Hooked (TKO 2)

Her lips taste like sweet honeysuckles. Hilary lets out a soft moan as she invites me into her mouth. Now I know I’m done for.

She breaks the kiss and looks up at me with twinkling eyes. Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, I lead her away from the truck.

“Why did the chicken cross the road?” I ask. My nervousness has returned, and I sound like an idiot. I need a muzzle.

“To get to the other side?” she asks, laughing.

“You passed the test. You’re perfect.” I bring her hand up to my mouth and plant a soft kiss on her knuckles as we reach a park bench.

“You really know how to make a girl feel special.”

“What do you mean? I’m very new to this. It’s not like I do it all the time.” I chuckle.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but you make me feel like I’m actually wanted. It seems like it’s not just about sex.”

Hearing her say that causes my heart to soar. I must be doing something right. Inside, I’m high-fiving myself. The last words she said, though, make me cringe on the inside.

“This is me, period. When I care about something or someone, I do it with my whole heart. My momma raised me right.”

“She sure did,” she says, giving my hand a small squeeze.

This girl makes my heart plummet to depths unknown to me, and I’m okay with it. If she hurt me, I’d never be the same again. Awkward silence fills the air again, and I’m beginning to feel like I’ve screwed up somehow. I mean, who tells a lame joke to the woman of their dreams on their first date? This guy right here.

The sounds of crickets chirping fills the night air. I draw in a deep breath as I search for something non-moronic to say to her. “I know we’re still dealing with tonight, but what are you doing tomorrow night?”

Her eyes shine brightly. “I was probably just going to sit at home.”

“I have a fight tomorrow night. If you want to come, I can pick you up. You could see me in action.”

“You won’t get hurt, will you?”

“Nah, sweetheart, I’m good. It’s just a day in the office.” I realize she looks a little distressed. “What’s wrong, Hil?”

“Travis won’t be there, will he?”

Fuck. I never thought about him, and I have no way of knowing if he’s on the docket at all. “I honestly don’t know. Half the time, I don’t even know who I’m against until that night.”

“I want to go, but I think I should sit this one out. I’m not ready to see him anywhere just yet.”

“Was it that bad?”

She scoffs. “I thought he and I had something. I liked him, and he made me feel special.”

I really don’t want to hear any of this, but I asked. I say nothing, and just listen.

“He was really possessive, even though he made it clear he wasn’t looking for a relationship from the start. Then I started finding messages from other girls in his phone. I asked him about it, and sometimes he would shrug it off, and other times he would blow up. He has a scary temper. I was so freaking stupid for sticking around him for these past few months. I should have given myself space from him sooner.”

“I don’t get it, Hilary. You’re beautiful. You light up the damn room when you walk in the door. You’re too good for that. Even in high school, you were too good for all the shit you put up with. That’s why I stepped up for you, time and time again. No one deserves to be treated like anything but the best.” I pause, then ask, “Is his dick made of gold or something?”

I cannot believe I said that. Way to fucking go, Lance. She pulls her hand away from mine, closes her eyes, and shakes her head. I know I fucked up big time. There’s a colossal chance I just ruined one of the best nights of my life because I have a big fucking mouth and don’t know how to shut up.

“I think you should take me home. Now.”

“I’m sorry, Hil. I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

“I just want to go home.”

“Please talk to me. I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”