Page 103 of Dear Mr. Brody

“You’re such a snob. He’s building a set, using power tools, what’s he supposed to wear?”

“I bet his closet is filled with torn jeans and flannel. Or worse, cargo shorts and old tye-dyed shirts that say stuff likeEarth is our friend.” He wrinkled his nose. “He had dirt under his fingernails.”

“Oh my God, he’s been outside all day.” I shoved him in the shoulder as I stood. “Don’t be a dick. You know he’s kind of hot under all that sawdust. He’s tall… built… big blue eyes…”

Marcos gasped. “Not even.”

“Please,” I said. “He’s totally your type.”

“Now I’m insulted.” Marcos stood, his oversized sweater slipping off his right shoulder. “Enjoy your pizza.”

“Come on… don’t go.” I held back my laugh, my smile as apologetic as possible. “The kids will be sad.”

“They know I have to go, I told them earlier. I have plans.”

“You don’t have plans. You’re bailing.”

“Okay, fine, I don’t have plans, but I’m tired and I need a nap.”

“A nap sounds good right about now,” I said. “You think I could sneak out with you?”

“Even if you could, you wouldn’t.”

I groaned, hating that he was right. “I’ll see you back at the apartment later?”

“Not staying at Van’s again?” The smirk on his face was a warning. I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “Please tell me you finally…”

“If you say deflower,” I whispered. “I swear to God, Marcos.”

He looked back at the door before leaning in. “Well... did you?”

“No. Not really.”

“What the hell does that mean? Wait… maybe I don’t want to know.”

“I let him…” I scrubbed my hand over my face, wishing I wasn’t having this conversation in the middle of my place of employment. “He fucked me.”

“Really…” His smile grew. “Was it all romantic and fabulous?”

“Shut up.” I started to walk away, but he followed me like an overzealous cat.

“Did he cuddle with you after?”

I didn’t make it but a few steps into the hall before I stopped. Marcos gave me shit, but this was his way of checking in, his way of making sure I was okay. It was overbearing, but I would have done the same for him. I rubbed the top of my head and faced him.

“His daughter knows about us, she found out at the carnival last night. He accidently kissed me in front of her.”

“No way.”

“Yeah. And then she called me his boyfriend, I guess.”

“Is he your boyfriend?”

“He is.” My body betrayed me, and the goofy smile I’d tried to hide broke through anyway. I lowered my voice, my stomach all tied up as I told him the truth. “When I’m with him, hell, I don’t know. It’s crazy, but I can see this future, it’s all there in front of me. In front of us. And I know what you’re going to say.”

“What am I going to say?”

“It’s too soon, too fast. I’m being impulsive. That there’s a difference between lust and love, and I know... I’m not in love with him, Marcos. But—”

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