Eli: Go fuck yourself.
I plug my phone back in and turn toward Penny, who’s finally starting to settle down. “You are an asshole.”
She chuckles and then lifts from the bed and pulls her shirt over her head and drops it to the side, leaving her in only a tank top. It’s a loose tank top, so it doesn’t cling to her top half. Rather, it gently molds around her hard nipples.
“Oh, I’m hot now. See, I told you I’d be taking my shirt off.”
Yeah, I only wish there was nothing under it.
“Glad I could once again make you hot and bothered.” I lie down and turn toward her, tucking my pillow under my head.
“Are you referring to the night we were together?” she asks.
I nod, and since she left her nightstand light on, I maneuver over her and turn it off, shrouding us in darkness. There’s just enough light coming from the city for me to see her face.
“Yes, I’m referring to that night.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who made you hot and bothered.”
“What night are you remembering?” I ask. “I had you eating out of my palm.”
“Are you delusional?”
“Are you?” I ask.
“No, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were eating pie, and I sucked on your finger. In your head, you pictured it as your penis in my mouth.” I chuckle because that’s incredibly accurate, and we never discussed this. She just knows guys. “You practically squealed with delight, and then I sat on your lap, and the night was history after that.”
“I didn’t squeal.”
“I heard your mental squeal.”
“Telepathic, are you?”
She nods with a smile. “Totally, specializing in hearing guys moan in their minds.”
“Wow, quite a gift you have. But that wasn’t when the hot and bothered portion of the night began.”
“Oh, you think there was a different moment?”
With a cocky grin, I say, “I know there was a different moment.”
“Oh please, enlighten me. I have to hear this.”
“It was when we were at the bar.”
“Trust me, nothing but awkward tension happened at the bar.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Something happened.”
“What was it?”
Grinning, I reply, “When I leaned over and nibbled on your ear.”
She goes to respond, but then she shuts her mouth and gives it some thought. When her eyes dart away from me, I know I’m right.
“See, told you. I’m the one who got you hot and bothered, and you just followed suit.”
“So what you’re saying is you’re the reason we’re in this predicament right now? Sharing a bed as friends and nothing more while I run through the gauntlet of emotions and internal body temperature?”
I shake my head. “No, the blame rests on the condom company. For if they’d done their job, this never would have happened. In fact, I believe we should start a slander campaign to dismiss them from their duties they are clearly not accomplishing.”
“They have warnings on the box.”
“I’m quite aware of the warnings.”
“And you should have doubled up on protection with one more condom, then maybe we wouldn’t have been in this situation.”
“If I’d doubled up, I’d have felt absolutely nothing.”
She shifts her pillow under her head. “Trust me, from the way you were pounding away, you would have felt something.”
I chuckle. “Pounding, huh?”
“Please, spare me. I can’t afford to offer you another compliment. Your ego is already big enough as it is.”
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
“Because it is.”
“Ego is not a bad thing, it’s confidence.” I stare into her playful eyes and realize this is exactly what I’ve been looking for with her. The same fun, teasing behavior we’ve shared before. It’s what made me attach to her that night. Sure, the dress was the main show, but the joking with her, that was icing on the cake. Girls flirt with me—throw themselves at me—wherever I go. But it’s because I’m Eli Hornsby, Agitator defender. Not simply because I’m Eli. A guy who doesn’t want to be fawned over, but likes a good laugh.
“There’s a huge difference between being confident and having an ego.”
“I can agree to that, but don’t you think it’s almost a requirement to have an ego as a professional athlete?”