Page 54 of All of Him
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I joked. “The rumored adventurous girl has only ever been laid in an actual bed.”
Amanda shoved me playfully, then leaned closer, letting her head fall onto my shoulder. I sank into the position, letting my own head descend until my cheek felt her hair. It feltright, and I relished the brief interaction. She stirred almost immediately and sat up, causing me to do the same. She tucked her hair behind her ear, then tilted her head curiously.
“I want to talk about last Friday,” she tried, obviously unsure as to how I’d react.
“What about it?” I asked, clearing my throat.
Amanda narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge my reaction. I was hesitant to talk about what had happened, but if it made her feel better, we would address the issue. Even though we kind of already had.
“Can we just, for a second, discuss our sexual tension?”
I smirked, shaking my head slowly.Here we go.
“I mean, seriously. Just for a second?”
“What sexual tension?”
Amanda shot me a deadpan look, and I immediately realized that I couldn’t deny its presence. We flirted. I couldn’t lie about the obvious.
“Okay, fine. What about it?”
“I know we kind of addressed this last weekend, but I want to make sure it isn’t going to be an issue. I mean, the teasing is fine, but there’s a line I don’t want to cross and…”
“Manda,” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, “I haven’t had sex in over a year. I think I’d have sexual tension with a lot of women. No offense.”
“So, I’m just someone to flirt with?” she asked, though not upset.
I sighed, realizing she needed more assurance that she’d already gotten. I had to be downright honest with her.
“You are beautiful,” I started, reaching out and lifting her chin with my index finger.
I let the tip of my thumb catch her bottom lip but moved it before she could put any thought into that. Contradicting my words would invalidate them, and she didn’t need that kind of confusion.
“You are smart, helpful, and you have made me laugh more than I have in years. I will bedamnedif I ruin that by actuallysleepingwith you.”
Amanda let out a breath, her shoulders falling in satisfaction. I leaned forward, allowing myself to break my own rules, and pressed my lips to her forehead to seal my words.
“Response approved,” she joked. “I believe you.”
The problem? I wasn’t sureIbelieved me.
29
Amanda
I WOKE UP THEnext morning on Noah’s couch, still in my pants from the night before. At some point, I’d taken off my shirt though, and I had no idea where. I panicked briefly, recapping the night in my head. I was in Noah’s house, on his couch, but still wearing a bra.
I sat up and looked around, finally spotting my shirt on the floor by the coffee table. Nothing had happened, but I had a little bit of a headache from one too many beers. I raked my mind some more before remembering being warm in the middle of the night and stripping it off.
Sighing with relief, I stood up and went to retrieve it. With all the luck that one person could possibly lack, Noah descended the stairs just as I stood in the middle of his living room without a shirt. I covered myself with my folded arms quickly, but he only laughed and walked toward the kitchen.
“You saw a picture of me in my underwear,” he yelled. “It’s only karma.”
“That was aphotofrom a long time ago!” I yelled back, throwing my shirt on quickly. I followed Noah into the kitchen, where he was pulling eggs from the fridge. “Are you cooking me breakfast?”
“I mean, I guess,” he answered. “You’re a guest, and you’re probably hungry.”
I nodded.
