Chapter 11
“Is that a mirror in your pocket? I think I can see myself in your pants.”
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near the same size.”
Adelaide
The entire drive home is lost to me. I was there, awake and aware but not.
Completely on autopilot. I’ve never needed a friend to help me sort something out like this before.
My friends here have proven to be more than biased toward the Irish Casanova, and since it’s after eight at night, they’re most likely in bed already anyway.
That whole antisocial thing I have going on is totally biting me in the ass. I could talk to Eric about it, but I need more. Another girl’s perspective.
Climbing the stairs to my apartment, I text my friend Brielle, hoping she’s not out with her fiancé, Brad. She’s one of the few girls I hung out with in high school. We were pretty tight even though she’s a couple of years older than me.
Instead of pinging with a notification, my phone buzzes, and Bri’s smiling face lights up the screen.
“Hey, am I interrupting anything? You didn’t need to actually call me.”
“Oh my gosh, Adelaide, no. How are you?”
Hearing her voice makes me kind of miss my friend in Kansas City. I was so eager to get away, spread my wings, and start fresh that I never thought twice about the things I would be without, true friendships being one of them.
“I’m okay. I didn’t pull you away from Brad, did I?”
“No.” She snorts. “We need time and a bottle of wine for that story, but that’s over. No more Brad. What’s going on? You sound…I don’t know…thinky.” There’s nothing like a librarian making up words.
“I am thinky, I guess.” I don’t touch on the Brad issue, because I’m thrilled that asshole is out of the picture.
“Is it a guy? A one-night stand who wants more? Is Eric still the only man in your life?” She giggles at the notion of Eric.
I unlock my door, grab his leash from the end table, and go straight for his crate. His little sausage-shaped body wiggles excitedly.
“He’s more than enough testosterone for me. Usually.” I settle him in my arm and head back down the stairs to let him do his thing.
“So, it is about a guy. Spill it.”
I sigh heavily, thinking maybe I should have just slept on the whole thing and then ignored it with every fiber of my being.
“I don’t need a guy. Relationships are a pain in the ass. As a general rule, I don’t like people enough to want to spend large amounts of time with any of them. I’m just not wired that way. I don’t people.”
“But?”
“But this guy has me all confused and rattled. I don’t know, Bri. It makes no sense.”
“What doesn’t make sense, Adelaide?”
“He tends bar, and I thought he was nothing but bad pickup lines and one-night stands. Thinks his shit doesn’t stink, and he’s God’s gift to women. I can’t stand that shit.” I scoop Eric up since he’s done with his business and his short, little legs aren’t conducive to two flights of stairs.
“Keep going. There’s more you’re not telling me.”
“He’s in my class—one that I’m teaching at the community center. And he’s so sweet with my ladies. And he kissed me tonight. And, Bri, I thought I was going to die—like, my skin was all tight and tingly.”
“Adelaide, sweetie, did your toes curl?”
“They did. They so did. And he stole my breath. Brielle, I don’t know what to do,” I whine, pushing through my door.
Eric scampers off to find his squeaky toy.
“Go out with him, Addie,” she says softly. “Give him a chance. And, if nothing else, get laid. You’ll feel better.”
Letting the Addie thing slide because it’s Bri, I snort-laugh at her advice. “That’s exactly what Louise said.”
“Well, listen to your elders. We’ve got experience on you. Let me know how things go, okay? And, if all else fails, rub the nub.”
“Okay, thanks. Maybe I’ll come home soon. Catch up with you and the Brad sitch?”
“You know it. Night, babe.” She hangs up before I can respond.
I throw myself back in my chair, hugging my knees to my chest. Not once since leaving Kansas City have I had a problem with a guy. Finding a release. Getting off and walking away.
It’s not like I’m warm and fuzzy. I don’t really like feeling—feelings.
It’s just sex, endorphins. And it’s been a long fucking time.
Since Eric came on the scene, the dachshund has been the only wiener in my apartment.
Not even the guy who delivers my General Tso’s chicken has stepped foot inside, and we see each other on the regular.
Pushing up out of the chair, I pad through my apartment to the fridge and grab a carton of leftover Chinese and a pair of chopsticks. The flavors bursting in my mouth elicit a small moan that makes me think back to class earlier.
To Finn.
To that kiss.
When he let go of his goofy, cheesy persona at McBride’s and kissed me, more than my toes were affected. I felt that kiss race down my spine, expand through my skin, and set every part of me on fire.
It might have even sparked something in my soul. Thus, me off-balance. Feeling prickly and uncomfortable.
I can practically feel his warm hands grasping and tilting my face, moving me where he wanted me. With our height difference, he could so easily overpower me, but it was nothing like that. He didn’t try to take over in that moment; he just took control.
My God, if he’s anything like that in bed…
Maybe I should listen to Brielle and Louise. Maybe they have a point. If nothing else, it could be some pretty amazing sex. And, really, I won’t have to see him anymore after this class is done in a couple of weeks. This could work.
I finish eating and drop my bowl into the dishwasher. With all the thoughts of Finn’s lips and the hint of getting laid, I’m definitely feeling twitchy. There’s really only one thing to do, one thing that will afford me some relief.
Eric nips at my heels as I traipse down the hall to my bathroom.
I fill the tub, testing the water temperature, adding cherry-and-vanilla-scented bath oil.
Fragrance hangs in the heavy, humid air as I light a candle and slip out of my clothes.
I hit the light switch and push Eric out, closing the door behind him.
The last thing I need is a wiener ruining my moment.
With Eric safely out of my way, I sink low into the tub, steaming water caressing my curves. I slide my hand down my stomach and slip it between my thighs. Brielle’s suggestion bounces around in my brain as my fingers tease and hint at the release my body needs.
As my climax builds, all I can think is, What’s Finn doing right now?