One Tiny Lie

Co

I let myself soak up Co

I tell him about the two science classes I had on Thursday and Friday and the ones I have next week. I tell him all about the volunteer job at the hospital and about the twins, rehashing their interrogation.

“Derek and Eric are twins?”

I roll my eyes and giggle. “I know.”

He takes a sip of his beer and then his arm moves back, pulling me tighter. “So, what makes you want to go into pediatrics?”

“It’s just something I knew I wanted to do since I was young. I can’t picture myself doing anything but that.” Stayner’s words from this morning slink into my thoughts and I instantly chase them out.

“That’s noble. And sweet,” Co

I swallow and duck back down, knowing my face is red again. “What about you, lawyer?”

I get jostled lightly as Co

I shake my head, smiling wistfully. “My dad was a high school principal and math teacher. My mom was a music teacher.”

There’s a long pause. “Was?”

Taking a deep breath, I pull away from Co

As I talk, I feel his arm slide around my shoulders and tighten. I feel his other arm wrap around my body, his hand cupping the side of my head, his thumb grazing my cheek, pulling me even closer than I was before, until I close my eyes and let my head melt against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat, cocooned in his warmth. Protected.

We stand like that through an entire song, not talking, swaying silently to the beat, until Ty barrels through the door, visibly more drunk than he was only twenty minutes ago. “Now I remember you!” he bellows, holding his hand out and wiggling his fingers. “Come on. Lemme see that picture. I need to make sure it’s flattering.”

“Oh no . . .” I groan, shrinking back.

Co

Once I’ve seen the entire main floor, Co

Opening the closed door to the right, Co

I’m in Co

Co

That doesn’t mean I’m not petrified that I’m doing it all wrong, that Co

“I’m just . . .” I frown. “I’m not very experienced.”

Placing a gentle kiss on my forehead, he murmurs, “That’s okay. To be honest, I really like that you’re different.” Does different translate to virgin? With a second kiss on my brow, his hands lift to hold my face on either side as he murmurs, “Let’s keep things slow and easy.” Slow and easy. What does that mean?

“Okay.” I use my drink as a diversion, bringing it to my lips to take an extra-large gulp, thankful that Mr. Jack Daniels is helping to keep me calm.

“So, I hear you got a tattoo last weekend?”

The quick change of topic is appreciated. I still groan and roll my eyes, of course. “Looks like it. Do you have any?”

Co

“Go drinking with my sister and you’ll end up with one whether you like it or not,” I mutter wryly, but inside I’m mentally taking inventory of Ashton’s tattoos, ones I’ve seen sober and the other ones that I somehow remember—a bird on the inside of his right forearm, the Chinese script on his right shoulder, the Celtic symbol over his left pectoral, Irish on his butt...

And my face is burning again. Dammit.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing! Do you want to see it?” I blurt out, intent on diverting his attention from me and my perverted mind.

“Sure. I mean, it isn’t anywhere . . .”

“Yeah. I mean, no. I mean, it’s on my back so, yes, you can see it.” I shake my head at my flustered self as I quickly turn around and sweep my hair to the side. I stretch the back of my shirt down. “See it?”

“Yeah.” There’s a long pause as he looks at it. He doesn’t touch it, though, and I wonder whether he wants to or not. This is so unlike the caveman-style manhandling earlier with Ashton. I’m seeing very quickly that Co

“Just something my dad used to call me,” I smile wistfully.

“Well . . .” Co

I think this is the part when my brain is supposed to vanish. It’s supposed to be sucked right out of my head by the sexy guy breathing in my ear. At least, that’s what I’ve always assumed was supposed to happen. When you’re in a bedroom with a hot guy for the first time and he’s all but saying, “I’m horny and I’m yours,” you’re not looking for an escape route. You’re looking for a way to lock the door so you can tear his clothes off and do all kinds of things that don’t involve your brain.