-Arie-
"Fuck, those were the most beautiful dudes I have ever seen. If this is what Georgia breeds I'll reconsider going back to Miami." Bryce says as he attempts to cool himself with a paper fan.
I use my feet to swing us on the porch swing.
I still don't know what to say.
"So you going to take Caleb up on his invitation?"
I glare at him. "He is Tee's friend."
"And? Tee made it clear he is not gay. It took you an entire year to get over how he hurt you. Why worry about his feelings? He wasn't worried about yours."
"I don't want to be messy."
"Messy how? Do you think he waited for you or something? Trust me when I say down-low dudes rebound quickly. I bet you all the money in my wallet he has some beard presently."
"He isn't down low." I try and fail to defend him with conviction.
"How isn't he? He has had sex with you for over a year and wouldn't let you tell anyone. Then dropped you the second he was done playing with you. Don't get soft just because you see those huge baby blues. He doesn't deserve you."
"You're right," I admit as I glide my fingers over my bangles. I hadn't realized being back would be this hard.
He reaches over to adjust my hair.
"Of course I am. You look so 70's I love it. You are serving the hillbillys a porn millionaire's much younger housewife."
I laugh aloud. "You think?"
"Yup. Very playboy. I am so invested in your fashion journey. You better post a lot of pictures so I can still see you every day." He pouts and my heart aches.
"I'm gonna miss you too much," I tell him.
"You're obviously rich send me a ticket and I'll come."
I frown, "Why don't you just ask your boyfriend?"
"Because he will expect to come and I want to see what Georgia has to offer without him."
I giggle, "You are so shady."
Bryce shrugs. "No harm in looking. But for real how can these guys be friends? One is on the DL as in down low and denial and the other offers to suck your dick minutes into knowing you."
"I mean the boldness!" I try to sound abashed but I giggle instead.
"Yeah, but I respect a man who says what he wants and there is no confusing he wants a taste of Arie."
"He was just flirting."
"And what if he's not? You have been like a church mouse this whole year. I hope you don't get all depressed again."
"I won't." I rebuff trying to push aside the thought of how dark I went.
"Well prove it. There goes your future, Ex-Husband." Bryce says lifting his chin and prompting me to look behind me.
Caleb is standing on the lawn next door. He is...really handsome. Over six foot. Tee is 6'1 in comparison Caleb has to be 6'3 or taller. He has very tan skin. He must play football too.
"Hey, Caleb! WooHoo!" Bryce calls and I immediately snap my head to glare at him. He shrugs as he fans himself like a church lady.
Caleb smiles and walks through the grass to meet us on the side porch. I already feel my face getting hot.
"Hello again." He says with a brilliant smile.
"Hello. Where's your friend?" Bryce asks with his own dazzling smile.
Caleb shrugs. "The heats getting to him. He went to have a gentleman's lie down?"
"A what?" Bryce asks with a chuckle.
"Grown men don't take naps here in the South. It's called a gentleman's lie down. Where are you from?"
Bryce tilts his head, "Miami."
"I heard that city is wicked."
"You scared country boy?"
Caleb chuckles as his gaze lands on me. I feel my body flush from the intensity of his dark chocolate eyes.
"Never that. I like a challenge."
I roll my eyes, "Where do you come off being so bold?"
He shrugs, "I'm spoiled I rarely don't get what I want."
"What is it you want?"
"Today.. I just want your number."
"Tomorrow?"
"A meal."
"And after?"
"It depends on how much you're willing to give. I'm greedy give me an inch and I'll swallow you up."
My eyes go wide.
"Dude you are direct," Bryce says.
Caleb smiles wolfishly, "Arie likes it."
My face is so hot.
"I..didn't-"
"You're blushing." He says with a smirk.
I don't think anyone has ever said my name like that. This dude is fucking ridiculous. But I can't help but respond to his directness. It's a long way from...Tee.
I look down at my toes and tap the heel of my wedges on the ground.
"It's way too hot out here for my Florida blood. I'll be inside if you need me." Bryce says and I glare at him again.
Bitch you better not leave me with this aggressive jock I warn with my eyes.
He mouths the word mingle as he walks around Caleb and heads in the side door.
Caleb takes the seat beside me and swings us.
"Am I scaring you?"
"Whose scared? Yeah right." I rebuff stubbornly.
"Then why won't you look at me?"
I raise my gaze to meet his defiantly.
He smiles at me.
"What are you staring at?" I ask after a minute.
"My meal."
I tilt my chin at him, "You wish."
"Literally from the moment, I saw you. Tee doesn't know people as interesting as you. Where have you been hiding?"
"Miami."
"You look like Miami."
"What does that mean?"
"You're colorful and Sassy. I dig it."
"You don't know me."
"No, but I have an impression. Besides I will know you." He says as he pulls his phone from his pocket and offers it to me.
I blink down at it at first. I look at him and his expression betrays nothing.
I take I deep breath and take it from his hand and quickly lock my number in.
"I'm not easy," I tell him.
"Good. It wouldn't be fun if you were."
I can't with those eyes. I look back down at my toes once again as I lean forward away from him.
"Can I ask you something without you being offended?" He asks after a moment of silence.
"You care about offending me now?"
"I'm trying to not scare you away."
"What is it?"
"Are you transitioning?"
I look up at him, "How do you know that term?"
"I have a friend who's trans."
"Lover?"
"Ex-lover, she's my friend. Don't change the subject are you?"
"No. I like being a boy. I just do drag for fun. That reminds me that I need to get to a barbershop."
"You cutting your hair?"
"Yeah, I start school soon. I bleached it as a last hurrah it's damaged to shit now anyway."
"All of it?"
"No just most. I need to look like a boy."
"Why?"
"You know how people are from this town. I get called a fag even when it's short. If I show up with it like this...I hate to think about it."
"Who calls you that?"
"Straight guys, Country backwoods fuck tards mostly. Jocks too."
"I'm a jock and I don't like that term. Tell me if anyone says that to you."
"Why will you beat them up?" I ask with a chuckle but his stone face and intense eyes tell me that's exactly what he would do.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm nobody to trouble yourself over."
"You're someone to me. We may have just met but I really hate when people bully people who can't do anything about it."
My eyes dart across his face trying to determine if he is joking but the look in his eye is crystal.
"Where are you starting school?" He asks and I notice that his jovial demeanor has disappeared.
"Greymen."
"That's my school. Guess it was meant to be." He smiles and I get the strangest sensation in my tummy.
I sigh, "If you say so."
"I can take you to my barber. I'm due for a haircut."
He runs his hand through his thick dark hair and before I know what I'm doing my fingers are entangled in the bushy softness.
I comb my nails through his glossy mane. At first sight, I thought it was brown but this close I can see it's jet black. Who even has jet-black hair?
Our gaze catch and instantly I know he is turned on.
I snatch my hand back. "Sorry," I say awkwardly as my face gets hot.
"Don't be, I like it." He says as he reaches for my hand.
He lifts my hand and replaces my fingers in his hair.
"I like my scalp scratched."
"Why are you telling me?" I scoff as my fingers move freely in his hair.
"Your nails are perfect for the job."
I ruffle it wildly then remove my hand.
I don't meet his gaze but I know he is staring.
"It's impolite to stare."
"I can't help myself you are so damn beautiful. If you were mine I don't think I would let you walk around like that."
His words cause goosebumps up both my arms.
"Well thank god I don't have an owner."
"Is that the takeaway you took from my statement?"
"Are you a tyrant?"
He shrugs, "I didn't mean it like I wouldn't let you more like I couldn't. I would pounce on you before you made it out of the door. You look so perfect I kind of want to mess you up."
"I'm starting to think your chaotic."
"Maybe. Just being honest."
"Do you always come on this strongly?"
He considers it for a minute.
"Actually no."
"Why am I so lucky?"
"There is very little that I find interesting in this town. You're like a rainbow walking around. It rouses me."
As I stare back at him and his newly messy hair I ask myself for the tenth time is this dude serious?
I decide in the end to put it on the back burner of my mind. I stand up and look down at him.
"See you at dinner. Stay out of trouble."
"I can't promise that." He says with a smirk.
This dude knows he is cute. I roll my eyes and head into the door letting the screen door slam behind me.
Comments (0)
See all