Page 52 of Until Next Time
“What! What’s that look?” I press.
“Nothing. Nothing at all… the outfit is just making a lot more sense now.” She says almost smugly.
“HA! What’s that supposed to mean, Savannahhh…” I say, drawling out her name.
“Oh, just that I think you’re trying to torture a certain someone.”
I lean forward and bring the freshly poured Pinot to my lips and take a sip. I smile innocently.
“Well I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why would I want to torture someone? That sounds just cruel.” I say, laden with heavy sarcasm.
She rolls her eyes and smiles at me.
“Don’t get me wrong, I believe in torture under these conditions usually—but be easy on him. I think there’s a bigger battle under the surface than I think he’s letting on.” She reaches out and touches my hand before walking to the other end of the bar to tend to some patrons that just sat down, leaving me there, wondering how much she knows about this situation.
I’m thinking it’s a lot more than I think.
* * *
Max sauntered into the winery right on time. He has that look of money written all over him. Always neatly pressed pants, some sort of dress shirt, sleeves cuffed to look effortless, and he wears a gold chain. I’ve never really been into men wearing jewelry, but I get the appeal. Any woman who sees Max would do a double take. He’s handsome, clean, and confident, and like I said, has the look of money.
He sauntered up to me, taking my hands so that I’d stand to my feet. He held my hand and spun me around, taking in myoutfit. He licked his lips and said, “Damn, Baby. You look so sexy right now.” His eyes were dark and I immediately regretted my wardrobe choice.
His words made me feel dirty. Like, I hated hearing him call me ‘baby.’ I got that same feeling that you get when a man disrespects you by staring at you like it’s his right to undress you in his mind. The type of look that makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong.
It felt possessive and I think I’m suddenly very grossed out by the thought of Max and me in any possessive capacity.
At any rate, this night was going to happen regardless so I offered him a smile, grabbed his hand and let him lead us to his car—that just so happens to be directly outside of the main doors—right in the middle of the fire lane, Because after all, Max is all about Max and his swanky car. And his gold chain, and apparently common traffic laws don’t apply to him, or so he thinks.
* * *
We pull into the parking lot of The Brick and I see Dawsen’s black truck in the lot. Just seeing it sends a sinking feeling deep into the pit of my stomach. The way my body reacts to anything that has to do with Dawsen Jones is wholly irritating, and the feeling is festering. I can feel the tips of my ears heat.
Max pulls into a parking spot and shift his car into park. He turns the ignition off and looks over at me, reaching his hand across the console to rest it on my knee.
“After dinner, want to come to my place for a night cap? We can watch a movie, have a drink, and see where things go?” He says, his voice low, sultry and his eyes are everywhere except my eyes.
Could he be any less subtle? It’s taking everything in me to not gag and roll my eyes. If only he knew how far from ‘Seeing where things go’ he actually was. It’s in this moment that I really need to re-evaluate this situation and probably let him down sooner rather than later. Because I know for certain, this isn’t going to go anywhere long term.
“So listen. I have really enjoyed spending time getting to know you, but I do feel wrong not being completely honest and up front with you about something.” I shift in my seat to face him a bit more head on. His attention is locked on me, and his eyes have finally found mine.
“So, I’m actually a virgin. Being intimate is just something I take very seriously, so I just wanted you to know that, and I don’t want to lead you on or give you the wrong idea of my intentions.”
I am not ashamed of my virginity at all, but I won’t lie and say that it’s an easy topic of discussion with boyfriends or the male species in general. In my experience, they’ll run for the hills, respectfully of course, or they’ll think they’re going to be the one to change that, and look at me as a challenge. It’s been the demise of all my relationships, which furthers my confidence in the decision. Because any man who gives up when I don’t give in, well—is he amanat all?
If you don’t want me for my heart and my mind, then you sure as hell aren’t going to have an open invite to my body.
I can tell he wasn’t expecting that.
“Wow, I had no idea. That’s really… that’s really great. I really respect it.” Max says, you can tell his brain is going a mile a minute.
“I would never want to rush you into anything, or pressure you. Thank you for telling me, baby.” He rubs his thumb across my knee reassuringly.
I wish he would stop calling me that.
“Yeah, well, thank you.” I say, distracted by the pet name calling and the knee rubbing.
“Well, should we go in? I’m pretty hungry.” Max asks, sounding a little awkward honestly. I think I stunned him.
