Page 60 of Backslide
Noah furrows his brow, leans back into the plush L-shaped leather couch. Glances over at Nellie, lying across the way in a mid-century horsehair lounge chair, trying to read her face. He kind of wanted to know the answer to that question, too.
It’s only been a few weeks since their first museum day, but, since then, they’ve been hot and heavy, meeting up whenever possible for long walks and even longer make-out sessions.
Why doesn’t she want to answer? Is the number that high?
“Okay,” Chloe says. “I dare you to take off your shirt, so you’re only wearing your bra, straddle… hmm. Who should it be? Ah! Sabrina! And suck face for a full minute.”
Nellie looks doubtful. “Wait, really? Sabrina? That seems…”
“Hey!” Sabrina complains. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing is wrong with you!” Nellie says. “But you’reyou.”
“Do it, do it, do it!” the others start chanting.
Sabrina looks at Nellie, Nellie looks at Sabrina. They’re drunk enough and close enough to shrug like,okay.
“Here goes,” Nellie says, pushing herself to standing. She pulls her shirt over her head and places it neatly on the lounge. Like perhaps she is stalling. Then, in her baby-blue push-up bra, she crosses to the love seat where Sabrina is curled up.
“I need a lap,” she says. “You’re going to have to uncurl.”
“Okay,” Sabrina says, swiveling around so that her feet are on the ground. But her expression is unsure. Like maybe her earlier bravado was just that. “Come to Mama?”
Nellie and Sabrina both dissolve into laughter. It’s doubtful that this will actually happen.
But Nellie moves to sit on Sabrina’s lap, faces her friend, and settles there. “This is weird,” she laughs.
“You’re weird,” Sabrina says.
“C’mon, guys,” says Chloe. “Just do it. This isn’t a big deal.”
“Okay,” says Nellie. “Speak now or forever hold your…”
“I’ll speak now,” Noah says, suddenly. He has been sitting across the room warring with himself. On one hand, this is the game. Also, part of him kind of wants to see this. On the other hand, he’s feeling possessive. Why does Sabrina get to kiss Nell? That’s his job.
Everyone has turned to face him. “What’s the hang-up, slugger?” Chloe asks.
Noah shrugs like this is inconsequential. Like he is not self-conscious now, with everyone staring at him, waiting for an explanation for why he’s the buzzkill stopping the game. “I just don’t think Nell should have to make out with Sabrina.”
“Have to?” Sabrina scrunches her nose. “Thanks a lot.”
“No, what I mean is, I don’t think Nell should make out with anyone… exceptme.”
Chloe grins, deeply amused, while the others exchange surprised looks. “Well, that isn’t the game, Baseball. Anyway, on what grounds?”
He rests an elbow on the top of the couch behind him, leaning back like this is no big deal. “Because,” he says, “she’s my girlfriend.”
But thisisa big deal. A very big deal. Because they haven’t said the b-word or the g-word to each other. They haven’t agreed to be monogamous—even though they both have been. And they still haven’t told the others anything official.
Cara yelps and brings her hands together in front of her chest like a proud mama. Sabrina shrugs like,who knew?But Nellie, she looks over at him with a barely suppressed smile spreading across her face.
“You guys are together-together?” Ben asks.
“Apparently,” Nellie answers, then she pushes herself up off her friend’s lap.
She crosses to the lounge, picks up her shirt, and readies to put it back on.
“Hang on a second,” says Chloe. “You’re not off the hook! You at least have to do the dare with your boyfriend over there—you can’t just donothing.”
