really?”
She pulled away, putting distance between us, and I instantly missed the press of her body against mine.
“That night in Philadelphia,” I started. “When we were stranded, and you wanted to, uh…”
“Fuck,” she finished the sentence for me.
I could feel my cheeks grow warm at the expletive. “Yeah. I, uh, I wasn’t really on my period.”
Her lips thinned in a smug smile. “I didn’t think so. But it was a clever cover story.” She made an amused humming sound. “I thought you were this shy, awkward, little thing—but then you showed up at my house unannounced, and I had to reassess my assumptions about you.”
“Oh, you’re not wrong. I’m pretty shy, and I’m most definitely awkward,” I said with feeling.
“You practically threw a glass of water down your shirt the first time we met,” she laughed. “I have no idea how you managed that. The plane hadn’t even taken off yet!”
I chewed on my lower lip. I was tempted to tell her about the bingo card, but I wasn’t sure what she’d think about it. Were we creative to pass our time that way, or was the contest immature and cruel? I couldn’t make up my mind.
“Although if it was a ploy to get my attention,” Anissa continued, “then you succeeded. Nothing like a wet t-shirt contest to get a girl interested.”
“Yeah, you figured me out,” I snorted. “That was my master plan all along.”
Anissa wiggled back to her original position and even a little closer so our shoulders knocked together. Her body naturally curled against mine. It felt so right, it made my chest seize.
“Did I just find your vibrator?”
I blinked, not understanding. “Huh?”
“I think someone’s texting you,” she noted. “I feel you buzzing.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry.”
I had silenced my phone earlier, but the vibrating function was still active. I pulled my phone from my front right jean pocket. A series of text messages, all from the same person, filled my phone’s screen.
June has a piano recital tomorrow if you’re able to make it.
The following texts provided the time and location of the performance along with her typical passive aggressive guilt trip.
I felt Anissa press closer. “Another girlfriend texting you?”
Her use of the word ‘another’ was unexpected. Did that mean she considered herself my girlfriend?
“No. It’s my sister, Dawn,” I said, holding out my phone as proof. “My niece has a piano recital tomorrow.”
“Cute. Are we going?”
I looked up sharply from my phone. “You really want to go to a seven-year-old’s piano recital? It’s going to be, like, ‘Hot Cross Buns’ on repeat.”
Anissa pursed her lips. “No. But I want to spend more time with you. And you shouldn’t have to decide between spending time with your family or spending time with the person you’re dating.”
My throat involuntarily tightened. “I didn’t realize we were at that point.”
“What point would that be?”
I wrinkled my nose. “You’re going to make me say it?”
A ghost of a smile reached her lips. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“Don’t be coy,” I complained. “Like, is this a real relationship? Are we exclusive?” I nearly choked on the question.
“I hardly have time to date you,” she breezed, maddeningly casual. “How could I possibly juggle multiple girls?”
“That’s not a real answer,” I sourly protested.
Instead of giving me the direct answer I desired, Anissa grabbed my hand and toyed with my fingers, mine pale in comparison to her golden skin tone. Our fingers clasped together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. She turned our enjoined hands over so mine was on top. She stroked her fingertips over the top of my hand in quiet contemplation. Her touch was light and soothing. I felt rough and unpolished.
“I really need a manicure,” I complained. I started to wiggle my hand free from hers, but she only tightened her grip.
“I like your hands,” she said simply. “I like what they do to me.”
Our heads were already close; I didn’t have to lean in too far to bring our mouths together. Our lips barely touched at first, brushing slowly and tentatively against each other. Her tongue peeked out between her parted lips and slid across my bottom lip. I sucked on the tip of her tongue and pulled it more fully into my mouth.
I felt the bite of her hipbones when she rolled on top of me. I sank my hands into her thick, luscious hair as the kiss deepened and intensified. She held me by the front belt loops of my jeans and periodically tugged up. I groaned into her