Page 23 of Wild Love
“It’s different now,” I say. “Now that our friends are all coupled up. I see how happy they are. I want that.”
“You know what you need?” he asks.
“Oh my god, I swear if you hit on me right now, I’m going to break one of these beer bottles and beat you over the head with it.”
“First of all, ouch. That’s some crazy bar brawl shit, Kota.”
I laugh. I’ve seen Patrick Swayze inRoad Houseone too many times, admittedly.
“Second, stop trying to force it. Enjoy the weirdos and the cringe stories. Have fun with it. Things will happen when they’re supposed to. Life is a series of events that you can either let push you down or shrug them off and move on. I’m single and making the most of it.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve seen you making the most of it. Two girls at a time. How does one girl compare after that, seriously?”
“You know the great thing about two girls instead of one?”
“Oh man, I feel like I should be taking notes. I cannot wait to hear this. No, Johnny, what’s the great thing about two girls instead of one? Outside of the obvious two vaginas to stick it in thing.”
He shakes his head. “It takes off the pressure. From everyone.”
“The pressure? Seriously? You poor thing. Performance anxiety? I knew it.”
“Think about it. You’re hooking up with someone, and it’s just the two of you. Every movement, every word is a back and forth trying to read one another and wondering how the other thinks or feels. Casual sex, especially when you get more than two people, is all about fun. No one calls the day after a threesome to see if you want to grab a coffee.”
I give my head a shake, but I can’t hide my smile. I understand what he means, though. It’s about expectations.
You take people at their word, and sometimes they disappoint you. They make you feel special and wanted, they say all the right things, but you don’t really know their heart. The upside? Eventually, people always show you their true colors.
And it isn’t just in dating either. We have expectations in all kinds of relationships. I learned this lesson at eighteen when a man that I trusted, my high school track coach, made me believe that I was a talented runner who had a bright career ahead of her. Maybe I did, but he never really believed that. He was saying and doing whatever he thought would get him in my pants. It’s kind of incredible the lengths some people will go to to keep you from knowing they only want sex. Expectations.
He grins back. “Besides, two chicks wanting me at once—sohot.”
“And there it is. I’m going to be single forever. I appreciate your honesty, though.”
We fall quiet. The only sound is Charli snoring.
“We should probably get some sleep.” I struggle to get on my feet from the awkward position I’m sitting. Mav hops up and takes my hands, lifting me with ease.
He’s so tall that he can’t quite stand all the way up without knocking into the ceiling fan.
“Thanks.”
He drops his hands but holds on to mine, lightly running his thumbs along the backs of my fingers. He smiles, the same friendly Maverick smile he always does, but my heart rate speeds up.
“Let me show you to the guest room.” I change my tone to speak to Charli. “Come on, girl.”
Why, yes, I am using the dog to get out of this situation. I’ve got images of Maverick with two girls stuck in my head, and I don’t hate the view. What is wrong with me?
“My room is the last door on the right. Dad is last on the left, and he does own a gun. You’ve been warned.”
He drops his bag on the bed, and Charli climbs right up, does a circle on the end of the mattress, and lies back down.
“Night, Mav.”
“Hey, wait.” He grabs my hand as I turn to leave.
“Oh right, the bathroom is across the hall. You can go first.”
“Thanks, but that’s not it.” He looks uneasy as he shifts from one foot to another.
