“It could be a young person who’s catfishing her.”
“All the better.We bringing Mick?”
I shrug. “If he’s free. But we won’t be able to stay long. We have a show at six.”
He sets his barbell down so he can nudge my shoulder. “Yeah, you do. I heard you assholes on the radio again today.”
I feel heat crawling up my neck. It’s strange having people take notice. Most of my life, I’ve flown beneath the radar, but that’s been changing. First, I sold the software for BALL-E, then the Nikola Foundation contacted me. Now I’m in the band, I’m up for that award in October, and Kenji and I are collaborating.
I’m not invisible anymore. My life is expanding, taking on momentum, like a snowball rolling downhill in a blizzard. The only part of my life that’s incognito is this situation with Nora. Which, ironically, is the only thing I currently feel like talking or thinking about.
She came over after her shift ended yesterday and started undressing as soon as the door shut behind her. So quickly, in fact, that I had to run to get all the shades shut.
“Don’t get used to this,” she said as she backed me into the door and went for my zipper.
I did the smart thing and locked the door behind us.
“I couldn’t possibly get used to this. There’s nothing mundane about you showing up at my house and pulling your clothes off.”
She laughed as if I’d said something funny, and I took off my glasses and threw them. They’re probably going to get scratched or broken at this rate, but it was very hard to care with Nora standing naked in front of me with her hand on her hip, daring me to do something about it.
I’ll take her dares, every time.
I pinned her against the door, and she looked at me, her eyes half-lidded, and said, “Right here. Against the door.”
It’s possible she really is trying to kill me.
But she was thoughtful enough to have a condom ready. Sheripped the corner of the package open with her teeth, which is not the recommended approach but was very sexy, and then rolled it on me while she held my gaze. Within seconds I was thrusting into her, her back pressed against the door, her legs wrapped around my waist.
Afterward, we playedHalf-Lifefor a couple of hours, and she told me about her day at the brewery.
It was a simple way to spend our time, but God it felt good. Every moment we’ve spent together has felt good, and I can tell I’m not the only one who feels it. She’s been stealing glances at me, like she wants to file away the memories and keep them. Obviously, I don’t like the obvious conclusion—our situation is not permanent in her mind—but I tell myself that what’s important is that she cares.
Liam sits up on the weight bench, giving me an amused look. “Earth to Cormac.”
Right, boxing gym.
“Sorry.” I wipe a hand over my face. “I haven’t been getting much sleep.”
“Does it have anything to do with the secret fake boyfriend mess?”
Yes, he knows. Most of my friends do, given that they’re coupled up with Nora’s friends.
“Yeah,” I say hesitantly, glancing at the doorway leading to the front of the gym.
“No worries, man. Mick knows about it too. You stole his van to get to her faster the other week. Kind of a tell.”
I cringe. “Is he still upset about that? I filled up the gas.”
Liam’s eyes gleam with humor as he sets down the bar. “Never change, man. Never change.”
“So you always say, but you’re the only one who ever says that.”
He taps his forehead with one finger. “You only have to listen to me. I’m always right.”
I peer at the gaping doorway again, then admit in a low murmur, “I think I’m in love with her.”
“No shit.” Liam laughs as he wipes down the weights. “I picked up on that the second you agreed to this sorry situation. Hell, I had my suspicions when you first told me about the science fair.”
