Harry:
“What’s up, Harry? I can’t talk long. I’m on a quick break from recording,” David said.
“And you took my call? I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” I smiled, but without David able to actually see that smile I hoped he’d accept my sarcasm as a form of comradely jest.
“Yeah, well, I never know with you if it’ll be a call from prison, so best to pick up.”
“That was one time, and I wasn’t even charged.” It was a joke, but David got quiet on the other end. “Look, I wanted to apologize.”
“I’m listening.”
“You offered me something that I felt I didn’t deserve. But there was a time when we were more than cousins. You were more like my brother.” There was a long slow exhale into the receiver, and for a moment, I pondered the fact that David might be enjoying a cigarette. After all, he was on a break. That was neither here nor there. “I turned you down, and I’m sorry.”
“I sort of expected you to, but I still had to ask.”
“So, who’d you get to replace me?”
“No one yet. I can’t choose between Mark and Keith. Your brother might feel insulted if I ask him, second choice and all.”
“Am I still your first choice?” My voice cracked.
“Of course.”
“Then I’d like to do it. I’d like to be your best man.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes. You gave me chances no one else would have. You have always been there for me. Let me be there for you.”
David laughed into the phone. “You know this means you’ll have to escort Brit down the aisle.”
“Ha! I knew this came with a catch.”
Tiffany came out of the dance studio looking like she was about to step onto a stage in midtown Manhattan. Her hair was up in a high bun, loose tendrils delicately falling around her face and neck. She was applying sugary pink lip gloss to her lips, and my gaze dropped to her fingers, watching how they slid across her mouth.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked as she pushed herself up onto her tippy toes and greeted me with a kiss.
“Just thinking about how pretty you look.”
“Please, I’m a mess. In fact, do I have time to shower before the movie?”
I checked my watch. The movie was starting in thirty minutes. “Not really. Can you please trust me that you look beautiful?” I leaned in and kissed the side of her neck, inhaling deeply. “And you smell pretty good, too.”
She pushed me away playfully. “All right, but can we at least grab a slice of pizza? I really don’t want to have popcorn for dinner.”
“Sure.” I opened the door to my jeep so she could step in then walked around to the driver’s side. Once inside, I turned the key and faced her. “So, I have to tell you something. It might be weird.”
“You had pizza for lunch?”
“Uh, yes,” I said, realizing this for the first time. “But that’s not actually what I want to tell you.”
“Can I tell you something? It’s weird, too.” She looked nervous, and I could only imagine what she wanted to say.
I leaned back in my seat. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Kristen called me today.”
“Oh! So you already know?” I have to admit, I was sort of relieved. I wasn’t sure how she would feel with me being the best man at my cousin’s wedding when I briefly had a thing with the bride two years ago.
“Yeah. I’m sorry, how do you know? Did she call you first?”
“No, I haven’t spoken to Kris in a while. David asked me.”
“Why would David ask you if I wanted to be a bridesmaid?”
It took me a moment to process, and afterward, I started laughing.
“I know. It’s weird, right? Especially since Billy will be my escort. I wanted to ask you first, but Kris was really begging me, saying how Natalie dropped out, and she already paid for the dress, and since I’m her lil-lil sister then it’s like we’re family, and she wanted to ask me anyway, but David originally only had two so she only had two…”
“Babe. Stop.” I lifted my glasses and rubbed my eyes, chuckling at how bizarre my family actually was.
“I know it’s a little strange, but I didn’t think it was that funny.”
“David didn’t ask me if you could be in the wedding. He asked me to be his best man.”
“He did? Harry, that’s wonderful!” She leaned forward and gave me a hug. “See? He really does love you. Things are finally moving in the right direction.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“Of course. Are you okay with me being in the bridal party, too?”
“Of course.” I swept one of her stray locks of hair behind her ear and kissed her softly. Her teal eyes were gazing into mine, and my heart skipped a beat at how she looked at me so lovingly. “Now I know I have protection if Brit tries to take a hit out on me.”
“Stop! You know you’re growing on her.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” She tilted her head to the side. “I also know Brit already wrote a speech for Kristen. It has a lot of feels so you really need to be on your game. No pressure.”
“Right. No pressure.”
“I don’t think I can get that movie out of my head,” Tiffany said as she swiped her key card and pushed open the door to her dorm. She clicked on the lights, revealing how empty it was. A basket with some laundry at the foot of a made bed and a few toiletries scattered across the dresser on the left side of the room was the only proof she even had a roommate. I closed the door behind me while Tiffany kicked off her sneakers. “It was fish sex.”
“It was love. You wouldn’t like me if I had gills?” I sucked in my cheeks and puckered my lips, making fish kisses at her while flapping my hands at the sides of my neck like gills.
“No, I think I’d pass. I draw the line at salty kisses.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost ten. “Are you going to stick around? I need to take a quick shower, but you don’t have to go.”
“You sure? If you want privacy I can go.”
“Don’t be weird. I’ll only be ten minutes. Fifteen tops.” She opened her drawers and grabbed some clothes, then reached for her shower caddy and a towel.
“What if Becca comes home?”
“If she’s not home by ten, she’s not coming home at all. You’re good. Be right back.” She practically skipped out the door, and I was left alone in her room.
I glanced around, soaking in Tiffany’s world. Her turquoise comforter with her ivory blanket folded neatly at the edge of her bed. She had a big teal colored square pillow with her sorority letters sewn diagonally across in purple sequin. I picked up the pillow and flipped it over. Big Sister, Rebel was across the top. Little Sister, Sugar Plum was across the bottom in white. A silhouette of a dancer was cut out of black fabric and sewn in between. I smelled the pillow. Lavender. Smiling, I returned the pillow and headed over to her desk.
She had a cork board with pictures. Mostly girls in the sorority, but there were a few from her life before. In her leotard, hair up, posing in some swanlike ballet position. She was probably eighteen in the picture, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I knew eventually we’d have to have that talk about surgery. If she had any chance at that life she had to take it. My gaze scanned the other objects on her desk. Mostly notebooks and office supplies.
I noticed she had a new romance novel, and I laughed, recalling how we had met in the bookstore back in the fall and how red her cheeks had gotten when I picked up her half naked highlander book. I picked up the novel staring at the guy with abs of steel on the cover. The girl was draped in his strong arms, their lips about to touch. “Oh Tiffany,” I said to myself as I opened the book up to a random page. “Let’s see what you like about these books.” It didn’t take me long to find out.
He breathed against my neck, his breath hot, causing my nipples to pucker in response. I wanted to feel him move inside my body.
I read a little more, eager to see if the damsel in distress would get her wish. She did, and suddenly I understood why Tiffany was always looking at me with her eyes all doe like. She was looking to be ravished by one of these characters she liked to read about. I chuckled to myself, wondering what Tiff would actually do if I came on that strong and then recalling how she was last week in my apartment when I had her against the wall. I realized I would undoubtedly catch her off guard. My thoughts were starting to enter that danger zone of wanting her. Needing to sober up, I reached for the remote and turned on the TV, catching the end of the Yankee game. Instantly, I was caught up with what was happening on screen, my arms crossed, and my brow furrowed intently as the pitcher was about to strike the last batter out. The door clicked open, but I didn’t turn my gaze away. I’m rather superstitious when it comes to baseball.
“You look intense,” Tiffany commented as she floated around the room, returning her belongings to their proper spot.
“It’s 4-0, Yanks in the bottom of the ninth. Last batter. Two strikes.” Tiffany stood beside me and watched the wind up and pitch. Fast ball. Swing and a miss. “Bam!” I brought my fist to my chest. And finally turned my gaze to her. She had a sweet look of satisfaction on her face, and I realized then and there how much of a turn on it was for me that she not only would stand beside me to watch the last out but rooted for my team. “Hey,” I said.
She turned, looking so innocent I thought I might devour her. I leaned in and kissed her.
“What was that for?”
“For being a Yankee fan. It’s important to me.”
She smiled. “Good, because I expect to go to a few games this summer.” She strolled over to the desk and grabbed her brush. That’s when I realized what she was wearing. A powder blue, spaghetti strap, tank top with white lace and a tiny bow at her cleavage. She had on a matching pair of shorts, too, but they were so short that if she leaned slightly, her cheeks peeked out from the lace. My jeans suddenly felt rather tight as my body grew and stiffened in response. Holy crap did she look good.
“What are you wearing?” I said after I had tucked my tongue back inside my mouth.
She glanced over her shoulder, honestly looking confused, and she brushed her hair. “My pajamas. Why?”
“That’s what you sleep in?”
She glanced down. “Yeah. Why?”
Maybe it was the book or the Yanks winning in a shut out game combined with her sexy little pjs. Or maybe it was the way she was looking at me like she was the poster child for innocence, but suddenly, I had to have her body against mine. I wanted to touch her. Taste her. Make her moan.
I took three steps toward her and licked my bottom lip. “You slept over once, and you were not wearing that.” I took the brush out of her hand and placed it on the table. Her hair was wet. I breathed her in; she smelled delicious. I rested my hands on her hips, wanting to take things slow but not sure if I could. Despite my internal struggle, Tiffany was pretty aloof to my sudden awakened desire.
She shrugged. “That was an unexpected sleepover, and so I borrowed your clothes. Remember?”
“Oh yeah, I remember. You crawled into my bed and made me lose my mind all night.”
A small smile appeared on her lips. “I remember you behaving yourself.”
“Well, I’m not going to behave right now.” Her eyes widened as I kissed her, crushing my lips against hers, feeling how soft her skin was from her shower. She tasted minty as my tongue swept across hers. Pulling her gently over to the bed, I tore my mouth away long enough for Tiffany to lay down and for me to lay on top of her. Her arms swooped around mine, drawing me closer, enticing me with every stroke of her tongue against mine. I guided my hand lightly down her neck, between the soft curve of her breasts, resting on her taut tummy. I carefully felt the bead of jewelry at her navel and in that moment made a decision.
“I want to taste you, Tiff. Can I?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice a bit breathless as I took off my glasses and rested them on the desk beside her bed.
I kissed her lips, then moved down her body, leaving a trail of kisses in my wake. Stopping at her hips, I slowly peeled down her shorts, smiling when I saw her for the first time. “No panties?”
“Well, no. I just took a shower and put on my pajamas.”
“Ms. Hart you are full of surprises.” I could see her chest rising and falling faster in anticipation of what I would do. Gently, I placed my hands between her thighs and watched as she spread her legs for me. I touched her with the pads of my fingers, and she drew in a breath as I felt her. She was soft.
Bending down, I buried my face against her core, licking her slow in one long stroke, tasting her for the first time. Tiffany moaned softly, and I repeated the gesture as I glanced up at Tiff, her body arched and one arm bent back, palm flat against the wall for support. Her eyes were closed, her mouth opened slightly, her lips in a perfect O shape. I dragged my gaze down to her breasts, nipples pushing against her thin shirt. It’s hard not to smile watching her this way, knowing she’s trying desperately to hold it all together when I want her to fall apart in my hands.
“Harry!” she panted, and I smiled as she reached down and laced her fingers through my hair and took a fistful, pulling me closer.
I almost couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care because if I’m making her feel as good as I hope she feels, it would have all been worth it. I gave her hips a squeeze, locking her in place as I rolled my tongue repeatedly against her. She whimpered, her thighs quivering, and with a few more strokes she moaned, her hips trembling, and then her body softened and fell slack. She was putty in my hands.
Slipping her shorts back in place, I crawled on top of her, kissing her, wanting her to taste herself and know how good she was. Her arms wound around mine as she kissed me slowly. I felt how fast her heart was beating against my chest.
“That was amazing. Thank you,” she whispered, and I smiled. She kissed me, licking my tongue playfully with hers once more. “Mm-hmm. Salty,” she confirmed with a soft smile, her cheeks still flushed from the moment we had shared.
I pulled her up so we were both shyly staring at each other. “And you said you wouldn’t like salty kisses.”
“I was wrong. I was very wrong.” She’s gazing into my eyes with her teal pools, and the closer I looked the more colors I saw. Shades of blues and green that stirred together into this incredible color that I’ve never seen on anyone other than Tiffany. For a split second, I almost confessed that I’m in love with her, but I faltered. Instead, I held her, feeling perfectly content in the peace between us, this beautiful moment of quiet where there weren’t words to describe all that we wanted to say or do. Tiffany tried to stifle a yawn with the back of her hand and I laughed.
“I’m that boring, huh?”
“No! It’s been a long day, school, dance, the movie… and now I’m completely relaxed.” She tossed herself back against her pillows. Her eyes found mine, and she smiled.
If I laid down beside her, I’d never leave, and things might start up again. I didn’t have a condom, and I wouldn’t dare sleep with her without one. “I’m going to let you get some rest then.” She looked disappointed but nodded. I kissed her lips and then her forehead. She sighed, and I had to pull myself away from her. “Goodnight, baby,” I whispered as I turned off the light, gently tucking her in. She giggled, and I couldn’t help but adore her.
“Goodnight, Harry.”
With that, I let myself out of her dorm, whistling down the hallway and jogging down the stairs. The air outside felt fresh, the stars above were a thousand diamonds, and the world seemed pretty perfect tonight. There was no wiping the smile off my face as I got in the car and right as I started the engine, about to crank up some oldies, my phone rang. It’s Tiffany. “Hey,” I said, catching my reflection in the rearview mirror. I was grinning ear to ear.
“Hey,” she whispered back. “I just wanted to say that was really nice…” She was speaking softly, and I pushed the phone closer to my ear. “I liked being that way with you, it was… intimate.”
“Yeah. I really liked being that intimate, too.” I paused and swallowed. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“I’ve never not trusted you, Harry. You have to know that.”
“I’m a slow learner. But I am learning.”