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“Of course I do.”
“How sore are you?”
I’ve been trying to ignore the pain, but...it’s more than I thought it would be. “A lot,” I tell him. “It was my first time, so maybe...”
“There are things we can do about that.” He steers me to the nearest cafe and orders me an iced tea, sitting me firmly on one of the padded outdoor seats. “I’ll be right back,” Graham says. “Don’t move.”
When he comes back five minutes later, there’s a packet of ibuprofen in his hand. He opens it with his teeth and watches while I swallow down two of the pills.
“We’ll sit here until it starts to kick in,” he says, then takes the seat next to me and holds my hand.
“I’m really okay,” I promise, but he shakes his head, still worried about me.
That makes me feel as warm and loved as I did last night.
Loved. I shouldn’t be thinking that word. I swallow it down and focus on feeling better.
I finish my iced tea, and when we step back onto the sidewalk, I can’t help tipping my face up to kiss him. I feel a thousand times better with the painkiller, and it’s wonderful to be out in the sun without anything to think about but relaxing together.
The kiss turns hot, Graham’s hand coming up to grip my chin, and someone nearby shouts. “Cute couple!”
Graham picks his head up, his eyes narrow, a smile curving his lips only slightly. “Thank you.” All the while my heart races and my body heats.Couple.
I watch him with emotions storming through my chest. I shouldn’t want him to agree this badly. Maybe I just wanted to hear what it sounds like for him to sayyes,she’s minein public.
Graham looks back down at me, his expression softening. “Ready to shop?” he asks.
“I’m ready,” I tell him.
I don’t tell him I’m ready for much more.
Graham
Brian: Come on, we want to meet her.
I stare at the text. Brian’s message sits in my phone unanswered.
Brian: Just do it.
The sigh that leaves me as I stare out the window from my penthouse is filled with both agitation and apprehension. I shouldn’t have fucking told Brian anything. He badgered me for an update and now this. I watch the cars move below me before deciding to text her.
It seems to me that it could be woven into the verbal contract that she would accompany me to social gatherings. After all, I do enjoy her company. The small sighs she makes when something romantic happens on the television and the way she bites down on her bottom lip, her brow scrunched, when she gets an email from work that something didn’t go well. It’s…noticeable and quite distracting in a good way. I find myself enjoying her and it’s quite possible she’ll fill a need within my friend group as well.
Graham: You have plans tonight?
Maddie: Tonight?
Graham: I need a date.
Maddie: Ooh, a date for what?
I can practically hear her response. The touch of excitement. It warms something inside of me and I bite the bullet. Why shouldn’t I after all? She’s mine when I desire and if it’s something she doesn’t prefer, we’ll make that accommodation.
Graham: I’m getting together with my friends. Three of us. Small group, but they’re bringing their wives.
Three dots bounce on the screen while she types his answer.
Maddie: You can’t be the only one there by yourself.
