She leans in and begins whispering in my ear.
“I always make sure I know who the dicks I touch belong to.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of names to remember,” I joke.
Becky bursts into laughter, and playfully punches my arm. And once again, I’m struck by her. But this time, not by her looks, by her laughter. It’s musical, like a song, and I catch myself staring at her lips.
“You’re funny,” she says.
But I don’t hear her, because I’m still staring at her lips.
“What?”
“I said, you’re funny. Like actually funny.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You know, I’m happy to see you here,” she says.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, you’ve kind of been stuck in my mind.”
“Ooo, what kind of things have I been doing in your mind?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she winks.
I would. I would very much like to know. But there’s something else I would like to know, and something that I’ve actually been wondering since I met Becky. What the hell is a girl like this doing around Max Kleeberger? Makes me wonder what he’s up to. Or what she’s up to.
“So, whatareyou doing here anyway?” I ask.
“Oh, I’m here as Peter’s date! He’s off somewhere talking to some clients I think.”
I stop short. She’s here with Peter? My archenemy Peter? Why the hell would she be here with him. Are they together now?
I can tell she’s watching my face and waiting for me to say something, but I’m so filled with rage over the fact that Peter is going after the same girl I am, just like he did back when we were in college, that I forget where I am for a minute.
The thing with Peter and I was never really resolved, and so it’s still there, in the back of my mind, always. I mean, Pete and I were best friends. Maybe even more than best friends at a certain point. But he did the unspeakable to me. And I can never forgive him for that- especially when he never even apologized to me for it.
“Darian? Did you hear me?”
“Huh?”
“I said I’m here with Peter, as his date.” She smiles.
“Oh, yeah sorry- for not paying attentionandthat you’re here with Peter. Hey, can I get you a drink?”
“I would love a drink. And what is up with you and Petey anyway? Any time either of you hears the other name, you both get all weird. What’s that about?”
Gross-Petey? They’re already exchanging cutesy nicknames?
“Oh, just some old college drama. It’s nothing. anyway, what’s your drink of choice?”
“Double shot of Don Julio, with a little spritz of lime.”
“Nice choice, I’ll have the same.”
Becky and I maintain eye contact as we take our shots, and I realize that now’s my chance. I grab her by the hand and whisk her off to the nearest lounge.
I shut the door behind us and push her up against the wall. Our lips collide, instantly feeling their way around each other and working in unison. It’s better than any daydream I could’ve thought up.
The more we kiss, the more I never want to stop. Finally tasting her lips on mine awakens something in me that I didn’t even know existed. It’s a hunger, mixed with deep satisfaction that I’ve never felt in an embrace with any other woman.
I knew that I needed this woman.