“Troy promised me there wouldn’t be.”
I kiss the top of her shoulder and walk out of the room without saying another word.
***
It isn’t unusual to be paged on my rostered day off. Three people called in sick, and they’re short-staffed. Raine’s also been called in, and thankfully, she’s kept me company today.
“I went on a blind date the other night,” she tells me as we hang out in the reception area.
“And?”
“I don’t want to say. It’s embarrassing.”
“C’mon, it can’t be that bad. He stood you up, is that it?”
“He brought a list and proceeded to ask me what fetishes I had,” she says slowly.
“Oh,” I mouth.
“Oh, indeed,” she repeats. “It wouldn’t have been so bad if we were actually dating, just not what I was expecting on the first date.”
“Straight to business.”
“I get it. Trust me, straight to business isn’t such a bad thing, but that’s just one step too far. I need to get laid,” she complains, leaning against the desk while crossing her arms. “Just not to a nympho.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. This girl tells me she needs to get laid, and two years ago, I would have taken her to the janitor’s closet and made that happen. She’s hot, I can’t deny that. Fuck, stop allowing your brain to conjure up images of this girl.
You’re getting married!
With doves, apparently.
“Sorry.” She covers her mouth instantly. “Forgot I was talking to you. Too much information. Me and my big mouth.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you out.” I smile, then retract my words. “Shit, didn’t mean it that way. Not that I’d help you out if I could. I mean, I don’t know anyone… never mind.”
“Perhaps we should change subjects.”
“Perhaps.” I smile nervously. “Or at least, sideways. Let me ask you a question, but if it’s too personal, just tell me.”
“Shoot.”
“Is the wedding night this big of a deal to you as a woman? I mean, say you live with the guy, what would make that night so special?”
“I’m not following. Do you mean why is it special?”
“No.” I shake my head trying to get my words out correctly. “Zoey wants to hold off on intimate things until the wedding.”
“Right…” she drags. “But you’ve already done things?”
“Please, I’m thirty. Of course, we’ve done things.”
“Sorry, just getting the facts. So, I guess that would be nice… build up the sexual tension which makes the wedding night so much more meaningful.”
“So, you would do that, too?”
“I don’t know. Depends on the guy. I mean, if he’s hot like yourself, probably not.”
The second she says it, we both fall silent, unable to digest the uncomfortable air between us from her mentioning my looks.