Page 51 of Rough

I reached for Marcus’s hand. “All I’m doing is riding on his bike. That’s it. I told him there would be no blowjobs, no sex, no nothing. He agreed.”

“Oh, my God,” he gasped. “Can you imagine having that guy fuck you? He’s so big. It would be like when you’re driving by Balboa Park and you see one of those great big dogs humping one of those little bitty dogs. And, the big dog has his front legs wrapped around the little one, keeping him from getting away. And as you pass by you’re like oh my God. And the little dog looks at you with his eyes all bugged out, and he’s like help meeeee.”

“I’m not having sex with him.”

He chuckled and then shot me a bug-eyed look. “You’d be the little dog.”

I waved him off and then looked at my watch. “I’ve got to get up in an hour.”

“An hour’s sleep is like taking a handful of Ambien. Don’t do it.”

“I won’t. I feel so much worse after a one-hour nap. It’s awful.”

“I think you two would look cute together. If he shaved.”

“What is wrong with you?” I shook my head convincingly. “We’re not going to end up together.”

I was enjoying riding with him, talking to him, and not wondering what it would feel like when the day came that he’d disappear. I realized that eventually he’d stop with the rides and long discussions, especially if I didn’t have sex with him.

At least when it happened, I wouldn’t be heartbroken.

Just slightly disappointed.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he said. “I need to get some sleep. I don’t work until 1:00, and if I don’t sleep, I’ll look like a raccoon.”

I stood and gave him a hug.

He kissed me on the cheek. “Bye T-girl.”

“I’m going to take a bath.”

He opened the door and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m going to remind Brian what a dick he was. Bye.”

“Bye.”

SIXTEEN

Pee Bee

He took a drink of his water, set the cup on his swing-out tray, and then reached for his Kindle. After reading for a few minutes, he peered over the top of it. I acted like I didn’t see him.

“Ahem,” he coughed.

I looked at him. “What?”

“Don’t what me,” he growled. “It’s my house, remember?”

I brushed my hair from my face and rolled my eyes.

So, your big dumb ass just happened by?”

“Yep.”

“In the neighborhood, huh?”

“Just stopped by to say hi.”

“You did that. We exchanged niceties. It’s over with,” he complained. “And, yet you’re still here, stinking up the place.”