Page 117 of Love on Tour
“Yes. Beautiful,” he repeated, staring directly into her eyes.
He took off his shirt and pulled her to him, bare chest to bare chest. Skin against skin. She melted into him. They shimmied out of their pants, and she brought the sheet up over her body.
Matt pulled it back down.
She started to protest but stopped. He was looking at her, all of her, and he wanted to see her.
“I’m not on birth control,” she said.
“It’s okay. I’ve got it covered.”
She smiled, liking the fact that he had come to her room wanting her. This wasn’t mercy sex or mere consolation. He desired her, too.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been surer,” she said.
She had dreamt of this moment, lived it in her fantasies, and built it up to the point where it would be impossible for anyone tocompete with her imagination. He didn’t just compete. He won. In a world surrounded by awards, Matt won the gold medal, the platinum album, the Emmy, and the Oscar.
THE NEXT MORNING, CHRISTINEand Matt cuddled in bed, her body wrapped around his. Matt rubbed her back.
She rolled onto her stomach and moaned. “That feels so good.”
He pushed the sheet down farther, exposing her back. She felt him trace the tattoo on her lower left side.
“What’s this? It looks like a kidney bean. And it says, ‘Was here.’”
“My left kidney was there until July of 2018.”
“The one you donated. Of course. To your cousin, right?”
Christine nodded.
“Must have made your cousin feel special.”
“Talk about feeling special. You brought your A game last night,” Christine said, rolling over and planting a light kiss on his lips.
“That’s just my normal game, hon,” Matt said, looking serious until he burst out laughing. “I can’t get away with a comment like that, can I?”
“Nope. But if that’s your normal game, I can’t wait for overtime.”
“Flight’s not until two o’clock. Game on.” He pulled her on top of him, and Christine couldn’t remember a time when she’d been happier.
CHRISTINE AND MATT MET INthe lobby after showering and dressing. He handed her a tea, made just the way she liked it.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“I know,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I called an Uber. It’ll be here in five minutes.”
“Thanks.”
Matt checked out at the front desk, grabbed the receipts, and took their luggage outside, where the Uber driver waited.
Last night and this morning had been wonderful, but now that she was in the car, riding along with time to think, Christine’s head was spinning. There was so much Matt didn’t know about her, and she had issues to work through. The last year had brought things to the surface that she’d tried to bury. Last night had been traumatizing, seeing someone remember her high school shame and having it posted for all to see. Her time with Matt had been everything she’d dreamed of, but until she worked on herself, she knew she couldn’t be the person he needed.
She stared out the window, not wanting to look at him. “There are things you don’t know about me, Matt.”
“Then tell me. I want to know everything about you.” He put his hand on her knee.
