“Jack, great to meet you, son. I hear you’re the creative that’s shaking up our brand a bit. I like your photography work.” Dad leans into the handshake, then adds, “You’re going to have to tell me what it's like to do that Body Issue every year. I’m sure you have some good stories.”
Jack takes the seat next to my father, which is also next to me. “Absolutely. It’s a lot of personality fluffing and strategically placed limbs.” He smiles that megawatt smile, and those dimples make their appearance. Geez, those things really should be announced before they come out. “Maybe we can share a drink after dinner, sir. Law tells me you’re the one who taught him to make his perfect Old Fashioned. I could go for another one of those.”
Jack looks at me. I can see him out of my peripheral vision, and he’s staring. Smiling at me, because he knows I’m trying my hardest to avoid meeting his eyes. I’m being so immature, but I don’t know how to look at him after the other night. “Everly, good to see you. You look beautiful.” I smile, still without looking him in the eye. He leans over, closer to me. “Mind passing me that bottle of red in front of you.”
“Sh-mure. Sure. Yes. Red,” I say, awkwardly loud. I grab it and pour the pinot blend into his glass. The heck was that,schmure? I have one sexual fantasy about the man…okay,andencounter, if I can even call it that, and I’m a blundering idiot. I am not this person. When I finally steal a glance at him, I find that he’s still staring at me. I can’t help but crack a smile, coupled with a nervous laugh that helps me breathe. Looking up, I see everyone watching our interaction. Law and my dad are smiling, Michael is scowling, and Henry is staring at me with narrowed eyes like I’m an idiot.Nice.
G breaks the silence and looks to Henry. “Is there a reason you’re extra bear-like today, or have you just not met your quota of growling at people for the week?”
Ignoring her comment, Henry continues to dish out a serving of crispy Brussel sprouts with bacon onto his plate. “There’s no quota. I’m not trying to be anything other than myself. Maybe it’s just you that brings out the bear,Jizz. Here, eat your risotto.”
There goes the calm and quiet dinner I was hoping for. If these two are already picking at each other, then it’s just a matter of moments before it gets out of hand.
“Why is it that you insist on calling methat, Hankey?” G grits her teeth as she growls back at him.
“You can’t go more than fifteen minutes before you’re pushing my buttons. Why is that, Jizz? Are you only happy when everyone is only paying attention to you? You that hard-up for attention?” Henry turns and leans in toward her, spitting out an evil smile while he bats his lashes.
“Stay out of my personal space before I show you exactly how quickly I can go from being tolerant to my foot jamming its way into your tiny little excuse for a-”
“That’s enough, you two,” Dad chimes in.
Surprisingly, they quit for now. I look at my best friend with wide eyes, wordlessly asking what the heck that was. She just shrugs her shoulders and focuses back on the mushroom truffle risotto on her plate. As much as they can’t stand to be in the same room with one another, Henry still made her a vegetarian plate of her very own, like always, and I’d bet a hundred bucks that there’s a grilled cheese in the kitchen for her too, just in case. Not to mention that she goes out of her way to notice all the places he is or isn’t.
The diversion only lasts a minute or two and my mind is brought back to the man candy next to me. I know I should be embarrassed that just a few nights ago he saw me masturbate, stood a few feet away as I orgasmed like it was a show for his personal viewing. I should feel embarrassed, but I’m not. Every time I think about it, the thought of him watching, studying me intently, just arouses me more. I’m not one to be shy about sex, but I’m also not the most well-versed. I never thought I’d be one to be an exhibitionist, or want to show my body off to someone I barely know.
He just stood there, watching me, and for how long, I don’t even know. Heck, part of my fantasy was imagining him watching me and then fucking me, so when I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, it sent me over the edge and an orgasm ripped its way through me. There was no stopping it to freak out.
“What do you think, Ev?” Law asks.
I wasn’t paying any attention.
“About what?” I look down at the table at my youngest brother. Before he answers, I feel a warm leg rest against the side of mine underneath the table and a current of excitement ripples through me. I have no interest in shifting away.
I’m turned on by the fact that Jack and I have this dirty little secret between us, and it’s setting my skin on fire. I peek over at him. He looks back at me and nudges my leg slightly. Such a small movement that changes me from feeling a bit turned on to warm and cozy all over. Like I want to snuggle and nuzzle into him. I’m one more affection away from draping myself over him and purring. How did I become this person?
“What do you say we head to the Breakfast Nook in the morning before we head to the office?” Law suggests. “Jack’s going to ride with us. That potential ice storm coming through won’t be kind to his Harley. Oh, Jack, I think those two girls from the other night are working, and I wanna see if I can convince them to test out the hot tub.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Jack. And just like that, I’m snapped back into the reality of the man next to me. World-renowned photographer, all-American playboy, whatever the stereotyped title GQ gives him. Jack is definitely one thing, and that’s a temporary fixture. This means all of these feelings that are stirring need to remain surface level. He’s not the kind of guy you keep.
And I know myself enough to know I’ll want to keep him.