Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
Riley
After carrying some stuff upstairs, I throw a backpack on the floor by Devyn’s feet. “Pack anything you’ll need into the morning.”
“We’re not staying here?” she asks.
I look around her studio apartment. Her empty apartment with the exception of the few boxes we brought with us. “Dev, the furniture isn’t being delivered until tomorrow. Were you planning to sleep on the floor?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I honestly didn’t think about it. I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
I smile. “Good thing I’ve made some plans, isn’t it?” I nod toward the bag. “Hurry up so we can make it in time for the first activity on our agenda.”
“What’s on the agenda?”
“Nice try. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
After she packs her bag, we take the streetcar into the heart of downtown Portland. We walk along the sidewalks until we round a corner and land directly in front of our destination. We’re seated by a window in the bar and order some drinks with appetizers. Devyn nurses her Jack and Seven while we eat and make small talk. Out of nowhere, she gets a full-body shiver that’s pretty hard to ignore.
“You cold?” I ask.
“What? Oh, uh…no. I was just thinking about something from a book I recently read.”
I lift an eyebrow. “One of your smutty books?”
She blushes. “Maybe.”
I bite back a laugh. “In other words, yes.”
Devyn is addicted to dirty romance novels. It’s partly why the whole virginity thing shocked me. Like a dumbass, I assumed someone who reads sexy books has personal experience in that area. But now that I think about it, I suppose those type of stories could be a great way to satisfy one’s curiosity, or maybe even learn a few tricks.
“Was there any bondage in this book?”
Devyn’s jaw drops. “How did you know?”
I laugh. “Wild guess. But it is interesting you’re thinking about bondage right now.”
“I am not!” she denies as her blush deepens. “But for the record, my books are so much more than sex! They’re beautiful love stories.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Yeah, I’m sure the love story is why you enjoy them so much.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why else would I like them?”
“Oh, I don’t know…the dirty, dirty fucking maybe? ”
“Whatever,” she huffs.
“Why are you blushing, Devyn? Because I’m talking about fucking?”
“No!” she denies.
“Since when are you so nervous around me?” I know she’s getting turned on thinking about her lady porn, and I’m going to milk this as much as possible.
She squirms in her seat. “I’m not nervous.”
I laugh. “Liar. Don’t forget who you’re with.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her tits up for my viewing pleasure, and sticks out her tongue. “Whatever.”
I look at my watch and signal for the waitress to settle our tab. “Save that tongue for later. Hurry up and finish your drink. We have to get to our next destination.”
Her blush deepens. “And where was that again?”
“I’m not going to slip, Devyn, so quit trying to get it out of me.” I sign the receipt and stand up to offer my hand. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Devyn
We walk only a couple blocks and end up at Pioneer Courthouse Square, also known as Portland’s living room. It spans an entire city block in the heart of downtown. The center of the square is arranged like an amphitheater where a semicircle of approximately two dozen steps serves as seating. On the west side, there’s a small visitor’s center framed by a cascading waterfall with a coffee shop sitting up above. The entire thing is paved by red bricks, many of which are inscribed with people’s names.
There’s a large projector screen set up in the corner. We make our way through the crowd and find an open spot on the steps. Riley reaches into the bag he’s carrying and pulls out a woolen blanket, spreading it over our legs as we sit down.
It’s obvious there will be a film showing so I ask, “What’s playing tonight?”
He smiles. “ Anchorman .”
I slam my open hand into his chest excitedly. “No way!” Anchorman is one of my all-time favorite movies. Riley reaches into his bag and pulls out two mini bottles of scotch. I grin big and recite one of my favorite quotes from that movie doing my best Ron Burgundy impression. “ I love scotch! Scotchy scotch scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly .”
I chug the bottle and belch afterward, slamming my palm over my mouth in embarrassment. Dear God, can we all please erase that moment from our memories?
Riley laughs. “Sexy, Dev.”
As we watch the film, the temperatures drop, so I start rubbing my arms to get warm.
Riley stands and says, “I’ll be right back.”
I watch as he walks over to the opposite corner and steps inside Starbucks. He returns a few minutes later with two venti hot chocolates. He reaches into his bag again and pulls out two airline bottles of marshmallow vodka, holding them up .
“We’re drinking grown-up hot chocolate tonight,” he explains.
He pops off both of our lids, which conveniently have some room left in the cup and pours the vodka, bringing the chocolatey liquid right to the rim.
I take my first sip and moan. “Oh my god, this is pure heaven.” I continue drinking until my cup runs dry. I feel slightly buzzed and can’t stop thinking how wonderful tonight has been so far.
When Riley puts an arm around my shoulders, I actually start feeling like this is the most perfect date imaginable. I have to constantly remind myself that this isn’t a date, this is Riley. I snuggle into him anyway, and he rests his chin on the top of my head. We watch the rest of the movie in the same position.