Page 27 of Venus
She laughs, which is the best sound I’ve heard all night. “Fine. But I swear, if you’re just trying to check out my ass again!”
“No promises,” I call over my shoulder as I grab her a fresh towel from my closet.
While she showers, I scoop up her clothes from the floor and toss them into the washer. I turn it on a quick cycle before digging around in my drawer for a clean shirt she can borrow until her clothes are clean.
The fridge is depressing. Two beers, one slightly brown apple, and half a pizza that may or may not be from last Tuesday.
I choose the pizza and beers.Gourmet, right?
When she emerges from the bathroom with damp hair clinging to her neck and my shirt around her thighs, it feels so…right. My brain short-circuits, because this is all I could ask for in this moment, and I’ve got it.
She plops onto the couch and manspreads, revealing her panty-less pussy. My dick stirs, but I ignore it. “Where’s my feast?”
I hand her a slice of cold pizza on a one-dollar plate I got from Wal-Mart. In an imitation Italian accent, I say, “It’s’a family recipe from mi Nona.”
She giggles and takes it without hesitation, taking a big bite. “Perfection.”
We end up on the couch, curled under a blanket, watching old cartoons that don’t require anything but a low-functioning brain and a few snacks. Her head rests on my shoulder. Her feet are tucked under my thigh.
This is the kind of quiet people dream of. The kind of quiet that doesn’t need filling.
“You know,” I say after a while, “I meant what I said earlier.”
“About what?”
“About how I’d be happy to have you just as you are.”
She doesn’t respond. But she doesn’t pull away either. She just reaches for my hand and holds it like she’s testing the waters of something more.
And that? That is enough.Sheis enough.
We watch the screen until our vision goes blurry and our bodies fall limp with sleep. She curls up into my side like a puzzle piece, arm wrapped around my waist and head tucked under my chin.
I don’t dare move, not even to move us to the bedroom. I just listen to her breathe, and I appreciate this moment that she’s giving me. It’s obvious now why she’s always tried to be so distant, and I don’t want to pretend like this isn’t a huge step for her.
The ache in my chest tells me this is never going to be casual again, and I can only hope that she can learn that ‘serious’ with me will never be scary.
Serious with me means she’ll never be alone or unloved again.
Chapter 15 | Venus
Sunlight slides through the blinds in diffused stripes, landing across Carter, casting a pretty glow over his stupidly perfect blond hair.
We’re still exactly where we were last night, curled up on the couch and wrapped around each other like we were afraid we’d float away if we let each other go. It’s warm and quiet, and for a moment, I allow myself to pretend this perfect little moment will last forever.
Carter’s phone alarm begins ringing, and he lifts his head with a groggy grunt before shutting it off. He rubs his palm over his face. “We gotta get up,” he mumbles, before sweeping a loose strand of my hair from my face as if it’s the most natural thing for him.
I groan and bury my head in his chest. “Already?” I ask, as if I don’t already know the answer.
“I’ve got a shift in a few hours,” he says.
I groan again. “Yeah, me too.” I sit up and stretch slowly, sore in the best ways and well-rested.
Carter rests his hand on my bare thigh as I pull the elastic out of my hair and readjust my ponytail. “I’ll take you home to get ready. Coffee run on the way?” he asks.
“I’m fiending for an egg and cheese bagel sandwich.”
Carter chuckles. “We can stop for bagels too.”
