Page 59 of No More Bad Boys
Blake grabs my hand and heads back to the bedroom, pulling me with him.
“Oh, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go… as many times as you want to go there.”
* * *
I don’t suck at sex, by the way. Not according to Blake.
After the first time, he insisted the problemmusthave been on the other end of the equation.
“College guys aren’t exactly renowned for their sensitivity and skill,” he explained. “I mean—the enthusiasm’s there for sure, but most of us don’t know what the hell we’re doing at that age.”
After a few more times, I was a believer. And I’m suddenly extremelygladBlake is twenty-four and out of school. Another area in which my faultylogictripped me up.
He’s driving me home on his way to work—late I might add—when I bring up Kenley’s request.
“So, my sister’s dying to meet you. And it’s only fair now that I’ve met yours. You up for dinner at my place tonight? I can’t promise gourmet cooking, but Kenley and I can manage something edible I think. In fact, she’s like you—she likes to cook, so it will probably be pretty good.”
Blake takes a long time to answer, which is strange.
Well, the morning traffic’s always a nightmare here. He’s got to focus, right?
Finally he says, “Tonight? Man, I wish I could, but I can’t make it tonight.”
“Oh.” I know it doesn’t mean anything, but his refusal makes me instantly insecure. “Okay.”
Though he claimed that I most definitely donotsuck in bed and in fact am quite talented, I still wonder.
Maybe he doesn’t actually want to keep going with this after having a chance to sample the goods.
“Hey,” he says, and gives me a concerned glance before turning his attention back to the road. “You know I want to come over. And I will meet her. Just let me check my schedule, and we’ll plan something, okay?”
And just like that I’m happy again. “Okay.”
“Do you have a home number?” he asks.
“Uh, no. Just my cell, why?”
“No reason. I just wanted to make sure I could reach you. So… you said Kenley works at WNN? That must be cool…”
* * *
We do a decent job, I think, of acting normally at work the next day and for the next couple of weeks, in spite of his frequent trips to the engineering dungeon for help withtechnical difficulties.
Outside of work, we spend as much time as possible together, and notallof it in bed. We hang out at his place, go out—it doesn’t matter. Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, I’m happy.
And now that our respective secrets have been revealed, we talk constantly. He seems just as interested in the details of my life and family as I am in his.
I have to admit, in spite of his desire to work at a network someday and what that could mean for us, this thing is making more and more sense to me.
For the first time ever, I’m willing to take steps down a road I can’t see the end of. I don’t have a map for us, no GPS turn-by-turn.
But it’s getting harder to imagine a future thatdoesn’tinclude him.
Which is scary, but it’s also exciting. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.
I’m still fighting the fear that I’m getting in too deep and it will all end when someone better comes along for Blake, but I’m battling through it, being brave, taking chances, and yes—even going to romantic movies.
And enjoying them.
