Ryder: You on my lips.
Me on his lips. Me on his…
Oh my god. He means my—
My face must be bright red, because when I walk into the kitchen and Mallory catches a glimpse of me, her eyebrow shoots up.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing?” I’m such a bad liar.
“Nothing my ass. What’s going on? You look…”
She looks me up and down slowly, from the tips of the boots I start taking off, up the legs of my torn denim, over the gray sweater, up my neck—
“Did you get laid?”
“What? No! God, what makes you say that!” My voice has never been so high-pitched, and it sounds louder in the tiny kitchen.
“Don’t you dare lie to me Piper!” She comes up out of her chair, finger pointed in my direction accusingly, right at my jawline. “Exhibit A: you have beard burn from someone’s five o’clock shadow right there! Right. There. Who was it!”
“I didn’t have sex with him!”
“Aha! But you screwed around! Who was it? You have to tell me—I’ve been waiting my whole life for you to get laid.”
“I did not have sex with him!”
“Did you do butt stuff?”
“What? No! No. We just…” I can’t say it. I can’t.
“Did he…” Her voice trails off too, and she points to her crotch. “Visit your downtown bonanza?”
My god, why is she like this.
“Yes?”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me! You let a guy eat you out! WHO WAS IT? You’ve been holding out on me. I cannot believe this.”
While she’s ranting, my phone chimes again.
“Is that him? Lover boy? By the way, any dude that goes down on you on a first date is a keeper. He’s a giver and a keeper and—” she pauses. “Did you reciprocate? Did you blow him?”
“No.” I bite down on my bottom lip. “Shit, should I have? He didn’t say anything!”
Oh my god, I am such an asshole! He’s going to think I’m so selfish. I didn’t even touch his dick, let alone offer to suck on it!
I’m such a jerk.
Ping.
“What’s he saying?” Mallory shouts, almost tripping over herself to get to my side, on her tiptoes, trying to see the screen of my cell phone.
I hold it out of her reach. “Get away!”
“First tell me who it was!”
I sigh. “Ryder Williams.”
“Shut the fuck up! Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” She looks at me again, serious this time. “Are you for real? Ryder Williams went down on you? What? When did this happen? Don’t fuck with me, Piper. I’m in no condition to be messed with like this.” She plops down in the nearest chair. “Tell me everything.”
Ping.
“I will, but first can I…” Go see what he’s texting me?
“Oh my god, go! Sext that boy something good!”
“Er…okay.”
Ryder: Piper, you there?
* * *
Ryder: I didn’t scare you off, did I?
* * *
Me: No, I’m here. Sorry, I was just walking through the door and my roommate accosted me in the kitchen.
* * *
Ryder: I had fun tonight.
* * *
Me: I did, too.
* * *
Ryder: Can I be blunt for one second?
Oh great—here it comes. Piper, you’re a great girl, but I just want to be friends…
Me: Sure.
* * *
Ryder: I’m not interested in hookups. I’m looking for a relationship.
* * *
Me: Okay…
* * *
Me: So am I.
* * *
Ryder: Good. I just didn’t want you to think all I wanted from you was sex, because that’s not all I’m interested in. I’ve been wanting to go out with you for fucking ever.
* * *
Me: Are you trying to say you want to date me?
* * *
Ryder: Yes.
Oh.
My heart.
I think it just exploded into a million happy pieces.
I sigh, just like they do in the movies, and I smile, staring down at my phone.
Then,
Me: Oh!!! I just remembered something! How are we going to get our paintings?
* * *
Ryder: Oh shit, I forgot I told her we’d be back for those.
* * *
Ryder: Should we go back for them?
* * *
Me: Uh, right now?
* * *
Ryder: Are you doing anything right now? Because I’m not, and honestly, I want to kiss you again.
* * *
Me: I could…meet you there. Again.
* * *
Ryder: I’m still in my truck, I can just turn back around.
* * *
Me: I just took my boots off but I’ll shove them right back on.
* * *
Ryder: Meet me there in ten?
* * *
Me: I’ll meet you there in ten.
And right after we grab those paintings, when we’re in the parking lot again, I’m going to give him a blow job—my first—in the back seat of his truck.