My eyes met hers, challenging her to say otherwise. I never dreamed she would.
“I’m done, Tackle. I’m not interested in more.”
I was stunned. “How can you say that?”
“I told you before, I can’t be your hookup girl. It isn’t who I am.”
“We can do other things,” I said, waving my free hand over the table. “Have dinner together. Hang out.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you and you like me.”
“No.”
“Just like that? No?”
“We want different things in life.”
“How do you know that?”
She laughed and folded her arms in front of her. “Whether you think so now or not, I can’t imagine you won’t, one day, go back to your job. That right there is enough for me to walk away.”
I started to speak, but Sloane shook her head. “I want a regular life, Tackle. I’m hoping that now that I’ve gotten you out of my system, I can move on, find a nice guy, maybe even get married and start a family.”
“No other man will make you feel as good as I can.”
Sloane laughed. “You’re right about me liking you. I do. I always have. Your cockiness, how you make me laugh, not to mention you have a killer body—”
“And I’m handsome.”
She smirked. “Yes, you’re handsome. All of that makes for a great crush. Even for the perfect person to finally give my virginity to. But not for real life. You know that as well as I do.”
I wanted to argue, but could I? I knew Sloane was right. I wanted more time with her, but how much more? A couple of weeks where I spent as much time as I could with both of us naked, pleasuring each other’s bodies? I said we could hang out, but eventually, that would get weird, and even though my friendship with Halo was strained presently, we’d still remain good friends—even best friends—for the rest of our lives. If things went on for too long between Sloane and me, maybe she’d start asking for more than I could give, and then it would be awkward between us forever.
“You’re leaving me wanting more. I don’t think anyone’s ever done that before.”
“It’s good for you, Tackle. It’ll build character.”
“Is that what it’ll do? I thought all I’d get out of it was a pair of blue balls.”
Sloane laughed. “Let’s walk away while we can still be friends. Okay?”
I nodded. “I don’t like it, but you’re right.”
Sloane put her hand on her heart. “Did you just say I’m right? Wow, that plane crash really did change you.”
11
Sloane
I let Tackle walk me back to my friend’s building, but stopped short of inviting him up. If I did, we’d end up back in bed, and I couldn’t do that. It didn’t help his case that his phone rang two more times on the walk home, and instead of pulling it out, he ignored it.
“You sure about this?” he asked when we got to the elevator. “I could tuck you in.”
“Tell you what, I’ll go upstairs and you can return the call of whoever is so desperately trying to reach you.”
He took a step forward, maybe to kiss me, but the elevator door opened and I stepped inside. “Goodbye, Tackle.”