Page 123 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
“Who was she? The only reason I ask is because you said you have a very scheduled life, so when would you have time to meet someone? Meaning, is this person still in your life?”
“Definitely not,” I say. “I think it was actually Max’s birthday. We got drunk—”
She lifts up and stares at me. “Was it Atlas?”
“No,” I say with force, which causes her to laugh. “He rejected me,” I add with a smile, making her laugh even harder as she settles back against my chest.
“So you had to go to the second option.”
“Unfortunately, which meant it was an out-of-towner, one-night-stand thing. I went back to her hotel room and, well, yeah.”
“Interesting,” she says.
“Okay, now you have to tell me your last time.”
“Uh, no, thank you. I’m a lady. I don’t share details like that.”
“Oh fuck that,” I say, as her laughter rings through the silent night. “I didn’t just open up to have you shut down on me. Now tell me, who was the last person you fucked…and when?”
Storee
Gird your loins, ladies, because the way Cole saysfuckedis the most gratifying sound ever.
It sends a thrill through me like…like…
Like warm cider on a cold day.
Like a freshly iced cookie melting in my mouth.
Like seeing that bitch Samantha fall flat on her doll face because I shut the door too hard.
I find it so appealing.
So attractive.
So freaking alluring that I lean in closer.
Seeking out his warmth.
Wanting desperately for him to tilt my chin up and press his lips to mine.
“I’m waiting,” he says.Cute.
I pick at a piece of lint on the blanket. “Well, if you must know, it’s been a while for me too.”
“You really think you’re going to get away with that answer? Try again.”
“Fine, you asked for it.” I clear my throat. “It has been fourteen months and thirteen days.”
I feel him go still underneath me, and I can’t hold back my smile as he pulls away to look me in the eyes. “Are you being for real? You know it down to the very day?”
I laugh. “No, but your look of concern is cute. Let’s just say it’s been over a year. It was with this guy I knew in college. He was in town and, well, we got a little handsy and continued the handsy-ness in his car.”
“You did it in a car?” he asks, sounding shocked. “How the hell did you manage that?”
“Have you never done it in a car, Cole?”
“No,” he says matter-of-factly. “I can barely fit in a regular car, let alone fuck someone in it.”
