Page 30 of Dirty Chorus

“You’re a good kisser too.” He leans over the counter, rubbing his face with both hands.

“I was gonna say you’re a good singer.” I bite my bottom lip and watch him cough up a smile and a light laugh. “But I liked kissing you too.”

“You were beautiful last night.”

My eyes dart all over the place when he’s looking straight at me.

“I just want someone to want only me, and not every other girl that they meet.”

“I would feel that way too after what you went through, but do you really think it’s a good idea to jump the gun with someone you barely know? I’m no saint.”

“You kissed me though,” I say.

“Because I wanted to, but you were also drunk, and I crossed a line...” I think my heart met the tip of a steak knife. “I’ve slept with a lot of girls, but I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

“Right, yeah. I get it... umm. No hard feelings.” I bring my thumb up to my lips, chewing on the tip of my chipped nail. Go figure, he’s just not that into me.

“Soo umm... how old is your grandfather?” I ask and change the subject. If I hear him reject me anymore, I might melt into a puddle on the floor and cry.

“Old enough.”

“Are you taking care of him all by yourself?”

He rubs both hands across his face and leans back against a white brick wall with a crinkled sign taped up that says they don’t take bills higher than a twenty. “Yeah...I am.”

“Do you have other family here?”

“Look...” He runs a hand over his mouth and crosses his arms. His eyes glance far away from me and at the door the couple walks out of. “My life is already fucked up as it is, and I’m not about to fuck up yours.”

“Why would you fuck it up?”

“You just graduated high school. You can go to college and have a chance to make something of yourself.”

“You can make something of yourself, too. I’ve never heard a voice like yours, and you’re really good,” I say.

“I dunno, maybe... but Gramps is the only thing keeping me from leaving. I know I’m going to get signed for a record deal. I get phone calls every day. All I have to do is record my demo, but the second they send me on tour, I know he’s gonna go. I don’t have the funds to take care of him. It’s just me...”

“Is that why you never graduated high school?”

“No, it’s because...” He stops, and shakes his head. “Life’s rough...”

I feel like a complete asshole. I shouldn’t have asked. I should've kept the conversation to wanting to sleep with him.

“I’m sorry about everything. The bathroom, the truck, and trying to take advantage of you last night. I’m really all over the place. I don’t wanna waste anymore of your time.”

“Stop apologizing. I’m glad you came last night. It meant a lot.”

A smile emerges on my face, and it makes my cheeks hurt. “Really?”

“Yeah, and I’d like to hang out again. Plus, if you’re walking out looking like that, I expect you to call me.” I glance at his boxer briefs and the huge shirt I snagged out of his closet. “That’s my favorite shirt, by the way.”

“Well, I don’t call guys, so you’ll have to text me first,” I say, and he rubs the bottom of his chin like he’s debating if he should. “You’ll text me first... right?” I ask nervously with a chuckle.

“Only if you plan on coming to hang out with me and the band. Maybe you can come watch us practice.”

I hold out my pinky finger and wiggle it in his face. “Pinky promise.”

He chuckles, locking his finger in mine. “I promise. I’ll shoot you a message.”