Page 24 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
Rynn puts both hands on her hips. “Second rule, no touching. I don’t want to be watching TruDeath and then have you manspread on the couch with your feet on my lap.”
I grumble in frustration. “Or rule number two is, I get half the bed.”
“Absolutely not,” Rynn protests, waving both hands in the air. “And rule three, no dates over here. If you meet a girl, go to her place.”
The last time I had sex was over a year ago. And even though she happily obliged to my fetish, I couldn’t morally sleep with her again, not after realizing I was picturing Rynn when with her. “I only have one prospect in mind,” I say, holding her gaze.
It’s so flamin’ hot the way she tries to out-stubborn me, the defiant passion in those hazel eyes. Rynn accepting me, allowing me into her space is a huge win.
She sighs and points one finger at me. “No more of this nonsense flirting.”
I take a step forward, the hardwood creaking under my weight. “I like you, Rynnlee.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I always have. I don’t remember who my first kiss was with. Wanna know why? Because one time in the hallway, between classes, I saw you walking closer, and I had an outrageous urge to make you look at me. It was like I’d never know oxygen again unless you looked my way. So, I grabbed the closest girl and kissed her to get your attention.”
She sways slightly, like her brain and body are at war. “If that’s true, why didn’t you say something back then? You didn’t talk to me until we were lab partners.”
“I asked that teacher to be your partner, Rynnlee.”
A soft gasp parts her lips. Goddess, I want to kiss her. Every muscle constricts with a need to move towards her.
“When you left after graduation, I asked everyone where you moved.” The frustration I had experienced long ago sweeps back like a tsunami. I clench my hands into fists at my side. “No one knew where you ran off to. I thought you were flippin’ abducted or something, Rynnlee! The only reason I stopped asking about you was because your brother showed me a text to him from an hour prior, proving that you were safe and happy.”
I don’t need to tell her that’s when her brother threatened me for the second time to stay away.
Her face loses color as she shakes her head. “Orion never told me that. He would’ve said something.”
“Orion hates me and didn’t want me near you.”
She wrings her hands together as she sits on her mattress with a ‘humph.’
“I’ve been in four serious relationships since we graduated. I’ve always picked an all-in partner. The type to exchange random presents on a Tuesday, who wants both date nights out and couch lounging in PJs. I love to make my woman happy by texting her during my breaks. None of them worked out because …”
Her lips part, and she’s latched onto my every word.
“Because they weren’t you, Rynnlee.” I sit next to her, holding the towel as a barrier against my bare chest. “I want you. I’ve tried to scrub you from my memories for years, but you’re a permanent mark on my soul.”
She shoots to her feet, stumbles over herself as she puts space between us. “I-I d-don’t do relationships,” Rynn stammers. She aimlessly wanders around her apartment, moving books around on her shelves.
“Would you be willing to try?” I pause, tracking her neurotic fidgeting. “Look at me, please.”
“That’s not my style.” Her throat bobs. “I’m not interested in matching Halloween costumes or meeting anyone’s parents. I had sex a week ago with a tourist I’ll never see again.”
The thought of her tangled with another person makes my ears ring and my head pound. I crack my knuckles and let out a deep breath. What if she hasn’t even done laundry since her sexcapades? Am I currently staring at the place where they saw her naked, touched her body? My hand scrapes down the front of my face. I bend in half and swallow a growl, not wanting to scare her if I break down and show a toxic caveman persona. When I look back up, she’s watching me intently, pure curiosity etched into the lines of her face.
“Listen, I used to know you. I knew a girl who stopped believing in love at age sixteen. I knew your least favorite scent was bleach because of your mom’s OCD. You secretly loved the Lollipop Daze pop group too, no matter how many times you denied it because I saw you at their concert.” It’s my turn to point straight at her.
Her mouth drops open.
“You once believed your spirit blended with other spirits to create a new life source. You were ridiculously superstitious. I remember you once told me you spent all your allowance on cat food to feed the neighborhood strays. You quit every sport your parents registered you for. Oh, and my favorite. … you wanted to travel back to ancient Egypt where they all worship cats.”
She stares at the artwork on her walls, deep in thought. I give her a minute, then two, then ponder the chance that she has a rare form of narcolepsy.
“How do you know if any of those things are still true?”
“I don’t, but I’m eager to learn.”
