by Dee Florence
This means that one week per study session, we each need to present over group video chat to our tutorial group. Then we receive feedback from the other students and the tutor. We also upload the assignment for grading that same day. It’s five nights of three people presenting.
It’s a very stressful week, but I find that I’m enjoying the interaction and feedback. Most people only end up attending their own presenting night, but you at least get feedback from two peers as well as the tutor.
I’m happy with the progress I’ve made on the assignment and have managed to catch up from where I was lagging. I check my notepad and I’ve managed to stay on task all evening.
I grab an apple and head to the couch to relax for a while before bed. My thoughts stray to Cate again. Tomorrow night we’re going on a real date and all I know is that I should wear something I can ‘move about in’ and meet her at the tram stop. No matter how I tried, she wouldn’t reveal any more clues.
This woman! She makes me feel like I could follow her around like a lost puppy.
Yesterday I spotted her walking to the tram stop with a bag from her favourite lingerie store, those hips swaying like she had places to be. I had to stop myself from pulling my car over and chasing after her to see what was inside. I am not this guy, but somehow, I am this guy.
I don’t know how I’m going to be well behaved for our date whilst I’m wondering what she’s wearing under her clothes. I’m getting a chub just thinking about it.
Damn it. I need a shower to relieve this and to go to bed so that tomorrow gets here sooner.
As I get in to bed I spot a text waiting for me.
Sweet Cheeks: Just confirming that we are still on for tomorrow night?
Blake: Yeah. Why wouldn’t we be?
Sweet Cheeks: *shrugs emoji* I don’t know, maybe you got a better offer?
Sweet Cheeks: Maybe your dog is sick? Or there’s something important on TV you can’t miss? There are many possibilities.
Blake: 1. I don’t have a dog. 2. That’s not a thing anymore. All TV is repeated, like 100 times and that’s only if you watch TV and not just streaming, which is there any time.
Blake: Are you freaking out?
Sweet Cheeks: I might be.
Blake: Well stop. I’m going to be there tomorrow waiting for you, gorgeous and I’m looking forward to it.
Blake: I wouldn’t want to miss out on my surprise, would I?
The bubble appears and disappears like she’s changing her mind about her response for the next minute or two.
Sweet Cheeks: What if you don’t like it?
Blake: I’m going to like it. You’ll be there, looking hot-as-fuck as usual, probably blushing just for me. The rest is a bonus.
Sweet Cheeks: *blushing embarrassed emoji*
Blake: Now go get some sleep so we can have fun tomorrow.
Blake: If you’re having trouble with what to dream about, just think of all the dirty things I did to you a week ago. I know I will be.
Sweet Cheeks: You are so naughty!
Blake: Don’t you know it!
Blake: Sleep well, gorgeous. See you tomorrow. x
Sweet Cheeks: See you then. Good night, Blake. x
FOURTEEN
CATE
It’s date night and I’m nervous as hell.
I texted Blake and told him to meet me at the tram stop on Thursday night and to wear something he can move about in. I withheld all other information about our date, partly because I’m nervous he won’t like it and partly just to torture him.
What is it about him that makes me want to do that?
I’m wearing my cutest striped tee with a toucan on it tucked into my favourite high waisted shorts. I’ve got a small, green, cross body bag tonight that fits my essentials and can fit my cropped cardigan for when the sun is gone.
My trusty cork slides finish my outfit. I take one last look in the mirror before heading out the door.
Be bold Cate, tonight. You can do this!
Blake is waiting at the tram stop, checking his phone as I approach. He’s wearing a tight fitting white t-shirt that stretches over his chest like it’s almost too small, but is perfect. He’s paired it with navy chino shorts that hit mid-thigh and show off his manual labour tan and slip-on classic Vans.
I’m kind of glad he’s not looking, because it gives me the chance to really take in the view. He looks up and catches me staring and a wide grin crosses his face.
Busted.
I give him an awkward wave and I can feel the blush spreading across my face.
“Hey sweet cheeks!” He drags me in close for a hug and kisses me on the cheek. I swear he takes a sniff of my hair too. “Where are you taking me tonight?”
“It’s a surprise! And you know all about not revealing surprises too soon. Let’s go!”
I pull him by the hand onto the platform and hear his groan that he’s getting a taste of his own medicine. I look back over my shoulder and just grin at him.
We take the tram five stops and make polite conversation the whole way. Once we get off the tram, I point to the exit we need to take and say, “Nearly there”.
He seems to be lagging behind me and not saying much on the short walk to our destination. I look back to see that he’s checking me out. I get so distracted by this that I walk into a sign and start to trip.
Oh god, I’m so awkward!
I start to fall, but somehow, he’s right there and he reaches around my waist and pulls me back into his chest setting me upright again.
“Was that a ploy to get me to hug you from behind?” He leans down and whispers in my ear. I shake my head, unable to form words. “Because you could just ask. I’d do that anytime.” He wraps his other arm around me and gives me a squeeze as if to emphasise his point.
“We’re here!” I say clapping my hands together once and stepping out of his embrace.
He looks up at the sign.
Oh god, what if he hates it? He said my choice, but I’m still nervous.
The Arcade is a classic games centre where you win tickets for overpriced prizes and you can play against other people. It has unhealthy snacks and even an indoor trampoline park they added on last year. It’s my kind of nostalgic fun.
“This is your choice for our date?”
I nod sheepishly.
Oh no, I think he hates it.
He grabs me around the waist and plants a hot kiss on my lips. My knees go a little weak. “God, you’re awesome,” he whispers in my ear.
I can’t help but grin at that.
Phew!
“Let’s go! Thursday night is for grown-ups only, so we don’t have to fight the little kids for the best games.” I say.
He lets me drag him into the arcade. We go to the machine that lets you either buy or recharge a card that gives you access to all the games. I charge up my card for the session and buy one for Blake. He tries to pay for his own, but I shake my head.
“My shout, remember?” I hand him his card and we make a loop of all the machines whilst I try to decide what to play first. “The hardest part is choosing where to start!”
“What’s your favourite, gorgeous?”
“Ugh. I like them all! That’s the problem.” I’m getting too indecisive and I begin to worry that he won’t want to be here anymore.
“What about this one?” He points to the Skee-Ball, “It’s got two spots free.” I nod and he leads me by the hand.
I tap my card to pay for my session and watch him do the same.
“You’re going down!” I say playfully, with my best game face on.
He just laughs. “Oh, you think so do you? You’re on!”
We play three rounds and he wins every one. But I get so excited every time the tickets come out of either of our machines that I jump up and down and clap.
Cool Cate is nowhere to be seen.
We try a bunch of other games. Blake even lets me win some of them and he insists that I get all the tickets, even his. He seems
to be finding excuses to touch me as often as possible.
When I want to play a first-person shooter game and the other spot is taken, he stands behind me and helps me with my technique.
Excuse me whilst I melt in a puddle, right here.
After both doing terribly at the dance game and working up a sweat, I get us both bottled water and find a bench to sit on.
I get up the nerve to ask him, “Are you having fun?”
He nods as he takes a sip of water. I watch that Adam's apple as he swallows it down. He leans in close, his scruff scraping my jaw, “Who knew you could have this much fun with your clothes on?” He sneaks a kiss behind my ear.
He makes me feel like I’m on fire.
He finishes his water and I put the lid on mine and add it to my bag. He points at the entrance to the indoor trampoline park, “Up for some more fun? Come on! Let’s go!”
I shake my head as we stand. “No, no, no, no. I’m to unco for that.” He just laughs and pulls me along playfully. I’m not really resisting, as I’ve always wanted to try, but I’m too afraid of injuring myself and having to hobble home on my own.
“I’ll protect you,” he says. He pays for our entry, before I have the chance. They give us a safety demonstration, special socks and a locker to keep our stuff in.
Because it’s only for adults tonight, I don’t feel so worried that I’m going to take out a kid, but I’m cautious and insist that we go to an area that no one else is using. I find a rhythm pretty quickly and I realise that I don’t trip so much, because I can just bounce back up.
Blake does some flips and has fun showing off for me.
I’m getting tired and I’m standing at the end of the trampoline section waiting for Blake, one side is trampoline and the other is a foam pit. One second I’m looking around the place and the next, some big bear arms are around me and we fall into the foam pit together.
I let out a little squeal of delight as Blake bear hugs me into the foam. I throw a piece of foam at his head playfully, as I make to get away and he leans over and hugs me tighter. We’re both laughing now.
My stomach grumbles and I insist on getting food. So, we eat snacks at the overpriced food hall and make our way out, collecting our things from the locker on the way.
We’re waiting for the tram after a 3-hour session at The Arcade.
“That was the best date I’ve ever been on, gorgeous.” He’s hugging me from behind again and speaking so only I can hear. I tip my head back to look up at him. He growls in a low voice, “Take me home? I need you so badly. Say yes.”
He kisses my mouth.
It should be an automatic ‘no’. My apartment is tiny and isn’t as neat as his. It’s not too bad this week, but I have craft projects all over the table and I’ve been ignoring my mail pile again. My breakfast dishes are still in the sink too. But, I don’t want to lose this feeling we have right now.
“Maybe we can meet up tomorrow night? I’ve got an early work meeting in the morning and Fridays are the worst.”
He groans at my response, like he’s in pain.
“I mean, I’ve got no weekend plans so…” I lean back and cheekily whisper, “You can have your way with me… If I don’t have my way with you first”.
He leans down and bites my ear lobe with his teeth and growls. “If I let you get away tonight, I get you for as long as I want this weekend? Is this what you’re telling me, sweet cheeks?”
I nod, “Uh-huh, as long as you like.”
He spins me so we’re facing each other and he assesses my body like he’s wants to devour me on the spot. “Okay then, gorgeous. I hope you realise what you just agreed to.” He winks at me.
Oh god, I’m in so much trouble.
FIFTEEN
BLAKE
It’s Friday lunch time and I’m too damn cheery for my own good.
We’re on a new project this week and it’s running much smoother. The sun is still beating down, but we’re switching to an earlier schedule from next week so that we aren’t in the direct heat all day. It means an earlier alarm, but also an earlier finish and I can’t complain about that.
Matt is eating his lunch with me under the marquee today. We’ve been chatting about the weather and the project when he changes the subject.
“Hey, did you convince that chick to come to my party? It’s only four weeks away now.”
Shit. I totally forgot about the stupid bet once I saw Cate at the supermarket.
“I haven’t asked her yet. But I will. Can’t rush these things.” I smirk. I don’t want to tell him about this weekend or that we have met up twice since. He just wouldn’t get it.
“But you’ve talked to her?” Nosey bastard won’t let it go.
I give a half shrug like it’s no big deal. “We’ve been in touch. I’m still confident that she’ll be there.”
“I’m living to see this, man! What are you up to this weekend?”
“Eh, nothing much. You know, just studying and my sister might pop by.” I lie.—My sister is out of town and I have big plans for my weekend with Cate.
It’s not that I’m ashamed of her, I just want to keep her all to myself and Matt is a dickhead sometimes and will ruin it with his tasteless jokes. I want to protect her from that.
“You?”
“Going out tonight to a party and then I’ll see where the weekend takes me. There’s always something or someone worth doing.” He laughs at his own joke.
I roll my eyes when he’s not looking.
“Have fun man!” I punch his shoulder and walk away.
The project manager has me in a meeting about what’s happening next week for most of the afternoon and then lets me leave a bit early. It’s good thing. I stink from the heat, fertiliser and the heavy lifting today and I need to get cleaned up for Cate.
Blake: I’m wondering if you can help me with a little issue?
Sweet Cheeks: Um, maybe?
Blake: What colour do you like better: black, navy or forest green?
Sweet Cheeks: What for?
Blake: That would be telling. I need an answer, babe.
Sweet Cheeks: Um, forest green I guess?
Sweet Cheeks: But I need more context.
Sweet Cheeks: Should I be wearing one of these colours? Am I missing an in-joke? I need to know!!
Blake: No. No and all will be revealed later tonight *wink emoji*
Blake: See you soon, gorgeous. I hope you’re bringing your appetite.
Blake: I definitely can’t wait for dessert.
Sweet Cheeks: *blushing embarrassed emoji”
Blake: *blowing heart kiss emoji*
I’ve managed to get a booth at a restaurant that serves a mix of foodie meals and traditional diner food. We’ve settled in opposite each other and she looks good enough to eat. I picked the booth so that I could put a table between us through dinner so I don’t try to take her in public.
I realise my mistake when I see that it’s in a dark corner of the room and booths seem to be a popular make out spot.
I order a grilled chicken salad and she orders burgers and fries. We’re so different, I really don’t know what it is that keeps drawing me in.
She’s wearing another cute dress tonight and it’s so damn tempting to reach my hand out under the table and see how far up her leg I can get before she stops me. I squeeze her knee instead.
Must not scare her off.
We eat and talk about our work week and other ‘getting to know you’ things. She doesn’t love her job, but lights up when she talks about her craft projects that she does in her spare time. I have never cared about crafts, but I feel like I want to, for her.
This woman!
“Oh, man. You never used those tickets last night.” I smack my head. “I distracted you with the trampoline session. Did I ruin your night? I’m sorry, babe.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “No. Not at all. I’m saving up the tickets and then I’ll get the most ridiculously big thing they have on
offer. It’s usually some giant soft toy that’s totally impractical. I do it a couple of times a year.”
“You collect creepy, giant, soft toys? That’s a little weird.” I’m a little creeped out, but trying to keep an open mind. “Do they stare at you in your sleep?”
She laughs hard at that. “Oh no! I don’t keep them. I give them to the half yearly toy drive for disadvantaged kids who don’t have toys. I know I could just buy one and not use the tickets, but I see the toy as a bonus to my fun and a little kid gets something to love.”
Fuck me dead. She is too sweet.
I make a show of trying to peer at her back dramatically, “Are you an angel, babe? That’s some angelic shit you’re doing.”
She blushes shaking her head and changes the subject. “What’s for dessert? Is it good here? You said in your text you couldn’t wait?”
I stand and reach out for her hand to pull her up. I grab her by the hips and pull her close, whispering in her ear, “You’re my dessert sweetness and you’re right, I can’t wait.”
I’m thankful that I paid the bill earlier, when she went to the bathroom, because I need to get us out of here. She has a mischievous look on her face that suggests I might not be the only one calling the shots tonight.
I growl into her ear and grab her by the hand to leave. I lead her to the tram stop around the corner.
SIXTEEN
BLAKE
She’s coming home with me again. I can’t seem to keep my hands off her. It’s like she’s magnetic.
Maybe this is what I need to get her out of my system and I won’t need Matt’s birthday weekend after all?
I shake my head.
“Did you change your mind?” Cate furrows her brows at me.
“About what, babe?” I was so lost in my thoughts I zoned out on what she was saying.
Shit.