Page 7 of Cheesecake
“Ikissed Corey,” I whisper, sitting outside with Tina after dinner that night. Rob is inside with Mom washing up, and Tina and I are sitting by the firepit playing Go Fish.
“What?” Her eyes bug out and a massive grin curves her mouth. “How? When? You have to tell meeverything.”
I press my lips together, fighting the instant smile that’s trying desperately to take over and light me up like the fourth of July. “This morning. After we surfed. I was trying to tell him that I understood why he didn’t want to be anything more than friends and then he just…”
“He’s a great kisser too, I’ll bet,” she says, her eyes shining as she leans her chin on her hand like she’s really settling in for the story.
“I mean, I don’t have anything to compare it to but, it was pretty great.”
Somehow her eyes get wider. “What? How? How have you never been kissed until now? Does he know? Oh, my god. Did he know you were a…” She pointedly looks down before returning to my eyes.
“No,” I say. “He has no idea I’m a virgin,” I whisper. “And neither does anyone else, so shhh.”
She mimes zipping her lips. “Your secret is safe with me, and I’m relieved. Some guys have a thing about taking a girl’s V-card. It’s totally skeezy.”
“Really?” I frown. “Why? Don’t guys prefer some experience?”
“My theory is that the guys who love collecting cards have tiny dicks and no foreplay skills so they go around picking up chicks who don’t know any better and spread disappointment like an STD.”
“Oh, ew.” I sit back and grimace.
“But don’t worry. Corey totally gives off big dick vibes, plus, you’ve seen him in a wetsuit—how big is the bulge?”
“What?”
“You know. The dick and ball bulge? What’s he packing? A baseball? A coconut?” She twists her mouth downward. “We don’t want a golf ball.”
“Oh, uh, I haven’t really looked.”
“Lies! We all look. Guys sneak looks at tits and girls sneak looks at dicks. Especially if they’re wearing gray sweatpants. God blessed us all the day those were invented, let me tell you.”
My cheeks are onfire.“Fine. It’s, uh…” I shape my hands to the size I recall Corey’s ‘bulge’ being.
Tina gives me a high five. “Big dick energy, baby!” she yells, summoning my brother almost instantaneously.
“What are you saying about me?” he asks at the door, causing us both to laugh.
“Nothing, my love,” she says, getting up out of her chair. “But I do have a sudden urge for cheesecake. How about we all go to the Hyacinth Café?” She looks to me like it’s the most brilliant and random idea ever.
“Sure,” Rob says with a bounce of his shoulder. “You coming, Pen?”
“You know me and cheesecake,” I say, secretly loving Tina right now. “Can’t get enough of it.”
“That’s the way,” Tina says. “And we’ll bring your mom back a slice too. Let’s go, gang!” She lifts her hands and hollers like we’re about to enter a nightclub. I’ve never been one to have a lot of female friends, but Tina is pretty awesome. I’m going to be rooting for her and Rob to always be together. I could use a sister like her.
* * *
“Lucky me. Twice in one day.”Corey smiles and his eyes drop to my mouth as I approach the counter, my face and body heating up just being near him.
“Tina and Rob want cheesecake, so of course they asked me to tag along.”
“Well, I’m glad they did,” he says, grabbing three plates and opening the cake display. “I wanted to talk to you anyway.” He takes out three slices and methodically plates them up, glancing at me as he works.
“Oh.” I take a tiny step back. “What about?”Please don’t tell me that kiss was a mistake.
“I’m taking the rugrat to the aquarium tomorrow.” He sets the plates on a tray then meets my eyes. “I thought maybe you could tag along with us if you have time.” His eyes lower and he twists one plate slightly and unnecessarily like he’s nervous or something—likeImakehimnervous. “No pressure though.”
An enormous smile takes over my face. “I’d love that. As long as it’s not going to complicate things for you. I mean, your mom didn’t look too impressed when she saw us surfing together.”
