by Carter Ashby
“Don’t say it. Don’t fucking say it.”
Cash closed his mouth and didn’t say another word.
Rye’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and jumped to his feet when he saw the screen. Cora. He smiled and raised the phone to his ear, even as he walked back toward his bedroom. “Rye,” he said, keeping his voice low and cool.
“Hey. It’s me. Cora. From work.”
He grinned at how she was always identifying herself as though he didn’t know who it was. “Cora from work…yes. What can I do for you, Cora from work?” Take you to my bed? Fulfill your wildest fantasies? An exchange of oral sex, perhaps?
She giggled a little. “Um, I’m sorry Adam ran you off, earlier.”
“Yeah? Me too.”
“Can I be honest?”
“I’d prefer it,” he said, with more bravado than he felt. Sometimes honesty hurt.
“The thing is, I’ve been trying to stay cool about this thing between you and me,” she said, “but the fact is, I really like you. A lot.”
If Rye grinned any bigger, his face was going to split in two.
“And I’m afraid of what Adam might do to this. I want you to know that I’m working on him the best I can, but I promise you, he’s not a threat to you.”
“You’re worried I’m gonna run away?”
“You’ve been driven away from places before, Rye. Don’t let him drive you away from me.”
He sobered right up. She was right. He did have a tendency to run. And Adam’s attitude, coupled with Cash’s fears about their relationship, gave him a queasy, running-away sort of feeling. “Right now,” he said, his voice cracking, “I’m just trying to earn your trust. I don’t know where my place is…in your life.”
She was quiet for a few moments. “Let’s try this. I’ll back you up if you need to face off with Adam. Okay? But in return, you promise not to make an issue out of it unless it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t want to lose my best friend, but he’s not being a very good friend right now. And I guess you are sort of stepping in on his turf. I mean, he’s always been the one to play pool with me or have a beer after work. So this is naturally difficult. I’d like to include him, but that won’t work if he’s going to keep being such an ass.”
“Maybe I should talk to him. Man to man or something.”
“Um, that’s not my area of expertise. You do whatever you want, there. But I’ll keep trying to get him to ease up.”
“Okay. I’ll do my part, then.”
“Great. Well…thank you.”
“No, problem.”
The silence that came next was awkward. Rye didn’t know what else to say, but he didn’t want to get off the phone. In truth, he wanted to invite her over. He wanted to convince her to climb into bed with him and let him make love to her. He was on the verge of asking her, when she finally broke the silence.
“Um…so we’re still on for Wednesday?”
The county fair date. “Absolutely. I’m looking forward to it. Know what, though? Fair dates are usually group dates. You got any friends we could hang out with?”
“Um…yeah. But…don’t you want to be alone with me?”
“We’re gonna be alone plenty. Trust me. But we gotta get to know each other, right? Meet each other’s friends and family? This’ll be a good chance for that.”
“Well, I know Adam will want to go, so if you bring Cash, maybe that will keep the tension low.”
“Yeah. What about your girlfriends? The redhead and the pizza chick?”
“Franny and Lyssa,” she laughed. “Yeah, I’ll invite them.”
“Great.”
“Rye?”
“Yes?”
“Will there be more…making out?”
He laughed. “Get your sweet ass over here, and I’ll make out with you right now.”
He listened to her breathing for a moment before she said, “Do you think you can last more than five minutes?”
“Oh my God, shut up!” he cried.
Cora’s laughter, even at his expense, filled him with warmth.
“Yeah, it’s really funny,” he said, trying to sound mad, but failing. “Here I am turning over a new leaf, trying to be a better man. You were the one wriggling your hot little body all over me. You should be ashamed of yourself, Cora.”
Her laughter slowly faded until it stopped altogether. “I’m not, though. Ashamed.”
Music to his ears. “Good. Maybe we can go a little further, next time.”
“Further?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Like…how?”
“I think I’ll leave that to your imagination. See you tomorrow, Cora.”
“Um…okay. Goodnight, Rye.”
“Night.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AFTER WORK ON Wednesday, Rye hurried home to change. It was silly since he dressed mostly casual at work anyway. But the day was hot, and he wanted to change into cargo shorts and a t-shirt, as opposed to jeans and a button-down. He threw on his favorite baseball cap and then paced the hall outside Cash’s bedroom door.
“Hey, you about ready?” Rye asked.
“In a minute,” Cash shouted back.
Rye sighed. This was his second date with Cora, and he was even more nervous than the first. He knew he hadn’t made a good first impression on her friends. He hoped he could rectify the situation tonight.
Cash came out and nearly ran into Rye before he saw him. “Jesus, quit hovering, man,” Cash said. He shoved Rye away and headed toward the front door.
“Are we picking up Adam?” Rye asked as he locked the front door behind him and jogged down the steps toward his truck.
“Nah, he said he’ll meet us there.”
Rye slid on his sunglasses. At six in the evening, the sun was still glaringly bright. He drove to Cora’s house and was halfway to the front door when she came out, looking cute in short shorts, a tank top, and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Rye kissed her on the cheek, hooked an arm around her waist and led her to the truck. Cash got out to let her in the middle, and the three of them drove to the fairgrounds.
They parked in a large, dirt lot that was nearly full. For a small town fair, it sure was drawing a crowd. Rye saw why when he saw the sign for the concert. There were several, big name bands playing over the next few evenings.
Rye and Cora strolled hand-in-hand to where Adam and her other friends were gathered by the front gate. As much as Rye wanted to kick Adam in the teeth every time he saw him, he was relieved to see the smile on Adam’s face at the sight of Cash. The two men approached each other, and Rye could see that, for them, the rest of the world disappeared. Cash grabbed a handful of Adam’s hair and kissed him on the forehead. Then he slung his arm over Adam’s shoulders. Adam’s arm went around Cash’s waist as they paid the ticket-taker and went into the fairgrounds.
“They’re so cute, aren’t they?” Franny said, jogging up to Cora and Rye. Beyond her, leaning against the gate looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here, was Sullivan Fletcher.
“I’ve never seen Adam so happy,” Cora replied.
“Your brother better treat him right,” Franny said, jabbing Rye in the chest.
“Judging from the sounds coming out of Cash’s bedroom, I think they’re treating each other plenty right.”
Franny giggled and spun on her heel. “Sully!” she shouted. “This is a date, dammit, get over here and hold my hand.”
Sullivan glared and shook his head in disgust before approaching and grudgingly taking her hand. Franny grinned like she’d just won an award.
“Where’s Lyssa?” Cora asked as Rye paid their way into the fair.
“Running the restaurant,” Franny said. “Her manager who was gonna cover for her at the restaurant, got sick. And I extorted this date from Sullivan, so she’s stuck working.”
“Extorted?” Rye asked.
“Yeah. I redecorated his mom’s living room in return for a favor. This is the favor.”
“It was as much a gift to Lyssa,” Sullivan grumbled. “Why couldn’t you ask her for a date?”
“I don’t swing that way, baby.”
“I want to know,” Rye asked, “why she had to extort a date from you, man? Why wouldn’t you go out with her willingly?”
Just then, Franny jumped up and down and squealed. “Shooting gallery! Shooting gallery! Win me a teddy bear, Sully!”
Sullivan gave Rye a look in lieu of a response. Then with a sigh of deep despair, he made his way to the shooting gallery, digging quarters out of his pocket.
Rye hung back with Cora, laughing. “Poor guy.”
“I don’t know what her deal is,” Cora said. “Lately she’s obsessed with him. She thinks he’s got a secret or something. She’s worked up this whole fantasy in her mind.”
Rye watched her talk, once again, only half-listening. “Do you think they’ll hook up?” he asked, just to keep her talking.
“I doubt it. I’m not a hundred percent sure Sullivan is straight. I’m not sure he even experiences sexual feelings at all.” The breeze blew dust around their ankles and wafted loose tendrils of her hair around her cheeks.
She turned to meet his eyes and froze. Her smile grew slowly, matching Rye’s. He leaned down to kiss her. A light brush of their lips turned into a hard embrace, his arms wrapped all the way around her, lifting her off her feet. God, he was crazy about holding her. Crazy about touching her, kissing her, just being near her.
He sat her down. “You do like me, right?”
She grinned. “I’ve told you I do.”
“I mean, it’s important because, God, this is really happening fast for me. You like me? I mean, really, really like me?”
With a giggle, she nodded. “I really, really like you.”
“So…we’re in the same place?”
“As far as I know.”
“Good. Great. Because I like you so much it…it hurts. Right here.” He pounded his fist to his chest. “You know?”
She placed her hand over his chest. “You are so cute, Rye.”
He was about to object to the compliment when Franny came jogging over with Sullivan trailing behind. Franny was hugging a big teddy bear. “Look what my date won for me!” she squealed.
They wandered around the fair, playing occasional games, stopping at craft booths to browse. Rye let Cora introduce him to people she considered friends. He enjoyed meeting several of them. They bumped into Cash and Adam again. Somehow, Rye found himself walking next to Cash, trailing behind the other four friends.
“What do you think?” Cash asked.
Rye knew he was talking about the town. About life there. He shrugged. “Things look…promising.”
Cash nodded.
Since they hadn’t bought tickets to the concert, they bought some fair food and sat in the grass under the bleachers so they could still hear the music. Franny was like honey attracting flies. By the time the concert started, there were three men sitting near her, flirting and talking. By all accounts, she’d forgotten all about Sullivan, who must not have cared since he was napping against one of the braces holding up the bleachers.
Cash and Adam kept close to each other, barely breaking eye contact, frequently leaning in to whisper or kiss.
Rye didn’t notice any of it. He sat with his legs sprawled and Cora seated at an angle between them, her hip pressed to his crotch. Once the music started, it was too loud for conversation, so he leaned in and nibbled at her ear and neck. When she turned her lips to his, everything outside of himself and Cora vanished. There were no sights or sounds, only the feel of her hot mouth on his.
The heat had her drenched in sweat. The passion of Rye’s kiss had her drenched in other ways, as well. By the time he pulled away, she felt as though she’d been stripped naked and licked all over. Right in front of her friends and community. But when she looked into his eyes, she found she didn’t care.
He licked his lips and swallowed. “Nice, boss,” he said.
She heard him, which meant there was no music playing. She looked up and saw people exiting the bleachers. “Time flies when you’re making out.”
Rye tipped her chin down, catching her eyes again. There was no humor in his expression. “Can I come over? To your place?”
She bit her lip and glanced around. Cash and Adam were getting to their feet. Sullivan was still snoozing. Franny was nowhere to be found. Cora didn’t know what to say in response to Rye’s question. Practicality was her fall-back defense. “Um. It’s a work night, you know. And it’s late already, so…”
He blinked, his brow creasing just a hint. “I don’t have to stay long. I just thought; maybe we could shower together or something, and then…”
She nearly bit through her bottom lip. Shower with him? Naked? He wanted to see her naked? Of course he wanted to see her naked. That was what two people did when they were attracted to each other. Besides, he wanted to eventually have sex with her. She wanted to eventually have sex with him. They would naturally have to see each other naked to do that, wouldn’t they?
“Cora?” he asked.
She blinked back into focus. “I have to talk to Franny.”
“Wait…what?”
She ignored him and jumped to her feet. She kicked Sullivan in the shin, jolting him awake. “The fuck?” he muttered as he rubbed his eyes.
“Where’s Franny?”
“I don’t know…”
“She’s over there by the concession stand with that guy,” Adam said. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Girl stuff.” She caught sight of Franny, flirting blatantly with a guy who looked familiar. Cora thought he might be the high school football coach. It didn’t matter. Franny could get a date anytime.
Cora hurried to her side, grabbed her arm, and pulled her away from the man. “I need advice.” She glanced over her shoulder. Rye was gathering food trash with Cash and Adam.
“I’ll call you,” Franny said to the handsome man before turning her attention to Cora. “What is it, sweets?”
“He wants to shower with me.”
Franny laughed. “Well good. You’ve been out here in the heat and dust. You need a shower.”
“I know, but…I don’t know. What if it leads to sex?”
“Jesus, Cora, you should hope it leads to sex.”
“But…but…he’ll see me naked, right?”
“In the shower? I should think so.”
“Franny, please!” Cora grabbed her arms and shook her.
Franny sobered up and leaned in, speaking more quietly. “Don’t do it if you’re not ready. But don’t not do it because you’re scared. I’ve seen you naked. There’s nothing there that’s going to repel him, trust me.”
Cora glanced back at Rye, who was now leaning on the bleachers alone. Sullivan was gone. Cash and Adam were gone. Rye’s arms were folded over his chest, and he was staring at her expressionless, chewing gum, his ball cap turned backward. He looked very much as he had the first night they’d played pool together. “It’s just,” Cora said, “he’s seen a lot of women naked. A lot.”
Franny sighed. “And that’s unfortunate, really. I know he’s got a past, and I’m sorry it’s there. But it’s there. You have to find some way to get past it and forgive him. You have to trust that he’s not comparing you to the other women because he’s not. And you have to be secure with the fact that you are a gorgeous, intelligent woman, every bit as deserving of this kind of happiness as the women you seem to think are better than you.”
Cora was nodding along. “So tonight, I should take him back home with me? I mean…I should just…go with it?”
“The way you two were going at it earlier? Absolutely. It’s obvious you two are on the verge of nuclear meltdown if you don’t do something about it.”
As Cora walked away from Franny and toward Rye, she realized she’d only wanted validation. Permission, even. She’d wanted someone stronger than her to tell her it was okay to take Rye home with her. If she’d
wanted to be talked out of it, she’d have gone to Adam.
Rye dropped his arms and stood up straight as she approached. “You okay?” he asked, his expression still neutral.
“Yeah.”
“So?”
“So…okay. You can come over if you want.”
He let out a sharp laugh. “You doing me a favor, Cora?”
“No! No. I mean, I’d like it. If you came over. Please. And thank you.”
He was grinning by the time she got through bungling the invitation. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand and leading her back to the truck. “Cash got a ride home with Adam. Does Franny need a ride?”
They passed the gate, and Franny scanned the parking lot. Sullivan was leaning against his car, clearly waiting for Franny. “No, looks like her ride didn’t abandon her.”
“Great.” Rye held the door of his truck open for her.
They rode back to her house. The sun had set and the evening was growing darker. Maybe they could leave the lights off in the bathroom so he wouldn’t have to look at her and be disappointed.
Her heart thundered in her chest.
“I enjoyed hanging out with your friends,” Rye said.
His voice intruded on her thoughts, making her jump. “Oh. Good. Franny likes you.”
“What about Sullivan?”
“Who can tell? I don’t even know if he likes me.”
“I’m thinking he’s not very happy with this town. I’m thinking Franny might be right. He’s got secrets.”
Cora studied him. “Interesting. What are you basing your theory on?”
“Intuition. Cora, all I wanted to do while we were sitting there under the bleachers was rip your clothes off and fuck you senseless. I almost didn’t care if anyone saw.”
She didn’t even have the ability to answer him.
“I don’t know where you are, and you know I’ll wait however long you want, but I’m ready when you are.”
She just sat there with her mouth hanging open. They pulled into the driveway of her house. He climbed out of the truck, walked around, and opened the door for her. She couldn’t even look him in the eye. I must be the most sexually repressed woman on the planet.