Page 52 of Holidating
He takes it from me and wets it in the kitchen sink. Then he wrings it out. “This will cause evaporation,” he explains, “which will trick the thermostat into thinking that your apartment is even colder than it actually is.” As I watch, he tosses the wet cloth up until it lands on the cage.
And then it promptly slides off again, hitting my floor with a wet slap.
“Huh. Do you have a chair I couldstand on?”
“I got it,” I say, walking over to my tiny counter and putting the loaf of bread on top of the drying rack to make a space. Give me a hand?”
Weston makes a sling out of his hands, and I step onto it. A minute later I’m standing on the counter. Weston hands me the cloth and I spread it out over the cage. “What are the chances this will make a difference?”
“Pretty high,” he says. “I think you’ll come home to a warm apartment. You’ll just have to reset the wet towel when you’re cold. Now let’s go eat bagels. I’m starved.”
Weston is magic. And I don’t mean the sex. When I return to my apartment after my morning classes, the place istoasty. It’s mind blowing. I don’t have to freeze anymore, and for a couple of days, the change is a little hard to get used to.
So is Weston, if I’m honest. I’m not accustomed to receiving sexy texts from him in the middle of my day. Or a voice message asking me if I’m okay to walk home after work the next night.
Price only works on the weekends, I remind him.I’m good.
Yes you are, Weston replies, and I blush at my phone.And I should really stay in and study for this test in statistics.But I’d rather walk you home again. He follows that up with a wink emoji.
Pinch me. This can’t be my real life.
I have a lot of studying to do too, I admit.And I’m working the next four nights.
Nooooooo, he types back.I have back-to-back games out of town this weekend. He follows that up with a pouting emoji.Is there any chance you’re free Sunday night?
I am totally free on Sunday night, I reply quickly.
Phew. Let’s have dinner together after I get back to town. I owe you from our bet.
I blink down at this lovely invitation and try not to dance around like a lunatic.I’d love to, I reply instead.
“What is that look on your face?”
I jump at the sound of Carly’s voice, and I shove my phone into my back pocket. “Just texting with, um, Weston.”
Carly lets out a shriek. “Omigod! I knew it! He’s in lovvvve with you!”
“Shhh!” I hiss. “You’re wrong. We’re just having…” I struggle for words, because this thing with Weston is as hard to explain as it is to believe. “A thing.”
“A thing…” Carly repeats slowly as she shoves a soda glass against the dispenser and fills it with Coke. “Like arelationship?” There are hearts in her eyes already.
“God no. A fling. A tryst. A convenient arrangement.”
“So you’re not ‘just friends’ anymore.”
“Yes we are,” I insist. We’re just friends who—” I don’t finish the sentence, because Kippy is somewhere nearby and I don’t want to be overheard.
“Oh myGod, this is the most exciting thing I’ve heard in alongtime. And speaking of long things…is his thing long?” She giggles.
“Stop it,” I hiss. “That’s an inappropriate question.”
She lets out a dreamy sigh. “Fine. But what about his stamina. I’ll bet an athlete like that can go all night.”
I snort. “There will be no details given out.”
“Whyyyy?” she whines. “It’s not like I’ll ever find out for myself. Weston is going to fall for that cute, sassy thing you’ve got going on. You just took him off the market. And they said it couldn’t be done.”
“It’s just temporary,” I insist. “This is just a physical thing until we both move on. I’ll be leaving Vermont before June, you know.”
