Page 44 of Too Sweet
“So? Second date material?”
Mia cringes as if the mere idea of seeing the guy again makes her nauseous. “Unfortunately, no.”
Thank fuck for small favors.
She sips the wine, then makes her way across. I think she’ll take the empty wingchair to my left, but she sits arm-in-arm with me on the piano stool. I’m relieved.
Maybe she’s not that mad.
“Okay, what happened?” Toby demands after he introduces Mia to Alex. “What did I tell you before you left? Tell me what he did.”
“He kissed me.”
I’m starting to really hate my mood swings. From aroused and calm to fuming in a flash. Violence quivers within me like a loose wire at the thought of anyone’s hands or lips on Mia’s delicate body.
“Okay, you’ll have to explain this a bit more,” Toby says, scratching his chin. “You shot him down because he kissed you on a date?”
“No. I shot him down because hecan’tkiss.”
Alex bursts out laughing. “I had no idea there’s a wrong way. I mean sex, sure, either you’re good at it, or you’re not, but kissing?”
Mia crosses her legs, the movement nowhere near the iconic scene inNaked Instinctbut five times more titillating. My eyes are drawn to her ankle bracelet, or rather the tattoo just above. I’ve noticed it before but couldn’t make out what it was: a word in a foreign language. Greek, I think.
“You can definitely do it wrong,” she admits. “Take Finn. His kiss was a five out of ten.”
“This is actually interesting,” Toby says, leaning back in the wing chair to make room on his lap for Aisha. “Come to think of it, I’ve had my fair share of lousy kisses, but never rated them. Do you kiss every guy at the end of the first date?”
“No. They kiss me. I let them because what’s the point in taking things further if they can’t kiss well? I like it too much to date a guy who can’t.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket, stealing my attention. Good. I’m barely keeping my hands to myself right now.
Cody: Is she back yet?
Me: Yeah. You can relax. Finn can’t kiss, so no second date. What the hell are you waiting for? Act before someone steals her from you.
If he forces my hand, it will be me.
“Alright, let’s check.” Alex gets up, pulling one of the teens with him, and shoves his tongue down her throat while his hands grope her butt.
Cody: I’m working on it. I see she told you about her rating system. You two are getting close, bro. Back off.
The fucking nerve of him. Who the hell does he think he is to see right through my bullshit?
Me: Whatever your strategy is, it’s failing.
“Rate that from one to ten, babe,” Alex purrs, pulling away.
“About... six and a half?”
“Six?!” he exclaims, disbelieving, then all-out embarrassed when we burst out laughing. “Seriously?! So you allhave a rating system? Where has this information been all my life?”
“I’ll give you a few pointers,” Toby smirks, but Aisha chooses that moment to shoot him down.
“You’re barely a nine yourself.”
“Nine? No way. I’m a ten.”
“You’re a ten when you kiss my other lips. Those...” She pats her mouth, “...you need to work on.”
