Page 61 of Choosing a Forever
It’s almost his birthday, and I have a gift I hope will keep him thinking about me all summer. I’ve written him ten letters, one for each week he’ll be gone. Hopefully it gives him something to look forward to.
We’re having our cast party for the musical tonight, and usually these things make me happy, but this one is bittersweet.
This party signifies the end of junior high. I didn’t get into the musical at the high school like Tal and some of our friends did, and it’s been a hard thing tocome to terms with.
I heard they’re incorporating a dance company, though, so hopefully I can be part of it. I don’t know what I’ll do with my time if I don’t have the musical.
It felt like a bad sign when I wasn’t on the cast sheet, but I’m hoping it means there’s something bigger that’ll happen for me—something better.
I didn’t sleep a wink last night.
I was overheated from wearing too many clothes, and then I got even hotter with Tal’s body heat in the bed when I’m used to being alone.
Not to mention how hot and bothered I got knowing he wasn’t wearing any fucking underwear. Him going commando shouldn’t be so hot.
He said it so casually. Like not wearing underwear in front of your fake wife isn’t a huge fucking deal.
And maybe it wouldn’t be if the circumstances around it weren’t so bonkers. Cutting up his garments was a big deal and askingmeto help him pick out underwear?
That’srealwife stuff. Not fake wife stuff.
The men’s underwear section is our first stop when we get to the store. Luckily, we came early enough it’s not crowded, and Tal is acting like we’re at Disneyland instead of Wal Mart.
“Woah. There are a lot of options,” he murmurs when he sees the wall of men’s underpants.
He starts reading the descriptions, feeling the fabric through the little hole, and occasionally asking for my opinion.
I’m not sure why he thinks I’m an expert, but I guess I know more than him.
“Do you want them to fit like garments?” I ask.
Tal nods. “I used to buy garments a size smaller and in “short” so they weren’t so long and baggy. I’d like something similar, but shorter. Hoochie daddy season is approaching, afterall.”
“Where did you learn about ‘hoochie daddy season?’” I balk. But the image of him in those little shorts…
Yeah. I can’t deny it'd be hot.
“I’m on social media, Mack.” The implied “duh” makes me want to roll my eyes.
“Right, and you want to be in your slutty little shorts era?”
“Sure. I’ll have to buy some of those next.”
Who is this man?This is a side of Talmage I never thought would exist.
“Maybe I should custom order some underwear with Siren’s face on them,” he muses, picking up a pack of slim-fit boxer briefs in varying colors.
“Please, no.” I tap the pack he’s holding. “These would probably be the most comfortable for you, but you might have to keep trying different styles or sizes until you find one you like.”
“All right, I’ll trust your judgment. But I still might order some with Siren’s face on them. Maybe I’ll get us matching pairs.” He tosses a playful wink my way, and this time Idoroll my eyes.
“Come on, let’s get the rest of the groceries before it gets busy.” I make to grab the cart, but Talmage tosses the pack of underwear into it and bumps me with his hip, taking my place.
“A lady should never have to push her own cart,” he says by way of explanation.
I huff out an exasperated laugh through my nose but don’t fight him.
“Okay, where are we starting with the list?” Tal asks, grabbing it from his pocket. He’s completely commandeered my grocery shopping, and I don’t know how to feel about it.
