“I like it.” He straightened. “And that answers that question.”
“What question?”
“Whether you wanted to just hang out in my room or go swimming…”
Did he mean? “If you want…”
“No, I mean—I do want. But I think swimming is better. Then homework, then music. Sound good?”
My stomach let out a gurgle, and Ian burst out laughing.
My face was probably the color of a cherry tomato. My gut was not known for its ladylike behavior.
“And food,” he promised. “Give me a sec.”
He was already pulling his shirt off as he walked into his room. When he didn’t close the door, it was like every cell in my body yearned to follow him in there. Shaking my head, I made myself turn to go down the stairs. Just because he hadn’t closed the door, didn’t mean he’d left it open for me to ogle him.
I got to do that enough by the pool. The fact I had sex on the brain wasn’t lost on me. Downstairs, I got us sodas from the fridge. There was a note on the counter from Ian’s mom with some cash. It said to order pizza and have a good night—they would be late getting back.
Date night.
That was right. His parents had a date night once a week. Sometimes his mom worked evening shifts, but they’d been heading out on a date last week. I left the note and cash where it was and took the sodas outside with my backpack. The umbrella was already opened over the table, so I set out my stuff.
Cheryl had messaged me about dress shopping again, and I groaned.
Me:Not sure. I have to work tomorrow and Thursday. Maybe Monday next week—maybe. If you have to go without me, it’s okay.
Cheryl:Girl, you gotta do the whole experience and trying on all the dresses together is part of that. When do you work this weekend?
Me:10 to 6 Sat and Sun. Always 10 to 6.
Cheryl:Ugh. Fine. Saturday evening. Mitch will just have to do without me. You and I, Rockdale Mall, seven. Want me to pick you up?
I made a face.
Me:Can I think about it?
Cheryl:Absolutely not. You need a great dress, and the key is to have the right wingwoman. Lucky for you, I’m amazing and I know you’ll tell me if something makes me look like a creampuff.
I couldn’t help it,I laughed.
Me:I swear, I won’t let you look like a creampuff.
Cheryl:Thank you! So am I getting you girl or you meeting me?
Me:I’ll meet you. Where at Rockdale?
Cheryl:Big fountain entrance next to Maggie’s.
Maggie’s was a reallynice boutique and catastrophically out of my price range. But she did say we were going to be looking.
Me:Deal. I’ll be there.
The doorto the house opened, and Ian stepped outside in his trunks. The taper of his waist and the very clear lines where his abdomen descended into his Adonis belt had my mouth watering.
“You’re smiling,” he said.
“Yeah—Cheryl wants me to go dress shopping with her, and she’s hijacking my Saturday night.”