Page 81 of Enough
“Too much too soon?” He laughs as he stares into my eyes, ignoring the pizza.
I stand frozen for a moment, my mouth gaping. My vagina just sat up straight for the first time in years and took attention. I envision her pointing to his pants and telling him to drop them immediately. Instead I stand there in awe.
Nick smiles and bends to pick up my pizza from the floor. He wipes the ground with a paper towel and tosses the piece lazily onto his plate. He takes a step forward and kisses mycheek. “Like I said before… like Imeantbefore… I’m in no rush, Ever. I don’t want you running off on me again. Understand? Can you nod your head, please?” he asks.
I manage a nod, and he heads back to the couch to retrieve a new piece of pizza for me. He returns, and we sit in silence at the bar for a few minutes, enjoying our dinner and Diet Coke.
At a quarter to one, I see him yawn and try to hide it. I remember he’s not used to my late hours. “I should probably go.” I stand to toss my plate in the garbage and rinse out my glass.
“What if I don’t want you to leave?”
“It’s late and you’re tired.” I subconsciously yawn, and he smirks. I realize that I’ve barely slept in the last twenty-four hours. Actually, I never slept at all.
“If you worked until 7A.M.and then went to Marlow’s game, did you sleep at all?” he asks as if he’s reading my thoughts.
“No, I guess I forgot.” I shrug.
“Well, it’s settled then. You need to go to bed.”
I nod and amble toward the front door. Inside I wish I didn’t have to leave him either.
“Where are you going?” he asks. “The bedroom’s this way.” He motions toward the hall as he places the leftover pizza in the fridge.
“Nick… I…”
“I promise I won’t lay a finger on you. As a matter of fact, I’ll be sleeping on the couch.”
I ponder his words and glance between his door and the couch.
“It’s late, Ever. Just stay with me. I’m not ready to saygoodnight just yet.”
I really don’t want to say goodbye yet either. Being with him makes me feel so alive. “Okay.”
His crooked smile returns to his face, and my heart beats a little faster.
“Since I’ve already kissed you a few times, I’m perfectly fine if you use my toothbrush, unless that grosses you out.”
“Just for the record, I kissed you,” I advise.
“In the car, I was about to kiss you, and I would have if you hadn’t moved first, but I definitely initiated the second kiss.”
“Well, I guess we’re tied, then,” I announce as I follow him to the bathroom.
“No, not true. I’m way in the lead.”
“How do you figure?” My hands fly to my hips doubtfully.
That’s easy.” He counts on his fingers. “Your cheek the first night I met you, your parents’ doorstep, the car the next day, your bedroom, the movies, my car… then today on the soccer field. The list is endless.” He snickers.
“I initiated a few of those,” I insist.
“Not nearly enough,” he says with a smile. “Hey, do you need something to sleep in? That doesn’t look very comfortable.”
I glance down at my dress and realize he’s right. Then the fear that I won’t fit into his clothes makes me internally cringe.
“Let me get you one of my t-shirts.”
He darts off to his closet and I run after him.
