Page 33 of Tap Left
Iopenthe camera on my phone and take a shelfie of one of my favorite book sections and send it to him.
Another text from Daire.
Use your words, Lola.
Lola:
Sorry, but I’m working. It’s busy.
Ihate lying to him, but I don’t know what else to say. It’s one thing to be at his beck and call, but I’m not sure I’m down with the sexting.
Daire:
Only good girls get to come. Remember that.
Ican almost feelhis breath on my skin as he whispers those menacing words. He’s not even in the room, and still, he affects me. Bastard.
Lola:
Okay.
ThatGuy is on a roll now. He's asking me which books are my favorite and why. He tells me he's not much of a reader himself unless the news counts. We talk for a long time. It ends when I have to close down the shop, and he says he has a meeting to attend anyway.
I eat a Lean Cuisine in an attempt to be healthy and pair it with a giant glass of Moscato. It’s been a long day, and a bubble bath is in order. I want to close my eyes and relax, but my phone won’t allow it.
Daire:
Tomorrow night.
Lola:
What about it?
Daire:
I have plans for you. Six PM. No arguments.
I’m too tiredto fight it when I know I’ll only end up giving in anyway.
Lola:
Okay.
Daire:
Good girl, LB. I might even let you come.
11
Daire
Lola is subduedwhen I meet her at the bookstore. She fumbles around with her keys and her phone and gets her purse caught on the chair behind the register. She hasn’t made eye contact because she doesn’t know how to act around me right now.
While normally, I’d enjoy watching the pitter patter of her awkward little heart, I put her at ease by leaning in and kissing her. It took me a while to learn that women really just want a man who takes charge. Lola is no different, but if you’d asked me ten years ago, the thought of kissing her would have repulsed me. I wasn’t man enough to do it then anyway. Now I’m counting down the seconds until I get to do it again.
She sighs like she’s just lost a bet with herself and then she gives into it. Her body sags into mine, and her boobs rub against my chest. They look bigger today. Swollen. And I hope she isn’t getting her period because I’m almost certain Lola is the kind of prude who would tell me I couldn’t fuck her on her period. She’d be wrong, but the anticipated battle is tiresome already.
“Do you have a special visitor coming to town?” I feather her neck with kisses and find a particularly interesting spot on her shoulder. A spray of freckles that looks out of place, but alluring nonetheless. They are like tiny chocolate sprinkles, and I want to lick them off.
