Page 28 of Pride and Protest
“We can test your theory, Liza. We can test my biological reaction.” His voice was a low promise. “Or you can stay on the other side of the line.”
He heard her kiss her teeth as she turned her back to him. After hearing Liza’s deep and rhythmic breathing, Dorsey toyed with the idea of heading to the bathroom and rubbing one out just to get the tension out of his neck. But freezing in the men’s bathroom with his balls out did not appeal to him. He ran his hand over his chest where she had lain. Once. Twice. Finger lightly running over his nipple. He turned to her again, her figure silhouetted like a cello in the dark. What would it feel like if she reached for him? Allowed him to play her chords? No one would have to know but them. This pod was their universe. Dorsey felt himself relax.
Daylight stabbed Liza in the eyes. But she refused to wake up. She was an old pro at burrowing under the covers when her mother rolled the curtains open. She buried her head into a cushion.
“We found a plow.” Liza’s eyes flew open. A blast of freezing aircracked through the warm cocoon she and Dorsey had made. Jennifer’s cool face was mere inches above her. The night’s events came rushing back to her. Her cushion was also shaking himself awake.Shit.Liza scrambled to untangle her arms and legs. What in the spooning hell was going on here? Had she slept on his chest? Like a bland after-sex scene in a sitcom?Ugh, girl.And where had his hands landed? She found them cupping the rise of her hips.
The hatch door only opened so far. No one could see his hands, and she was so cold.Surely there was no rush to move them.
Jennifer’s eyes cut like a scalpel. “You’ve missed half the day.” She looked immaculate with her deep red lipstick, perfectly powdered face, not a strand of hair out of place, clothing meticulous. This was how a woman went into battle. Liza wanted to tell her she had wasted her war paint. She didn’t feel sorry for Jennifer exactly. She had not known Dorsey long, but she knew he had the power to make people feel like that, like they weren’t worthy of him. Jennifer was just his latest victim.
Liza patted her own silk scarf and wiped the crust from her eyes.
Dorsey raised himself up. “What time is it?”
Lord. Have. Mercy. How dare he wake up this sexy? His hair was tousled. His voice was low and tired, and the sound rumbled pleasantly in her chest. Warmth unfolded in the seat of her belly.Really, vagina—turning on me too? You’re as bad as Janae.There had been a moment last night with her legs spread over him that Liza thought she might have... She didn’t want to think of what she might have done. What did it matter now, here in the blinding light of day? She tucked her hands into her lap. It was not lost on her that their legs were still touching. Neither one of them had snatched their legs apart the way one does in the light of day.
“It’s eleven thirty-six,” Jennifer said with a flash of impatience.
Dorsey’s eyes rounded. “I haven’t slept past ten since college.” He rubbed his chin, and Liza looked away, afraid to be caught staring. There was something strange about seeing him in the morning before he’d put himself together. She should get up before she embarrassed herself, stealing swoony glances like a tween girl.
Liza pulled herself out of the pod and made her way to the bathroom. The normally weak winter sun had gotten a reflective boost from the snow and now shone brightly through the window blinds, streaking in alabaster light on the eighth floor. She checked her phone and saw that her mother had called no less than thirteen times.
Shit. Janae.Liza washed her face and finger-brushed her teeth in the bathroom and went searching for her sister.
Another call. “Yes, Ma?”
“Where is Janae?”
“I’m looking for her.”
“Don’t go barging in on her and her man. Give them some privacy. You should have taken your butt home. You get yourself stuck overnight in a whiteout, then don’t pick up your phone until damn near noon.”
“Sorry, Momma. I thought... She was drinking so I...” Bev quieted at this. Liza moved toward the steps and faltered when she saw Dorsey waiting for her at the exit, looking like an awkward sentinel. He was actively not looking her in the eye.So we’re doing this, huh? The I-was-never-here, it-was-all-a-dream shit? Fine.
Bev’s voice howled through the phone. “Oh, my poor baby. Why would you let her drink?”
“Ma, I watered down her champagne and traded it for nonalcoholic. I did what I could, but she’s a grown woman,” Liza tried to whisper. She didn’t want Dorsey overhearing all this, but Bev hung up without saying goodbye.
She and Dorsey took the stairs up to the ninth floor in absolute silence so tense that Liza raced up the remaining stairs. They found everyone else in the common area neatly assembled and ready to go. It was at this point that Dorsey handed her the dry ballet flats. She had forgotten all about them. She took the shoes and slipped them on.
Everyone eyed them like they were glass slippers and Dorsey had been searching the damned kingdom or something.
“Nice of you and Dorsey to finally join us,” David finally said. Liza smiled tightly and looked over to her sister, reading her face for worry or strain. Janae had a blank expression and tears brimming in her eyes. She didn’t talk to David and only nodded to Liza. It was time to get her out of here. She should have insisted yesterday. It was nobody’s business to see her like this, and certainly not these snobs.
Liza picked up her mother’s phone call on the third ring.
“Liza, just get my baby home,” Bev wailed.
“Okay, Ma.” When she looked up, Dorsey was gone.
Jennifer walked into the common area. “I found a private contractor who can clear the garage and streets. Janae and Liza, you can ride with David. He’ll take you home.”
“Thank you,” Liza said, genuinely grateful. She couldn’t stay here another minute. Dorsey had taken to completely ignoring everyone here, with his head in his laptop. David was obviously hurt at Janae’s sudden change in temperament, and Jennifer was moving mountains to get them gone.
Liza gathered her things and walked over to Janae, who sat looking at nothing. “Up, sissy. It’s time to go.”
“Just leave me,” Janae mumbled.
