Rita peeks over at me from where she is preparing dinner. I duck my head to play with my phone, trying to hide my excitement.
Me: He’s home.
Carly: I knew it! Lick the spoon all sexy when you eat your ice cream.
Yeah, we really suck at this seduction thing. Lick my spoon? Really. I mean, I’m willing to try anything, but that almost sounds like it will get me busted. I wonder where she’s getting these ideas from. I’m guessing she googled it because her romantic life is as non-existent as mine. I’m not even sure why I’m choosing to take her advice on this. But since she’s the only person to walk this earth that I would trust my secrets with, I listen to her.
“Tinsley.” I look up from my phone when Reed comes strolling into the kitchen looking as handsome as ever. His dress shirt hugs his broad shoulders and my fingertips tingle with the need to touch what I know lies underneath it. Carly always says she doesn’t get my attraction to him. She thinks Reed looks scary. He might be, but all I’ve ever seen him as is my savior. I’ve been in love with him since he pulled me from the pool when I was twelve and then proceeded to punch Ben in the face for pushing me in. Okay, I might have been in love with him long before that too. He’s hot as hell with a body that always made all the girls try to get his attention. Let’s not forget about his perfect lips and killer smile. If he only knew how many times I’d touched myself at night dreaming it was him that was bringing me pleasure, he’d probably move out.
He had always been the quiet boy, who never really looked like a boy at all, that came over every summer with his father. I was always trying to get him to play with me. Sometimes I could get him to come out of his shell and sometimes I couldn't. I think his dad might have told him to be nice with me. Why else would he sit on the floor with me and pretend to be interested in what I was doing?
I don’t think playing Barbies was really his cup of tea. Yet, each time he sat with me as I played. The only issue with us knowing each other for so long is that I believe he still views me as that little girl. I just want him to stop seeing me as a little sister. I want him to open his eyes and recognize that I’ve grown into a woman. One that desires him. One that thinks naughty thoughts about him. It isn’t only the physical part that I want him to notice but the fact that I love him.
“Hey.” I sit up straighter, turning my phone over so no one can see any of Carly’s texts. I give him a smile that only earns me a nod. I try not to let it bother me. Reed doesn't hug anyone. Sometimes I’ll steal one but he always stands there stiff as a board. You’d think he has no idea what a hug is or something. I wonder if it’s because he never had a mom to give him one. “Come here.” I motion for him to come over to me. He hesitates for a moment before he draws closer. You’d swear I was the giant scary one out of the two of us by the way he approaches me.
I love this time of day. His normally shaved face is starting to turn a little gruff. He’s got his sleeves rolled up now. I reach up, undoing the rest of his tie. He closes his eyes and I can tell his breathing changes. I’m not sure why he always acts this way around me. Maybe I’m overstepping my boundaries. He doesn’t tell me to stop, so I keep doing what I’m doing.
“Work is over. You can relax with me,” I try to order him. I pull the tie free, dropping it down onto the counter. His eyes spring open as soon as I’m done.
“You still have a few finals,” he reminds me. So he is listening when I talk. Sometimes I’m not so sure because he can be a man of few words.
“So I can’t have a break?”
“You can have anything you like.”
I smile, knowing he walked directly into my little trap. I’m not trying to trick him into anything but maybe spending some time with me.
“Then sit with me and have some ice cream before Rita tries to steal it from us.” I pat the chair next to mine. He comes around, sitting down.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Rita asks him as she slides something into the oven.
“I’m good.” He gives her the same nod he gave me. I grab the ice cream, spooning us both out some, then topping his with extra sprinkles. He needs them. Sprinkles make everyone's day better.
“Were you busy today?” I try to make small talk. It's hard to get him to open up. He’s not one for small talk, so I have to practically pull the words out of him. I often try for a while then give up. Then I get mad that he won’t budge and don’t talk to him for days. My anger usually subsides and I’ll be back at it again. If I’m anything, it’s persistent. Especially when it’s something I want. I may not be aggressive or in his face about it, but I’ll continue to chip away and be patient until he’s ready. He probably thinks I’m crazy. He might be right.
“Normal.” He takes a bite of his ice cream.
“Any plans tonight?” I take a bite of mine and keep on pushing. He gives me a look that says When do I ever have plans? “You could have a date or something.” I shrug, trying to pretend that wouldn't bother me. When really it might shatter me.
“I don’t date.” He says the same thing he always does. I’m not going to lie; him saying it always makes me feel better.
“Not true. You dated Shelly,” I remind him. I’d never met her.
“Who?” He puts his spoon down.
“Shelly,” I repeat. I hate saying her name. Sometimes I wish I could have met her to know what she looked like. If Reed has a type or something.
“The woman you dated when Tinsley first came to live here,” Rita supplies for him. She doesn't even look our way. She keeps on chopping vegetables for the salad, I’m guessing.
“Right.”
“How can you forget the name of someone you dated?” I shove a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. Because right now I need all the sprinkles I can get. How can he care that little about who he dates?
“Yeah, Reed.” Rita turns to look at us. “How can you forget someone you dated? It’s almost like she didn't exist at all.” I nod in agreement. I wish that was true.
“I’m busy. I can’t remember everyone’s name.” He grabs the sprinkles. “You need more.” He shakes them into my bowl.
“You can never have too many,” I agree, taking a bite of my ice cream. He nods in agreement. We sit in silence as we both eat. I try to think of something to talk about but I’m suddenly nervous. I’m working myself up. I see him all the time. Why am I being weird now? Oh, because now I’m trying to seduce him. That’s right. As you can see, that’s not going too well for me. I can barely get him to talk, never mind anything else.
“You have something.” Reed reaches with his thumb, swiping below my bottom lip. “Ice cream.” He brings it to his mouth, sucking it clean. My heart races. That did not just happen.
“Ahh!” I scream when my phone rings. Both Rita and Reed look at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Sorry.” I grab my phone. “Gotta go.” I rush out of the kitchen before I make a bigger fool of myself. I answer the phone. “I failed,” I grumble. God, I suck at this.
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