Promiscuous (Tease 2)

“Who am I?” He leaned back in the booth and cocked his head to the side. “I’m just a guy, Beth. There’s nothing special about me. I don’t know what to tell you.” He let out a laugh. Was it just me, or did that question make him go all weird?

“I’d say there is plenty special about you. But I want to know who you are. What makes you tick. Are you close with your family? I feel like everything has been about me. I want to hear about you.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “You present an impressive argument. My parents are dead. I have a brother I never see, and I’m not much for friendships.” He held my gaze. I felt like I was being dragged into his soul. “But for pretty little pop stars, I like to make an exception,” he added softly.

He thought I was pretty? I wondered if he could hear the pounding in my chest. God, I hope I’m not smiling like an idiot right now.

“So we’re friends now?”

“We’re something,” he finally replied. Something. I liked something more than I liked friendship. Something suggested hope, and I needed that right now.

“I’m sorry about your parents,” I offered.

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’ve dealt with it and moved on.” The tone of his voice had changed, and I got the feeling that the subject of his family was closed for discussion. As curious as I was, I didn’t want to press him.

“Still, I don’t know much about you. You come across as very mysterious.” I narrowed my eyes and pointed my spoon at him accusingly.

He laughed and nodded. “I guess you’re right. So ask me something else then. Anything.” He stirred his coffee while he waited patiently for me to speak.

“Your strongest memory from age ten.”

“What?” he laughed, amused by the randomness of my question.

“Go,” I ordered, waving my hand at him.

“Give me a minute,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Okay. Breaking the neighbors’ window with my spud gun. And possibly breaking a ten-thousand-dollar vase in the process.”

“What?” I giggled, covering my mouth. “What the hell is a spud gun?”

His eyes widened. He pointed to my cup. “Drink up,” he ordered.

“What, why?”

“Don’t argue, just hurry up.”

I did as he said. It was hard work downing a cup of chocolate and cream without getting it all over my face. He shook his head and handed me his napkin. I took it and wiped my mouth, disappointed he didn’t offer me his thumb again.

“Let’s go.” He stood up and threw a twenty on the table. Grabbing my hand, he all but dragged me out of the restaurant.

“Where are we going?” I laughed, getting into the car.

“Well, first stop is the hardware store, and then the grocer’s.”

What the hell?

The hardware store was a few blocks down from the restaurant. We pulled into the parking lot. Roman pointed across the road. “You go over there and buy a sack of potatoes and a can of deodorant.”

“Are you saying I smell?” I joked.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You smell beautiful. Now go.”

All right. I walked across the road while he went into the hardware store. Picking out a few nice potatoes, I bagged them and then went hunting for some deodorant, grabbing the first can I saw.

I met Roman back at the car. Holding up my purchases, I grinned.

“Good work. Okay, now let’s go.” We got in the car and took off. I still had no idea where we were going, though I was smart enough to have figured out what we’d be doing.

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