5. Sloane
SLOANE
River:
Truth or dare?
I’m only half awake when the text message comes through, and I mentally curse whoever is texting me at what I can only surmise to be eight o’clock or earlier because I’m usually up shortly after that.
I briefly thought it could be my parents, but they know the time difference, and more importantly, they know their daughter, who is not exactly a morning person.
I manage to peel my eyelids open, and I’m shocked to see that one, it’s almost nine thirty, and two, that the text is from River.
A smile finds my face despite my prior irritation at being woken up because I’d sign up to wake up to flirty texts from a hot-as-fuck older man any day.
Me:
Truth
River:
Playing it safe, I see
Me:
My eyes have barely been open for thirty seconds. Give me a break!
River:
Oh shit, I’m sorry, did I wake you?
Me:
Yes, lol but it’s fine.
River:
Hungover from the margaritas?
Me:
Nope, just a little tired from all the traveling. Besides, you know, they say the trick to not getting hangovers is being under twenty-five. I imagine you’ve forgotten what that’s like?
River:
Alright, alright. Sounds like you’re awake if you’re already giving me shit.
Me:
Ready for my truth!
River:
What’s your favorite place that you’ve visited?
I’m used to this question, and I knew it was coming, yet somehow I’m unprepared. I’ve been to a little over half of the countries in the world, so while there are still so many I haven’t been to, this question always stresses me out because I’ve loved so many things about so many places.
Me:
Can I do top five? It’s so hard to narrow it down!
River:
I’ll allow it.
Me:
Japan, Greece, India, Italy, Peru… and honestly, that is liable to change with the day.
River:
That’s quite a list.
Me:
Where would you like to go?
River:
Anywhere on your list, honestly. I’ll admit I haven’t been to that many places. Surely, not as many as you.
I’m used to the slight intimidation that comes from people when they hear where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing for most of my life, but I try not to be annoying about it.
It’s not like I chose to travel or paid for it, for that matter.
It’s very easy to travel and live the life I have on someone else’s dime.
Me:
That’s okay. You’ve got time before you start having all the kids.
River:
I can’t believe we talked about that.
Me:
I can’t wait to get you high again and see what else I can get out of you!
River:
Not happening. But maybe you can try it after a few drinks.
I wince because although I do have a fake ID that I got as soon as I got back to the States, since the drinking age is not eighteen, I haven’t tried it out at that many places.
If River and I do go out, hopefully I can get away with not drinking if I get the vibe that they won’t take it.
The last thing I need is to get carded and for River to find out that I am not twenty-one.
Me:
Sounds like someone’s a bit of a lightweight if you’re spilling all your secrets after a couple of drinks.
River:
Definitely not a lightweight.
Me:
Something about me then?
River:
Wouldn’t you like to know
A smile finds my lips because he is definitely flirting.
Me:
I would, but more on that later. I’m going to ask a series of questions, answer them as fast as you can.
River:
Okay, shoot.
Me:
What’s your favorite movie?
River:
The Godfather probably but like you, I have a list
Me:
Favorite color?
River:
I guess blue?
Me:
Favorite food?
River:
Steak or anything my brother’s fiancée makes.
Me:
Favorite sport to watch or play
River:
Football.
Me:
lol. Color me shocked on that last one.
River:
I’m a simple man. What about you? Movie, color, food, sport
Me:
Shawshank Redemption, pink, pizza- but only from Italy unfortunately lol, soccer. I do like American football, but it’s not popular in other countries, so I haven’t watched it much.
River:
Was not expecting Shawshank as your favorite movie
Me:
My dad is a movie buff, and I’ve seen all the “classics” *eye roll emoji*. Most were amazing and absolutely worthy of being considered among the greats, while some definitely bored me to tears. But nothing has ever beat it for me. It’s so good.
River:
I have to agree.
He doesn’t say anything else, so I get up to brush my teeth and use the bathroom, and when I come back, I have another message from him.
River:
I have another question. Maybe a little bit of a deeper truth
Me:
Go for it.
River:
Why’d you come back here for school? After all the places you’ve been, I would think you might want to study somewhere more exciting?
Deflect and get him off the topic of school.
Me:
Honestly, I wanted to be close to family, and they lived here. I’ve never really been away from home in the sense of having my parents close by, so I just wanted some familiarity.
River:
That's fair. Do you see yourself here long-term?
Me:
Maybe. Kind of hard to say what comes next after the next four years. I plan to be here until I graduate, though. Do you see yourself here for a while?
River:
For sure. I love what I do and the kids I coach. Not to mention my brother and his kids are here. I like the area, and it’s a good place to raise a family when the time comes.
Me:
That’s what I hear! Is your house big enough for all the kiddos?
River:
No ha ha, I’d need to get something bigger. It’s big enough for me and maybe one child, but once that doubles, we’ll need more room.
A light tapping on the door followed by my cousin coming in pulls me out of my message with River.
“I thought I heard you shuffling around in here. Want to go for a run before it gets too hot?” she asks as she slides a headband up over her dark hair.
Delaney started dying her dirty blond hair a dark chestnut the second her parents let her, and chopped it to just above her shoulders, making me convinced that the bob look was made for her.
“Yes, definitely.” We are both going out for the cheerleading squad when school starts, and while it’s more of a formality for her since she was on the team last year and probably pretty easy for me given my fourteen years of gymnastics training, we are trying to stay on top of our cardio.
Me:
As much as I’m enjoying this conversation, I’m going for a run with my cousin. Text later?
River:
For sure. Enjoy your run.
“I am so stoked about this. Nothing interesting ever happens to anyone I know. I should have known having you back would spice up my life by proxy.” Delaney giggles while she continues to drag clothes across the rack.
It’s later in the day, and we decided to go to the mall to start shopping for school clothes.
Delaney has a summer job, but she took a few days off to hang out with me when I got here.
I’m already dreading when she goes back to work, when I’ll be forced to keep myself entertained.
Delaney’s father is an emergency room doctor, so he works crazy hours, and her mom sits on the board of about ten different foundations and is always at a luncheon or dinner or planning one, so her parents aren’t home often.
She’s an only child, my guess because they are rarely home, so I imagine I’ll be by myself most of the time.
They’re not bad people. They are just not always present parents.
Lucky for them, Delaney only pushes how far she can go with that a little.
She’ll throw the occasional party and might break curfew every once in a while, but she maintains impeccable grades despite the fact that no one is really around to make her study.
The fact that I’m nineteen is the only reason my parents were okay with me moving in with them.
My mother and Delaney’s mother are sisters, so my mom knows how little parenting my Aunt Beth actually does, which is why I’m only staying with them conditionally.
If, after a semester, my grades slip or I get into “mischief,” my parents will move home until I graduate.
I was homeschooled from the time I was 10 years old until now. My parents can be a little overprotective.
“Nothing may even happen. He may just want to talk.”
“Yeah, talk to your pussy.” She snorts as she holds up a navy strapless dress to her frame before tossing it over her arm.
“D!” I whisper as I look around, praying that no one is within earshot.
“Oh relax.” She briefly glances around before turning back to the rack. “There are no kids present. Has he texted since this morning?”
“No, but he may be waiting for me. I think I insinuated I’d text him later.”
“Go in the dressing room and send him a pic.” She gives me a sly smile, and I shake my head.
“We are not there.” Though the thought of exchanging spicy pictures with River does send a sizzle through me that ends with a flutter between my legs. Remembering his comment about his hidden tattoos has me thinking about all the places they could be.
Just above his dick.
His ass.
Somewhere on his chest.
He was wearing pants at the airport, so maybe a thigh tat?
Fuck me.
My thoughts are interrupted by Delaney’s reply. “I didn’t say nudes, calm down. Just a cute selfie!”
“That’s not lame?” I don’t have a ton of experience with what I would call “text game,” so I’m a bit in uncharted territory.
“No? Say you’re at the mall and ask him what he’s doing.”
“I don’t want to come off clingy.”
“You guys haven’t even kissed yet. He’s probably staring at his phone right now, waiting for you to text him. After you fuck him, then you back off.” She points at me.
“Who says I’m going to fuck him?”
“Oh please, what’s the other option? Date him seriously?” She laughs. “Yeah, that’ll work. Ask the thirty-eight-year-old how he feels about taking you to prom,” she says sarcastically with an eye roll. “I’m going to try these on.”
I take my clothes into my dressing room and look at myself in the mirror. I was having a great hair day, and the tank dress I was wearing highlighted my curves without being too sexy. The dress was short and showed off my legs, which had been hidden under leggings at the airport.
I suppose a picture couldn’t hurt.
I take a few pictures in the mirror and send him one.
Me:
At the mall with my cousin. What are you doing?
His response is pretty quick, and I definitely owe Delaney for the idea when I see what he says.
River:
I somehow forgot how gorgeous you are. Christ, Sloane.
I send him a selfie, this one closer to my face.
Me:
So you don’t forget
He hearts the picture, and moments later, I get the message I’ve kind of been expecting since he texted me last night.
River:
What does your week look like? I want to see you again.
River:
If you want.
He adds like an afterthought, and I smile because I think he’s nervous.
Me:
What happened to thinking I was too young?
River:
I got over it, mostly.
Me:
Well, I’m pretty flexible. Maybe Thursday?
It’s Monday, so this gives us a few days to chat a little more and hopefully make sure that he’s not dangerous or a creep.
River:
That’s perfect. I have practice until three. Dinner?
Me:
Sounds great. Just tell me where to meet you.
Later that day, I’m putting the rest of my clothes away in the guest room's closet when my phone vibrates with a text, and I immediately have butterflies, hoping it’s River.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited to talk to a guy.
Sure, I’ve had crushes, but this just feels different.
A thought floats through my head that it can’t really be anything until I tell the truth about my age and what I’m really doing in Maryland, but I push it away before it can really fester.
River:
What kind of food do you like? Is there anything I should stay away from?
Me:
Nope, I’m not picky!
River:
I was thinking we could go to DC? Or is that too far for you? I’m not sure where exactly you are in Maryland.
DC isn’t far from here at all, relatively speaking, which makes me wonder if he lives nearby. A haunting thought creeps into my brain that he might teach in the school district that I’ll be attending, or worse, what if he taught at my new school?
I laugh at the thought, because that would just be entirely too coincidental, and life wasn’t that ironic. I decide not to answer his question regarding proximity.
Me:
DC is perfect! I haven’t been since I’ve been back.
River:
Great. There are just much better food options in my opinion. I know you mentioned liking Italian. It’s not as good as Italy, but there’s a restaurant that’s the closest I’ve found. There’s also a Mexican restaurant I go to a lot that’s the best in my opinion, and a Thai spot.
The fact that he’d put some thought into this and named my three favorite cuisines excites me even more.
Me:
Tacos!
River:
You got it.
He sends me a link with the address, and I breathe a little sigh of relief that it’ll take me about an hour to get there from here, which makes me believe he probably doesn’t live around here if he’s frequenting this restaurant.
Maybe he actually lives and teaches in DC, but just said Maryland since that was the airport we were flying into.
I shake my head, trying to rid my brain of the wayward thoughts that this may all be hitting literally way too close to home, because this was just about having fun.
I’ll go on a date with the hot guy from the airport.
Maybe I’ll sleep with him, maybe I won’t.
Hopefully, I will.
But he is never going to find out I lied about my age.
And even if he does, it’s not a big deal.
I’m nineteen. I’m of legal age.
Yes, okay, I’m still in high school, but that’s only because I’ve been homeschooled.
I technically should be in my first year of college.
There’s no way he’ll find out.
By the time I’m back in school in two weeks, this thing with River will have fizzled out.
It’s just harmless fun.
Live a little, Sloane.