thai food. If my sense of smell wasn’t enough, it says “Thai Noodle House” beneath the elephant line art on the paper bag.

I backpedal…debating… Then I pull out my wallet and all the cash I have. After swapping the bags for a thick wad of cash, I hustle two doors down to our room. I unlock the door and slip in before anybody can see me.

The water’s running. I’m surprised that Cricket’s still in the shower. I left half an hour ago. I place the bags on the counter and then knock on the bathroom door. It wasn’t shut all the way, so it cracks open. The shower is spa-like, a walk-in with no door, tiled from top to bottom. I have a very clear visual of Cricket through the large glass mirror.

She’s clean, with no evidence of blood. But she stands naked under the rain showerhead, looking like God’s gift to the planet. I’ve glimpsed parts of her naked before, like her top torn from a hasty escape, or her skirts shredded to pieces after a particularly challenging job. I’ve seen her upper thighs, and quick peeks of her thick, pink nipples. I know her bare ass better than my own. But this is different.

I’m seeing it all. Pieced together like a puzzle I’ve been waiting to finish for almost a decade. What’s more…is tonight, and from now on,she’s mine and mine alone.

She notices me staring at her through the mirror, but she doesn’t cover up. I turn to face her, leaning back against the counter.

“Did you find dinner?” She steps out from underneath the showerhead, then pulls her soaked hair to one side, wringing it out.

I glance between her smooth thighs. “Yup, sure did,” I answer with a smirk.

She chuckles, catching my innuendo, but sidestepping it. “What did you get?”

“Thai.”

“Oh, yum.” She touches her stomach with both hands. “That’s exactly what I was craving. How’d you know?”

I smile at her. “I’m just that good.”

“What did you get?” she asks.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I answer, “It’s a surprise.” Truth is, I have no fucking clue what’s in those bags.

“Well, start without me.” Cricket rubs her shoulders like they are aching. “I need a few more minutes under the hot water.”

“Are you sore?”

“I must have a knot in my back.” She taps where her neck meets her shoulder. “Whatever this muscle is, keeps having spasms, and my arm goes numb.”

“Lemme see.”

I step into the shower, ignoring the fact that my clothes are getting drenched. I place my hands on her waist to turn her so her back is to me. For a moment, I drop my hands, sucking in a short breath. I just touched her naked. I repeat,I just touched my best friend naked. I dreamed about this. Craved it. Manifested it. But now that it’s here… Should it feel this comfortable? I thought Cricket and I would be monumentally explosive. Full of passion and heat. But this feels tender and sweet.

“Something wrong?” she asks.

“No,” I murmur, looking at the curve of her muscular, round ass. I want to grab a handful, but instead, I place two fingers oneither side of her spine. Starting at the top where her shoulder blades meet, I run my fingers down with firm pressure. “Tell me when it’s tender.”

She flinches when I get to the middle of her back. “Right there. Do you think I cracked a rib?”

“Doubt it. There’s a knot here the size of my fist.”

“Exaggeration.”

“Not really. Okay, brace yourself.” She plants her hands flat against the back shower wall, and I wedge one knuckle into the tight lump in her back. I bear down with all my might. She winces softly but doesn’t move. Such a masochist. Cricket can take pain. Her default is to try and cover up what hurts so nobody knows.

I twist my knuckle against her skin until I feel the knot loosen. “Baby, this is going to leave a bruise.”

She grabs her right shoulder, massaging it. “Already feels loads better. Thank you…baby.” She turns around, wearing a teasing smirk. Pushing her arms together, showing off her ample cleavage, she asks, “Anything else in here you want to address?”

---