She play-punches my shoulder, grinning like a crazy person. "I said thanks for the offer but I couldn’t be out too late because I had to go into the office early in the morning. In other words, I lied."
"I was almost bored to tears by my date, Heather. She was telling me the intricacies of hair dye."
"I don't get it. It's like Marina's app is totally broken."
"You said it. She better go back to the drawing board on that one."
We stand there for a moment, and stop laughing when someone walks by. I glance down into her eyes and see a gleam in them. I know she's relieved she can talk to me and escape Man Bun. I lean in closer and somehow, we kiss.
As I kiss her, I wonder how Man Bun could ever imagine that India was the type to be into that airy-fairy stuff. More likely she'd want an ice-cold beer, a thick juicy steak, and a baseball game to watch for relaxation.
It's then I realize I'm kissing her for real now.
And she's kissing me back.
It's not just a friendly peck or even a sympathy kiss like the other night. It's a kiss kiss.
I feel her tongue against mine and it sends a shock of lust through my body right to my dick.
I'm kissing India and she's kissing me back…
What the fuck am I? A teenage boy?
All of a sudden we pull apart, and I feel like a total idiot. Here I am, kissing her again after the very awkward kiss the other night. I kick myself mentally.
We cannot go there.
"We can't do this, Jon," she says, her voice a little breathless like she's as surprised and aroused as I am.
"I know," I say, a surge of something rushing through my body. I know we can't do this, but my body and mind say fuck it.
I want her. I think of Man Bun wanting to rub coconut oil all over her body. Right now, that sounds exactly like what I want to be doing with India.
"Marina will kill me if she knows I kissed you instead of Man Bun, even if it was a mistake."
"I know. And me kissing you instead of Mermaid Lady."
"That's right," India says, her eyes widening. "She does look like that actress in Splash!, doesn't she? I always envied her all that blonde hair."
I shake my head. "She has nothing on you."
I say it in complete truth, meaning every word. I say it solemnly because it’s true and India should know it. At that moment, I want to lean closer to her and kiss her again, but I hold back.
India sighs audibly. I know she's thinking the same thing as I am.
We can't do this.
It would be so easy, but it would fuck things up completely.
"Do you want to blow this popsicle stand? I'll give you a ride home."
She shakes her head. "Thanks, but I brought my car."
I nod and take in a deep breath. "I think I'll take the back exit so I don’t have to see Marina."
"You’re really going to skip out?"
"Yeah. I guess I'll see you at work Monday."