Now, he was nothing short of distinguished. Charismatic. He moved like a jungle cat, sleek and in control. His hair was just long enough that I could probably run my fingers through it if I wanted (and oh, how I wanted) and it looked terribly soft, but it was shorter now, under control. His face had grown into his nose and ears, so that they no longer looked oversized but perfectly complimentary, and his hands weren’t too large… still large, still… tempting… with his long fingers…
I might have spent a lot of hours thinking about his hands, and his fingers.
He was so goddamn handsome I didn’t know what to do with myself. He was also successful, funny, sweet, and dominated whatever room he was in. I didn’t want a guy who had to shout to get everyone’s attention and had to walk around the room like he was swinging his cock, trying to impress everybody. Cal just had to stand there quietly and everyone knew who the alpha was, and it turned me on like nothing else.
Call me snobby, but I wasn’t going to waste my precious and valuable time on random college men when I had a whole entire three-course meal of a man right in front of me.
Cal raised an eyebrow at me as we finished setting the table. “Penny for your thoughts,” he said, a smile curling up the corner of his mouth.
I wanted to feel that smile against my lips. “Ah, it’s nothing.”
“You’re being unusually quiet, Maggie, clearly it’s something.” His tone was warm, gentle, like he thought there might be something the matter.
If only he knew. “I’m just a little embarrassed, I have something to ask you, but I feel kind of like I’m taking advantage of your friendship by asking about it.”
“I always knew this day would come.” Cal shook his head. “You need my help hiding a body.”
I burst out laughing before I could stop myself, and Cal grinned triumphantly. You’re always so serious Maggie, all my friends would say, but Cal always knew how to get me to lighten up. I wondered if he knew that—if he realized that he was one of the few people who could consistently make me laugh.
“No, no, nothing like that. Yet.”
“Nothing like what?” Dad asked, coming in with the turkey.
“Maggie does not need help hiding a body,” Cal said.
“Well now that you say that I’m worried that’s exactly what she needs help with.”
“She did not say yet, so…”
“I promise you,” I said, crossing my heart, “that if I need help hiding a body, it was justifiable homicide.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “Don’t encourage her, Cal.”
Cal winked at me and it felt like my legs were melting. I had to sit down before they genuinely gave out on me. I would give anything for him to wink at me like that right before he strode across the room and took me into his arms, kissing me.
Mom came in from the kitchen and the conversation got sidetracked until we were all ready to bring out dessert. I was trying not to eat too much. Usually my goal on Thanksgiving was to consume as much stuffing as my body could possibly handle, but if all went well I’d be getting my brains fucked out in just a short hour or so and I didn’t want to do something humiliating like throw up.
I also might have snuck a couple shots of liquor from the cabinet to give myself some extra courage. I was so nervous, but I knew that if I didn’t take advantage of this chance, I was going to regret it. Mom and Dad didn’t notice a thing—I took the shots while I was doing dishes, and I’d gotten good at holding my liquor. Yay, college parties. I was the only one of my friends not interested in hooking up, which meant I ended up looking out for them and making sure they got home safe. As a result I’d learned exactly how much alcohol to have to give myself a bit of courage and a slight buzz, without slipping so far that I was losing my judgment or disorienting myself.
Mom brought out the pumpkin pie and the pecan pie, and I brought out the vanilla ice cream. Simple, but delicious. Cal was talking with Dad about his latest art exhibition, which was the perfect opening. Cal was so artistic in a way that I could never be. I was logical to a fault, which Mom always said I got from Dad. Dad was an accountant, which honestly was the most boring job ever if you asked me. I might’ve been good with numbers but no way was I going to let that be my life. I was studying computer science instead.
Cal, though—he was spontaneous and artistic. The complete opposite of me. I was a planner, like tonight, planning it all out to the last detail, writing a script of what to say and memorizing it. It was part of why I was so drawn to him. I wanted him to bring that spontaneity out in me. I wanted to bask in his artistic soul.