Page 23 of My Turn Petal
Frankie: It’s hard not to think here.
Theo: I’m taking you out!
The last message he sent me still crosses the screen thirty minutes later.
Frankie: I’m ready!
Frankie: Locking my apartment.
Theo: I’ll meet you at the boardwalk, I’m coming from school.
Frankie: See you there!
I shove my phone in my purse, put my helmet on, and exit the parking lot.
Our conversation from two days ago still plays in my head. The way I sat in front of him and he studied every inch of me was fucking incredible.
Since I was busy with work and Theo was busy in school we didn’t plan anything, but getting over the awkward first moment is something we should do soon.
Our arrangement has a two-week trial and if it doesn’t work for us we’ll call it off.
I know that it’s mostly him studying me to fulfill his end of our arrangement, but, I also want to study him.
Finally, these last two years growing feelings and sexual pant-up frustration can be unleashed.
I take a long ride and have some fun with my bike even though the sun wanes and I know I must’ve taken my time.
I guess ‘I’m fashionably late, blame it on my bike’ type girl.
I steady myself and stand on my bike as it continues to glide on the road, spreading my arms wide, I inhale deeply and sit back down, popping a wheelie for good measure.
What’s life without risks?
The roads deliver me to my final destination, I enter the parking lot, flick the kill switch and my bike shuts down.
Chances are Theo is already here.
Atlantic City spills before me, all the shining lights, the decorative buildings, and the masses that pass me by.
Holding the side of my face tenderly, Theo shows up next to me. “Can you run in those boots?” he asks playfully.
Isn’t it lovely seeing him, and hearing him wanting to play a game? Just by being here, he psychologically appeases my overthinking brain.
I playfully turn on my boots, giving him a once-over before I skip a few steps ahead and wait for him to follow. “Catch me if you can.”
“Oh, I will! But there’s a popcorn stand that has our name on it,” he points to it.
I grin. “Fine, popcorn first.”
Pacing along the boardwalk, we stop at a stand viewing the Atlantic Ocean.
The fresh salty aroma of the popcorn is increasing my appetite.
I toss a handful of warm octopuses into my mouth—they always seem like an octopus to me.
Theo’s phone rings, he picks it up from his pocket and answers in Spanish. I heard him speaking Spanish countless times but it never stopped my panties from melting before. It doesn’t now either.
“Sorry, a quick family checking.” He apologizes.
