5. Chapter 5
I sprinkled texture powder into my hair, working the loose curls as I stared into the mirror, getting ready for my date.
Well, it was more of a sex date, but I was excited.
It was hard to find dates, with me being underage and unable to get into gay bars.
At least he planned to take me out to dinner first.
Even if he said he hadn’t had sex yet, I could tell he would take charge, and it was exactly the way I liked it. God, not only did he save me the other morning, but he knew exactly what he wanted. It was still hard to believe he chose me, but I’d take it.
“Tommy! Open! I have to pee !” Annie yelled through the door .
“I’m almost done!”
Ugh, I hated having to share a bathroom with my sister. One day, I’d be able to afford my own place. For now, as long as my sister was still a teen and Dad was…
Stop. Don’t think about Dad. You have a date tonight. Positive and sexy vibes only .
I opened the door, and Annie shoved me aside. “Out! I can’t hold it.”
I chuckled and headed toward my bedroom, wrapped in a towel, and dug into my dresser to find a pair of underwear, which I tugged on.
Then I dropped my towel and fingered through the few shirts I had hanging up in my closet.
Maybe the blue plaid short-sleeved button-up.
It brought out my eyes, but it was cold out, too.
I shrugged on the shirt anyway and buttoned it up before digging around for some jeans—no skinny ones. We didn’t want Easton taking an hour to peel them off me.
“Where are you going?” Annie asked, now out of the bathroom and leaning in the doorway.
I grinned at her. “Your favorite brother has a date.”
“Tsh… You’re my only brother. So, who’s this guy?”
“His name is Easton, and he’s dreamy . There was this dude who was so mean the other day at the coffee shop, getting mad and yelling at me. Easton just twisted the guy’s arm and pinned him to the counter, basically telling him to shut the hell up.” I fluttered my lashes. “He’s my hero.”
“He sounds psychotic. So, that’s it? You’re just going to date this nut job? ”
I wasn’t about to tell my fifteen-year-old sister that this was just sex. But maybe if I were good enough, he’d want more. Not that I was an expert, but I wasn’t a virgin, either.
“Well, that and he’s hot.”
“Whatever happened to personalities?”
“He’s got a personality. He’s broody and—”
“That’s not a personality. That’s a flaw.”
“Pfft, it is so a personality trait. Anyway! He’s broody, intelligent, knows what he wants, and doesn’t play games. He even has a good job with some travel insurance company. Exactly what I like and want.”
“Where’s he taking you?”
To his apartment to fuck , but I didn’t dare say that out loud. “I don’t know yet. I think he mentioned getting sushi. It’s only a first date. We’ll figure it out.”
She rolled her blue eyes that matched mine. “In other words, you’re just going to fuck.”
“Jesus, Annie! You’re only fifteen. You’re not supposed to know such things.”
She rolled her eyes again. “I’ve had sex education, thank you very much. And there is this little thing called the Internet. You may have heard of it.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Brat, but I love you, anyway.” I tugged on a pair of baggy jeans, zipped them up, and looked at myself in the mirror hanging over my dresser. Then I faced Annie with my arms out. “Well, how do I look?”
She shrugged. “Like you always do.”
“Ugh, I know, but I can’t… ”
She stepped up to me and wrapped her thin arms around me, and I held her back. “I know. We can’t afford much. Anyway, he better love you, or I’m going to punch him in the nuts.”
I chuckled and kissed the top of her blond head. “It’s just a date, Annie Boo.”
I needed to hurry so I wouldn’t be late. Something told me Easton wouldn’t appreciate it.
“Okay, I’m off. Don’t wait up for me.”
We hugged again, and I ran off after grabbing my wallet and house key, which hung on a chain, and wrapped it around my neck.
“Have fun.”
“Text me if you need me.”
Even if I stayed the night at Easton’s place, Annie would be fine to go to school on her own. We’d been taking care of ourselves for years now.
As I ran down the stairs and grabbed my coat from the tiny front closet, Dad stopped me. “Where are you going?”
I shrugged on my coat, pulled on a scarf, and put on my gloves. “I’ve got a date.”
“Who is this man?”
“Someone I met at the coffee shop. Anyway, I’ll be back later.”
“Wait… Tommy?”
I turned to face him as he walked over to me from the living room. “Yeah?”
He stood there, rubbing his neck, not looking at me. A lump formed in my throat and worked its way down to my stomach. It was an all-too-familiar feeling .
“Listen, uhm, do you think there’s a way to get back that money I gave you? I, ah… there’s this horse and I know she’s going to win. I could really make bank on her.”
I always tried to be happy and positive. Life was hard enough as it was, but Dad was good at disappointing me. He didn’t try to be a bad man, but he stopped being a good man a while ago.
There was no way I was giving him that money back, no matter how much I hated how he’d gotten it.
“Sorry, Dad. Can’t. I spent it on tuition, like you said.
” I hated lying so much. I hated listening to it and doing it.
But I didn’t want him begging me for it if I told him it was in the bank.
Thank god, I deposited it. I had no doubt once I left, he’d snoop around in my room.
“Dammit! I need that cash,” he snapped.
I tensed, feeling the anger rise. “You don’t need it. Anyway, I’m gone. Don’t wait up.”
I rushed out of there before he could complain or beg, slamming the screen door behind me.
The late afternoon was cold and still wet from the sleeting last night, but at least it hadn’t frozen over. I jogged to the bus stop two blocks away and waited.
I made it to the coffee shop with five minutes to spare and stood outside, waiting. A minute later, a bright grass-green Porsche pulled up in front. Wow, what a pretty car. I wasn’t into cars all that much, but that one really stood out. It was beautiful with its unique color.
My jaw suddenly dropped when Easton climbed out. God, he looked so sexy in his gray-blue scarf and black wool coat. There was not a blond hair out of place. He was so elegant and handsome.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ah, yeah.”
He opened the door for me like a complete gentleman, and I climbed in, suddenly feeling inadequate in my clothing choice, but I trusted Easton for being honest that he wanted to take me on a date and to have sex.
His car smelled of his cologne, which was light and crisp with a touch of sweetness and spice, not overwhelming at all. I took a deep breath of it. It was a truly sexy scent, and it fit him perfectly.
“I hope I don’t sound rude…” I started.
“Rudeness doesn’t affect me. Just speak your words.”
Ugh, I loved that. Just speak your mind. “Right… So, how do you afford such a car?”
“I get paid a lot.”
“I’m clearly in the wrong business.”
He glanced at me before putting the car in reverse and backing out of the spot. “You don’t want to be in my business. It’s challenging and messy work. I also come from money.”
That made more sense.
“So, sushi, right?”
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in a silent rhythm. “Yes. There’s a place not too far. It’s the only place I’ll eat sushi at. I’m picky about my food. Certain foods disgust me.”
“I’ve never had it.”
He looked at me again without an expression on his pretty face. “You should have told me.”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I want to try it. We can’t… really afford sushi at home. ”
Easton said nothing else as we pulled into the parking lot of a busy restaurant ten minutes later.
“Stay.”
I stayed put as he ordered, but I undid my seatbelt. He rushed to the other side and opened the door for me again. I climbed out with pent-up excitement at what a gentleman he was. I suppose growing up with wealth would do that.
To my surprise, he took my hand in his. His palm and fingers were smooth and warm.
I tried not to think about my own calloused hands.
Easton tugged me into the restaurant as if he were claiming me, letting everyone know I belonged to him.
God, why did that make my heart race in the best way?
The last guy I dated didn’t like showing off that he had a boyfriend.
He kept all that private. Easton made me feel seen and appreciated without even trying.
He carried such a wonderful nonchalance. That nothing affected him.
We stepped into sheer elegance. Now I really regretted what I’d worn. Would it kill me to get at least one nice shirt? I could probably find something decent at Goodwill .
“I have a reservation,” he said when we stepped up to the host. “Easton Virgil.”
“I feel underdressed,” I said under my breath to him as I removed my coat.
He scanned me up and down before we followed the young woman to our table. “You look fine. But if you want nicer clothes, I’ll get you some.”
I chuckled, unsure if he was joking. “That’s funny.”
“I’m serious. ”
“Whoa, whoa… no,” I chuckled again, this time nervously. “That’s okay. You don’t need to buy me things. We barely know each other.”
We sat down and opened our menus, but Easton looked at me with confusion on his face. “Is that wrong?”
“Buying me things?”
He nodded.
“It’s not wrong, it’s just… not something you usually do on a first date.”
“Got it. I’m new to dating.”
I smiled and quietly giggled. “I can tell. It’s really cute.”
“You think I’m cute?”
I nodded. “Very.”
Easton straightened his shoulders and rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table as I read the menu. After a minute, I sighed. “I have no idea what I want or what I’ll like.”
“I can order for you. I always get the same thing, and it doesn’t disappoint.”
“Yeah, sounds good, but I don’t want to eat too much.”
“Why?”
I leaned forward to keep my voice down. “Because I’m bottoming, right?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to get full.”
His pretty, pale brown eyes cleared of confusion. “Oh, I see. You’ve cleaned up.”
“Exactly. ”
Ugh, my face burned again. I loved the directness, but it definitely took some getting used to, especially when he never smiled, while I smiled all the time.
“Easton? Can I ask you a question? If it offends you…”
“I don’t get offended,” he said, still tapping his fingers.
I rested my chin on my hand, completely in awe of this man. “Right… How come you don’t smile?”
“I smile.”
“Oh, sorry… It’s just that I haven’t seen you do it yet. I’m just wondering if you’re sad or something. I have a good ear if you need to talk.”
Easton rested an elbow on the table and put his chin on his hand, mirroring my pose, and then he smiled brightly. I knew it wasn’t a real smile, but holy hell, it looked like it. It brightened his entire face, making him even more beautiful.
“Wow,” I breathed. I had no other words.
Before he could respond, the server approached our table.
“I’ll have a root beer, and we will start with some edamame and miso soup for each of us,” he ordered.
“I’ll just stick with water.”
Easton went on to order a couple of sushi rolls I couldn’t pronounce.
As we waited for our food and drinks, he said, tapping his fingers again, “I have high-functioning autism. It was something I was tested for. It doesn’t severely impact my life, but it makes me a bit different from others.”
“Oh, that’s really interesting. So, you’re neurodivergent?”
“Yes. ”
“Is it hard?”
He thought about it for a moment before giving a quick shake to his head. “No, why should it be?”
I smiled brightly, unable to take my eyes off his gorgeousness. God, I was so lucky. He was amazing, cute, special, sexy, strong, confident… I seriously won the dating lottery.
“Not at all. It makes you really special,” I admitted. Being so open like this took some getting used to, but the more I did it, the easier it became.
“I like that. I like that you tell me those things, since people aren’t very straightforward.”
When the server brought our drinks, I raised my glass and food. “To being straightforward?”
He clinked my glass in return. “To being straightforward,” he recited.
“So, where were you yesterday?” I asked, taking a sip of my soup, which was light and brothy, with some tofu and seaweed. It was really good. “I didn’t see you at the coffee shop.”
“I was working. Since you weren’t there today, I didn’t bother going in.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, fiddling with my chopsticks, trying desperately not to gush. “Aww, that’s sweet.”
Ugh, I had such a crush on Easton. There was no dancing with words, no game playing, no lies. It was comfortable, taking uncertainty out of the equation.