He took off my other glove, and I raised my eyes to see him looking at me. His expression was unreadable.
“That’s good for today,” he said. “Let’s go get a milkshake.”
Seven
Nick
I changed into another t-shirt and a pair of jeans and met her by the front door, my gym bag over my shoulder. She had put her shoes back on but her hair was still tied back, that brown-red color that looked different under different light. I’d be having boner dreams for weeks remembering what she’d looked like throwing punches, all those curves alive and moving.
“Sorry,” I said. “There isn’t a women’s changing room here.”
She shrugged. “I’ll be sweaty, I guess.”
“I didn’t shower. So we’re both dirty.”
She paused at the word. Then she frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Too bad,” I replied. “Where we’re going, it doesn’t matter.”
She hefted her bag. “Where are we going?”
I pushed open the door and led her down the street. “Papaya Hut.”
“What is a papaya hut?”
“It’s a place that makes the best milkshakes you’ve ever tasted. And if you’re worrying about fat, don’t. I have no clue what they put in those things, but it isn’t cream.”
“Please,” she said, catching up and following at my shoulder. “Do I look like a woman who worries about fat?”
“It’s legal to have an ass, Evie Bates,” I said, pushing open the door to Papaya Hut. “Some of us even like it. If someone tells you you’re fat, now you know how to punch their teeth in.”
She was quiet after that.
The Hut was just a long, narrow space with a counter along one wall below a hand-lettered menu. I chose the blueberry-flavored shake, and she picked chocolate. She was still quiet as we got our shakes and took two high-top chairs at a narrow counter by the window, watching the street go by.
“This is ridiculously good,” she said, her eyes going wide as she sipped her shake. “I was picturing Josh’s face when I was punching back there. Is that normal?”
“Considering I punched his actual face, it’s pretty tame.”
“I’m not usually aggressive.” She glanced at my chest, then my shoulder, then away again, as if she couldn’t meet my eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
“Okay,” I said, watching her mouth as she sipped from her straw again. Force of habit. For a nice girl, she had a sexy mouth.
“You don’t seem very torn up about it. The whole cheating thing.” She paused. “Gina.”
“We weren’t dating very long,” I said. “Being torn up isn’t my thing. And it’s different for guys. It’s all about pride.”
“Pride?”
“Sure,” I said. “You really want to know?”
“I think so. Yes.”
“We like to know our cock is the only cock. You know, King Cock. No other cock in the universe can compare.”
She stared at me open-mouthed, her cheeks going pink. “King Cock?” she said.
I narrowed my gaze at her as my temperature went up, starting in my balls. “Say that again.”