Page 125 of Pick-Up
“Why?”
“Yes, why do you have a condom with you?”
He smiles against my lips. “Optimism.”
Fair enough.
Maybe it’s because, for a small window, I thought this wouldnever happen again, but I’m even more impatient this time. I shimmy out of my underwear, as he rifles through his wallet and takes care of business.
Then, he stands back up, steps between my legs—and I brace myself against the sideboard, its edges sharp beneath my thighs.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Me?” I scoff. “Born ready.”
I wrap my arms around his neck as he brings his big hands under my ass, lifts and pushes inside me. Slowly first and then faster and harder, until I am dizzy with stars. Cursing, he slides one hand between us, then pulls me tighter to him with the other until there’s nowhere left to go.
I am lost to everything else.
And, in the midst of it all, I realize I will never see this side table the same way again.
Afterward, Ethan removes his boots. And we do finally make it to horizontal. He is lying behind me on the couch, under a patterned throw blanket, with an arm draped over my waist.
I have put my underwear back on. He has pulled up his boxer briefs and jeans, though they remain unbuttoned. We want to be presentable in case Larry the cat shows up.
We were chatting, but now I’m so drowsy and content that I feel like I could fall asleep.
Then, with alarm, I realize Ethan has gone quiet for too long. What is he doing? I glance back to find him eyeing my bookshelf in wonder.
“What?”
“Are those DVDs?”
“Yes.”
“You still have DVDs?”
“Apparently.”
“But why?”
I shrug. “I like to own my favorite movies.”
“You have the entireRevenge of the Nerdsbox set.”
I swivel to face him. A moment of truth. “You don’t likeRevenge of the Nerds?”
It’s not that liking that movie, which is admittedly deeply offensive, is a prerequisite to dating me. I mostly keep it for nostalgic reasons because I liked it as a kid. But I know what Cliff would say. He would feign disapproval, posturing to sound sophisticated, even though, in truth, he loves a guilty pleasure.
Ethan shakes his head. “No, I lovedRevenge of the Nerdsback in the day. It’s a classic. At least the first one. I’m just amazed that you own all four. So many dimensions to you.”
He seems more intrigued than judgmental. And I like how he nuzzles my neck. So I’ll take it.
The truth is, I am happier than I can remember feeling in eons. And, this time, I am without postcoital angst. Something about being in my own home with Ethan… it feels real.Hefeels real.
I think he could, just maybe, be my future.
The buzzer blares at a deafening volume. I groan but force myself to standing, catching Ethan watching me from behind as I cross the living room.
