“You need a Mustang or something. One that roars when you honk.”
She gasps and rubs the steering wheel while I buckle. “Don’t listen to him, Tatum. He’s just jealous because you’ve got the Magic Mike moves and he doesn’t.”
“Magic Mike? Ha. I have the Travis King moves, which trumps any of that lame shit.”
She blushes as I run my hand up my shirt, revealing my stomach. Once she glances down, I lift an eyebrow and laugh. “You’re too easy, princess.”
“Ugh. Why do you keep doing that?”
While she drives, I place my hand on her thigh. “I had lunch with my mother yesterday.”
“Really? That’s great.” She grabs my hand.
“She told me my father has cancer.”
Once she pulls into the parking lot and puts it in park, she turns her whole body and searches my face, trying to read me. “Are you okay?”
Since I heard the news, I’ve been stuck in limbo about it. I’m not sure if I’m sad or not, and it’s a strange feeling. I can’t really explain it. “I’m okay.”
Viola leans over and gives me a hug. With her arms wrapped around my neck, I can feel the love pouring out of her. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“It’s going to be okay. So how ’bout that coffee? They have venti mocha grande chocolate shit here?”
“It’s a venti white chocolate mocha with an extra shot, occasionally made with soy. And if we go in there spouting off that lingo, they may kick us out and ban us for life. They are pretty much anti-establishment.” She lifts both eyebrows and puckers her lips with a hard head nod.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Before I open my door, she glances over at me. “Do you want to just get it to go?”
“Embarrassed to be out with me, princess?” I’m fucking with her, and she notices.
“I want to be alone with you while I can.”
Dammit, she’s so beautiful. I don’t even argue with her about it.
“Only if I can drive.” I shoot her a wink, and she doesn’t protest.
We order our coffees, and I drive past the college, turning down a few side streets until we arrive at this little park I found my senior year. Never being one for the library, I used to come out here and study. When she sees people walking their dogs and children playing, her eyes widen. It’s a happening place.
“Talk about a diamond in the rough! This park is awesome.”
We get out of the car, and I take her hand and lead her across the grass to a picnic table under a tree. The sun is high in the sky, but dark clouds tumble in. It looks like it could start raining at any moment, but we continue toward the low-hanging branches.
I sit next to her, and with our backs pressed against the tabletop, we watch the people in the park.
“I have something to tell you,” I whisper into her neck. I love the way her skin smells like fresh spring flowers.
A soft moan escapes her. “Hmm?”
I open my contacts list and hand her my phone. “I deleted all the hos.”
Viola bursts out laughing and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have.
“Why?” She gasps.
“Because you’re the only ho I want.” I reach over and tickle her.
“I’m not a ho.” She swats at me, fighting back her laughter. She tries to tickle me back but sucks at it.
