Once the popcorn is done popping, I pour it into a bowl and dance over to the couch. Lincoln should be back soon and I have Road House cued up on the TV. The last time he was over, we spent the whole day watching my favorite movies so it only seems fair that we watch his this time. Glancing down at my bare legs, I wonder if I should put some pants on before grinning. I may not be ready to have sex with him yet but that doesn’t mean I can’t tease. Besides, I’m not opposed to hitting third base to take the edge off for both of us. My phone buzzes from the couch and I walk around to the front, setting the popcorn down on the coffee table so I can grab it.
Lincoln:
Sorry, babe. Shit’s running long and
I’m not going to make it over tonight.
I toss the phone down on the couch with a frown just as it lights up with another text. Sighing, I grab it again.
Lincoln:
Rain check?
Staring at his message, an idea hits me and I smile as I tap my camera app and hold the phone above me, snapping a photo of my body.
Me:
Fine but just know that this is what you’re missing.
Me:
Also, I’ll be watching Road House all by myself.
A few seconds after I press send, my phone rings and Lincoln’s picture pops up on the screen as I laugh.
“Yes?” I answer, still giggling as I turn the music off.
“Are you seriously going to watch Road House half naked?”
I fall back onto the couch and cross my legs in front of me. “I really am. Shame you’re missing it.”
“Fuck, babe,” he groans and I can just imagine him running his hand over his face in frustration – something he does quite often around me. “Just thinking about that is making me hard.”
“That sucks since I was considering letting you get to third base tonight, too.”
“Jesus Christ,” he breathes. “You can’t say shit like that to me when I’m in a clubhouse full of guys.”
“Well, you should have come over.”
He sighs on the other end of the line and an ache forms in my chest. He only left a few hours ago and I already miss him like crazy.
“If I could get away, I would, babe.”
“I know. I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing. Just call me tomorrow, okay?”
“Count on it.”
We say good-bye and when I hang up, I sigh and toss the phone next to me on the couch. Never in my life did I think I would be one of those clingy girls but I can’t help it with him. When it comes to him, I’m greedy as hell.
Glancing down at my new tattoo, I run my fingers gently over the raised ink and smile as I remember the drive back to the house. I can’t remember the last time I was that silly around someone and it felt good to just let go. Lincoln makes me feel safe and I wasn’t scanning the street, searching for signs of danger or running through defensive moves in my head. Besides Theo, he may be the only person I can just be myself with.
Lincoln is my escape, my safe place to land and it concerns me how quickly I’m falling for him. It’s like as soon as I let down my guard, he rushed in and stole my heart right out from under my nose and it makes me wonder if I could have been happy long before now. If I had just let someone in, given them a chance, would things have turned out different? Shaking my head, I realize I don’t want things to change because I think, maybe, Lincoln is the prize for all the years of waiting for the right man to come along.
The house phone rings and I glance over my shoulder before standing up and walking around the couch to grab it off the table, Theo’s number flashes on the screen and I smile.
“Hey, little brother,” I answer, biting back a smile and I’m greeted with a growl.
“Tatum, don’t start shit with me when I’m nine hundred miles away.”
I laugh, walking around the couch and sinking into it. “What are you going to do about it, Theodore?”
“I’ll take time off just to come down there and kick your ass,” he taunts and I throw my head back and laugh.
“Do it. We should have a sparring match like we used to and this time I won’t be afraid to hurt your fragile little face.”
“You’re such a goddamn pain in the ass,” he mutters and I giggle.
“Whatever. You love me. What are you up to?”
“I just got off work. What are you up to?”
“Nothing, really. Just getting ready to watch a movie.”
“Fun. Oh, hey, do you have any idea why my forearm was burning today? It feels like I got a sunburn but there’s nothing on my skin.”
“Shut up.” I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re such a liar.”
We may be able to communicate differently than other people but there’s no way in hell he felt me getting my tattoo today.
“Yeah, you’re right. Lincoln sent me a photo of you getting it done.”
I jerk up, blinking. “Wait a minute. What do you mean Lincoln sent it to you?”
“He texted it to me,” he says like that somehow explains everything when it literally explains nothing.
“You guys are texting?”
“Yeah. I got his number after you told me about him and I gave him the brother talk.”
Groaning, I drop my head into my hands. “No, you did not.”
“Yes.” He laughs. “I did. Don’t worry; he was cool about it.”
“I’m going to block you on his phone the next time I see him,” I warn and he laughs again.
“Don’t do that. Besides, I didn’t get to do the whole brother thing very much lately. Not since high school.”
“Did you feel like it was one of the big things missing from your life?”
“Maybe I did.”
Sighing, I lean back into the couch. “Well, I’m glad I could help your dreams come true.”
“Don’t be a smartass.” He laughs but it quickly turns into a yawn. “So, what did you permanently mark your body with?”
“T squared,” I answer.
“Aw, you got a tattoo for me?” he teases and I wrinkle my nose up.
“Keep it up and I’ll get it covered up with a donkey for you,” I warn and silence greets me.
“A donkey? Why?”
“Smartass… duh.”
He yawns again. “Oh, you’re so funny.”
“Hey, go get some sleep and call me tomorrow, okay?”
He mumbles something before saying, “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Send me a picture of your new tattoo, okay?”
“I will,” I promise before saying good-bye to him. Once he hangs up, I toss the house phone next to my cell and sigh as I grab the remote and start the movie. Grabbing the bowl of popcorn off the coffee table, I settle into the couch and pop a kernel in my mouth when the phone rings again. Rolling my eyes, I grab it and press it to my ear.
“What did you forget, Theo?”
“Taaaaatuuuum,” a creepy, high-pitched voice sings on the other end of the line and my stomach sinks like a rock as a chill races down my spine. I sit forward, spilling popcorn on the carpet as I toss the bowl to the coffee table. “Are you there, Taaate?”