Page 31 of Keeping it Casual
I play the host, circulating the different groups. I can’t help noticing that wherever I am, Em is not.
Is she deliberately avoiding me?
Dustin asked me what it’s like hosting events with my ex, and the honest answer? It’s awkward.
I don’t know how Em wants me to act toward her now. Sometimes she appears so happy to see me, like the other night in the pub, but at times like today, she seems to go into avoidance mode.
The problem is that it was an unequal breakup because she was content with how everything was between us. I was the one who chose to leave because I wanted more.
Dustin’s manning the barbecue. After talking to Lucy’s soccer coach and a group of other soccer parents, I head over to him, feeling my steps lighten as I approach.
“I’m calling you 007 from now on,” I say when I arrive next to him.
He quirks an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“Because you have a license to grill.”
He groans. “Seriously? You’re going for a James Bond barbecue joke?”
“I actually have a whole plethora of barbecue jokes. I’ve just been waiting for a willing victim.”
“And you’ve decided I’m your willing victim?”
“Well, you have been cooperative in other areas of my life recently.” I lower my voice to a throaty whisper.
Dustin meets my gaze and his eyes sizzle more than the barbecue. “I always aim to be cooperative.”
I give him a saucy smile, and he smirks at me in return.Shit. I get the feeling we’re undoing my story about how we have no sexual chemistry because I’m sure the chemistry must be palpable between us. It appears to be almost physically impossible for me to look at Dustin and not have my cock perk up with interest.
From the way Dustin’s adjusting his apron, there’s a chance he has the same problem.
“Do you want a sausage?” he asks.
“Sure. I know how good you are with sausages,” I reply.
“Are we really flirting over barbecue meat?” he asks skeptically.
I nod seriously. “Your life will not be complete without some sausage-dick metaphors.”
Dustin laughs, and, shit, I really want to touch him.
Instead, I grab a sausage and try to eat it sexily while he watches. Unfortunately, sausages are not good food items to insinuate oral action because chewing is a vital part of the sausage-eating process. Not chewing a sausage properly leads to choking, accompanied by the side effects of loud coughing, gagging, and streaming eyes.
Dustin gives me a solid whack on my back, helping to dislodge the piece of sausage in my windpipe.
“Not your sexiest move ever,” he says.
I choke out my last cough and wipe away the moisture on my cheeks.
“What do you think is my sexiest move?” I ask when I can finally speak again.
Dustin’s eyes darken. “It’s a hard call, but that thing you do with your tongue is up there.”
We stare at each other, gazes heated.
And yes, I’m quite proud of how I managed to salvage a flirting opportunity after a close brush with death-by-sausage.
That’s until I break our eye contact and glance around,suddenly noticing that most of the people on the lawn are staring at us.
