She lays down her menu. “Do you know what you want to eat?”
“I really don’t care. You can order for me if you want.”
“Really? What if I order something you don’t like?”
“I’m not picky. I like trying new things,” I say, hoping this impresses her, my nonchalance about being here, my coolness with all of this—her, Jack, this stupid restaurant.
“So what are you gonna do with your grandma tomorrow?” she asks.
I know she’s just being kind and making conversation, but she really doesn’t understand that there’s nothing to be done with my grandma other than to sit there with her, watching the Food Network, waiting for her to stand up and walk around the place looking for something that doesn’t exist. All I can do is follow along beside her in case she stumbles, get her to the bathroom, and change her diaper. I don’t think this is what Kylie wants to hear right now or at any time.
“I’m not sure,” I say. “Just spending time with her.”
She smiles that adoring smile that makes me feel like the only man on earth she could ever want, and I know I’m in way over my head.
After we eat and everyone takes a bite of a couple of desserts, I check my phone. “I’ve got to get going,” I say loudly enough to get everyone’s attention. I hold up my phone. “Who do I Venmo for Kylie and me?”
“I’ve got the bill,” Jack says.
I nod at Kylie, keeping my eyes on Jack. “I’ll pay for ours.”
“I’m putting it on my corporate card.”
“I don’t fucking care,” I say.
“Brett,” Kylie says under her breath.
I take a beat and then pocket my phone. “Fine.” I slide my chair back and Kylie gets up with me.
“I’ll walk you out,” she says, and then we head toward the door, everyone giving me their goodbyes.
We stand by my truck, and she moves her hands up my arms and across my shoulders. “Thank you so much for coming out. I was so glad to get to see you even for a couple of hours. I’ve missed you so much this week.”
I put my hands on her waist. “I’ve missed you, too. What are you doing tomorrow night?”
“Whatever you want.”
I move my hands up her torso. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want to leave the bed.”
“That’s absolutely fine with me.”
I kiss her, and she moves her hand across my neck, threading her fingers in my hair as we kiss like we’ve been separated for a year. She pulls away, panting, “I wish we could go somewhere.”
I clench my eyes shut, wishing we wouldn’t have stayed at that stupid restaurant so long.
She presses herself against me. “How much time do you have?”
It’s more than I can resist. “Get in the car,” I say, and she hustles around to the other side, I drive to my place and whisk her inside. Val and Cohen are hanging out on the couch with Tori in the side chair.
I stand there running my hands through my hair, wanting them to magically get up and leave. “You okay?” Val asks.
“Yeah,” I say, glancing around. Tori gives me a funny look and then smiles. “Let’s head over to my place,” she says to the guys, and then everyone seems to catch on.
“Cool,” Cohen says, giving me a grin as the three of them head out.
As soon as the door shuts, Kylie and I are all over each other. I rid her of her blouse and bra, and she pulls my shirt over my head. We can’t stop kissing, hands all over one another. I unzip her pants and let them fall to the ground, sliding her underwear down. She steps out of them and I hike her up onto the dining room table. I fall to my knees and spread her thighs, pulling her to the edge.
She lets out a moan as I close in on her, wrapping her legs around my neck, leaning back on the palms of her hands.
I stand up, pulling a condom out of my pocket before dropping my shorts to the floor. I ready myself and then push into her. The emotions inside of me are almost more than I can handle as I drive into her, wanting to make her mine, and not just for tonight.
She wraps her legs around my back and grips my shoulders as I pick her up and press her against the wall. She lets out a wail, and I know it’s time to let go inside of her, as much as I want this moment to last all night.
As we come down from the high of lust for one another, she kisses me and I kiss back, not wanting to stop. “I’m crazy about you,” she whispers into my ear, and I close my eyes, drinking in her words, wanting to go a step further and tell her how I really feel in three words.
Instead, I kiss her some more and then pull away from her. “I’ve got to get going.”
She nods. “I know. I’m sorry if I’ve made you late.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll text Matthew before I head out.”
We both get dressed and she checks her phone. “They’re heading to the Circle. I can walk.”
“I’ll drop you down there.”
“Okay,” she says, giving me another kiss. “I’ll miss you tonight.”
“I’ll miss you, too.” She has no idea how much I mean it.
28
Brett
As I pull into the entrance of our trailer park, I’m struck by the way my life has veered paths from how I grew up. There shouldn’t be any shame in eating at a fancy Italian restaurant, but still, being back here makes me feel like a fraud.
I pull up to my mom’s trailer, and an ache forms in the
