“I knew she’d be a screamer. She had that ear-piercing, ass-eating look about her.”
I hide my grimace when I reach the help desk in the hotel lobby. “Can you please make sure these get back to my room?” I hand the desk clerk the keys for Cubie, mindful my father will never believe my ruse if I ditch him by jumping into Summer’s car.
When the desk clerk lifts her chin, I thank her with a wink before shifting my focus back to my father. This is the last thing I want to say, but since I’d rather put my baseball career in his sights than Summer, it comes out easier than predicted. “Where are you parked? Coach Randall is a car enthusiast, so I hope you brought the Lambo.”
13
Summer
Istand naked in front of the vanity mirror for several long minutes, unsure as to who is reflecting back at me. I’m horrified at myself, completely mortified. I should have stopped Lennox last night, then I wouldn’t be struggling to work out if the event that occurred was as much a criminal activity as it was immoral.
If Lennox and I had switched places, and I was the one being taken advantage of while drunk, it would be classed as a sexual assault, so why should it be any different because Lennox is a male?
It shouldn’t be, and that’s why I will confess to Lennox what happened last night at the very first opportunity. I truly don’t believe I coerced him into doing anything against his will, and this isn’t a conversation I thought we’d ever have, but if I can’t be honest with my best friend, who can I be with?
I really hope he can forgive me. I don’t know who I’d be without him in my life, but I doubt it would be anything good.
After breathing out the unease making me feel sick, I enter the main part of our room. The knot in my stomach twists to the point it’s painful when the scent I was obsessed with this morning lingers in my nostrils. It’s why I’m showering so late in the afternoon. I didn’t want to wake Lennox by unraveling myself from the cocoon he wraps around me each night, and I didn’t want to wash away our intermingled scents. They were stronger this morning because of what we’d done only hours earlier.
Or should I say, whatIdid?
Too guilty to continue acting as if nothing happened, I snatch up my cell phone and log into my Messenger app. I’m about to hit the number displayed under Lennox’s name when a message from him pops up on my phone’s screen.
Lennox:The hotel clerk advised me on the way out that we need to switch rooms. One of the doormen will help you move our luggage within the next hour. I’ve misplaced my wallet, so if you could tip him, I’ll pay you back when I replace my cards. He will also return Cubie’s keys to you. I found another way to the stadium.
His message is unusual. Not just because of the change-up in rooms, but the fact he messaged instead of calling.
Lennox isn’t like every other Generation Z. He prefers calling over texting.
Confident my voice will crack if I were to talk, I return his message.
Me:I’ll get us settled into our new room before my meeting today. I hope it’s as nice as our room now.
I hover my thumb over the smiley face emoji before chickening out.
Now is not the time to act daft.
Me:Also, we need to talk about what happened last night.I made a terrible mistake.
My heart doesn’t beat while waiting for Lennox’s reply.
Mercifully, he doesn’t keep me waiting long.
Lennox:Itchy already?
I shouldn’t smile, but I can’t help it. I love how he can make me smile even when I’m feeling like shit.
Me:No… but I deserve a bad case of the hives. I…
I stop typing my message when my eyes lower to the pathetic shuffle of my feet. This isn’t a text after a date situation. This is me confessing to a crime I’m now not so sure is a crime. If Lennox had no clue about the event that unfolded last night, why are my panties missing? They were where Lennox left them after he shredded them off me this morning and where I tiptoed past them on my way to the bathroom thirty minutes ago, but now they’re nowhere to be seen.
As recollection of Lennox’s twitching top lip filters in my head, I delete the message I was partway through typing, then punch out another.
Me:When you realized you had lost your wallet, did you happen to notice anything else missing along with it?
His reply lands in my Messenger app at the speed of light.
Lennox:Such as?
