Page 59 of Wrench
cheeks, dazed blue eyes, and a loony grin were all on her face and I laughed. ¡°You¡¯re a
naughty girl, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Immediately, she looked ashamed, and looked down at her lap. ¡°I¡ I don¡¯t know¡¡± It
seemed like she was trying to make up an excuse but instead laughed and made eye
contact with me. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s wrong with me today. I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°Oh, Samantha.¡± I stepped closer and grazed my fingers against her collar bone.
Reflexively, she fluttered her lashes and arched her back toward me. ¡°Never apologize to
me for that.¡± Deciding to change the awkward subject, even though it was seriously
turning me on, I asked her, ¡°So, how¡¯d you like the bike? Other than¡ you know.¡±
When we walked side together on the sidewalk, I noticed she kept her hands in her
back pockets. Most girls I¡¯d been with always played that dumb hand brushing game,
trying to hint at me to make the first move. But she kept hers secured to herself. I found
it interesting.
¡°It was scary,¡± she said after taking a moment to think. ¡°But exhilarating.¡±
¡°Exhilarating¡± rolled off her tongue like she was still coming off her first rider¡¯s high,
making me smile. It was an experience she¡¯d never forget.
¡°How¡¯d you feel?¡± I asked her and she looked up at the crescent moon that hung in the
navy sky. She inhaled through her nose and pondered with a straight face before nodding
to herself.
¡°Free.¡±
When we got to the Tavern, I saw confusion grow in her eyes. I grabbed her hand and
led her around the corner to the kitchen¡¯s back door. Unlocking it, I let her walk in first.
The cooks had left an hour ago, so the room was dark. When I turned on the lights, she
peered at the batwing doors, listening to the hollers and chants from the bar.
¡°So, I guess I forgot to tell you,¡± I said. ¡°I live there.¡± I pointed my finger directly above
us. She craned her neck up and her lips gaped. ¡°Scared yet?¡±
She snapped her neck back at me with a frown and shook her head. ¡°No.¡±
There was no hesitation from her, just honesty, and I felt a strange appreciation
toward her. Not lingering on the feeling, I reached up and grabbed the string to pull the
staircase.
