Page 69 of Pick-Up
When Sasha walks in a room, I wake up. Stand at attention in all the ways. I could talk to her for hours. Forever.
Then she nudges my foot, pretends she’s not gawking at my legs—sorry, but it was so damn obvious. She leans in toward me, her shirt gaping in a way I barely have the willpower to ignore. And her catlike eyes go hooded when she moves to kiss me—’cause she was about to kiss me again, right?—and there’s no way I’m saying no.
I know she said to keep it professional. I know Derek warned me too. But the saying and the doing are not matching up. And, honestly, maybe it’s bad, but I couldn’t be happier about it.
Charlie is the one person I confided in besides Derek.
“When was the last time you liked someone this much?” he asked, as he unpacked his suitcase. “I say go for it.”
I don’t want to blow this for her. Ican’tblow this for my team at the magazine. But I don’t want to blow off what’s brewing between us either.
Anyway, it’s dinnertime. And I’m fucking starving.
TO-DO
Kill Charlie for telling Sasha I was talking about her.
Thank Charlie for telling Sasha I was talking about her—maybe it worked to my advantage?
Get out of the middle school zone and start talking toherabout her like an actual man.
Finish that kiss.
30 | Indecent PotatoesSASHA
With the door safely closed again, I dial Celeste. And when she takes shape on the screen, she looks a bit harried. At least by Celeste standards. She is standing at the kitchen counter, the phone propped up, while she chops cucumbers for dinner. The universal symbol for vegetable a child will eat. Her hair is piled atop her head and, not that she ever needs a lot of makeup, but she’s wearing none. Her Joan Jett T-shirt has a bloodred stain down the front.
“Celeste. Hi!”
“Hi, Sash!”
“How are things?”
“Good, good. Everything is good.”
That was one too many goods to be true. I tilt my head like maybe a new perspective will give me better insight.
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“It is… good!”
“Okay, then. Good.”
We eye each other for a moment. Who will break first?
It’s me! Of course, it’s me.
“Celeste! Be honest: Are my kids being horrible? You can tell me.”
“Oh God, no. Not at all. Imagine having a child who does homework without being told!”
Nettie. She is good that way. I can take no credit. She arrived with batteries included. I want to be her when I grow up.
“I think she’s actually having a good influence on Henry!”
“How about Bart?”
“He’s having the time of his life. He discovered Henry’s old stash ofJurassic ParkLEGOs. He may never leave.”
