Game Changer (The Field Party)

“You mean we would have sex?” I asked for clarification.

He chuckled softly and gave me a crooked grin. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to get you naked right now.”

Wow. I said nothing. I was sure my face was bright red not from embarrassment but from the heat that his description caused. The image in my head made me start to tingle again.

His hand threaded through my hair. “I like you too much for that.”

I wasn’t sure that made much sense. “You like me too much to have sex with me?”

His lips spread out into a full grin. “Yeah. I do.”

I shook my head and started to say more, but he continued.

“We’ve barely dated. You don’t know me that well. You know my darkest moment, but that’s as deep as we’ve gotten. Me taking your virginity on Nash’s sofa isn’t right.”

This was Asa being chivalrous. I got it now. Truth was, did I want my first time to be with a guy who just liked me but didn’t want to date exclusively? No. I didn’t. I couldn’t let how I felt about Asa cloud my judgment. He did not feel the same about me. He was a guy and I was a girl sitting in his lap with shorts on and a halter top with no bra.

I moved off his lap then, slightly aggravated with myself. What had I been thinking? Not the making out—it was time. I enjoyed it. But the fact that if he’d tried to have sex with me, I wasn’t sure I’d have said no. That was concerning.

Neither of us spoke and I realized the movie was over. I needed to say something and reassure him I agreed, but I didn’t have the right words. I was one hundred percent positive if he’d taken my shirt off, I’d have lifted my arms to help him out.

“Ezmita.” His voice broke the silence.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“I didn’t want to stop. And I want to see you again.”

I smiled then and turned my head to look at him. “I believe we have an afternoon date tomorrow,” I reminded him.

“Trust me, I didn’t forget. I’m taking you swimming. If I can’t get you naked, that’s the next best thing.”

I laughed and the heaviness in my chest lifted. I hadn’t ruined anything. I still got to see Asa again. Maybe this time it wouldn’t be weeks before he called back.

The doorknob rattled and then the door opened. Nash came in and paused before flipping on the light. His head turned in our direction. “Can I turn on the light or are y’all naked?” he asked.

“Shut up,” Asa replied.

“I’ll take that as you’re both clothed,” he said, and then the room was flooded with light. I squinted and Asa cursed.

“Ezmita! Damn, I’m glad it’s you.” Nash sounded genuinely happy about the fact I was there.

Confused, I tried to look at Nash, but the light was still bothering my eyes.

“Who else would it be?” Asa shot back at him.

Nash raised one eyebrow. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“You’re a dick,” Asa said, then stood up and held out his hand to me. I slipped my hand in his and stood. “Ignore him. He likes to cause problems.”

Nash made a sound in his throat that sounded as if he disagreed.

“Let’s go,” Asa told me, then threaded his fingers through mine.

“Good to see you, Ezmita,” Nash called out, and I smiled and gave him a quick wave before following Asa out the door into the night.

We walked back down the stairs and out to Asa’s truck. His silence would’ve worried me, but he was holding my hand so firmly, it eased any concern. When we reached his truck, he stopped and pushed me gently back against the truck before cupping my face in his hands and kissing me again.

I was pleasantly surprised, of course. I wasn’t ready for this thing to end just yet. There was a part of me that feared tomorrow he would cancel and then he’d go silent again. I didn’t want that to happen, but I couldn’t hold on to him if he didn’t want to be with me. Right now I was enjoying the moment and hoping tomorrow did come.

JULY 12, 2020 She Was My Escape

CHAPTER 27

ASA

“You going to the field house to work out with us today?” Nash asked as he stretched and ran his hand through his hair.

“No,” I replied, not giving him any more information than he needed.

“Why? Gonna see Ezmita again?” he asked with a smirk.

I saw no reason to deny it. “Yeah. I am.”

“Y’all didn’t have sex on my sofa, did you?” he asked then, not looking amused any longer.

“No. Jesus, Nash.”

A knock on the door interrupted whatever he was about to say. “Yeah?” he called out toward the door. It wasn’t locked. We never locked it. Neither of us saw the need.