"Daniel," Dedra called from the porch. "Come here. I want to get you to look at this bite. I swear it's a spider.”
"Coming." He took the chip from Cora and smiled. "Always nice to be needed even before I finish my schooling."
"You'll always be needed, buddy." I smiled at him and tugged the chips back from Cora before leaning back and pressing my shoulder against hers as she reclined into the couch next to me. "So, I know Emily can cook, and Cindy obviously can. How about you?"
"Looking for a woman who can fuck all night and still make you breakfast in the morning?" She glanced over at me, the emotion on her face drawing me in.
"Wow. That was almost a record for us, and we just met." I took another chip from the bag and dipped it in the creamy rose-colored dip. I lifted it to her lips and nodded. "Why do you keep bringing up sex, Cora? Is that all you think about when you look at me?"
She leaned forward and bit the chip, not answering me. "I'm getting a beer; you want one?"
"Yep." I pushed at her back to help her off the old couch and couldn't help but breathe in deeply as the scent that was uniquely her rolled over me. A mixture of coconuts and cinnamon. Delicious.
She handed me a beer as she walked back in and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry."
"For not popping the top? You should be." I moved the chip bag from behind her and winked at her. "Derek gets a woman who loves to cook and totally gets why The Notebook is a make out movie, and I get berated for being a guy with hormones. Typical Sunday
night!"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry about being an ass. I just-”
"No. Don't let up on me just yet. I was starting to think I needed to change my ways. Keep giving me shit, and I might turn into a good guy at some point this summer." I ran my finger around the side of the bowl and licked at it. "Fuck, this is good."
Her eyes moved along my face as she leaned back and ran her finger along the inside of the bowl, too. "I'm not sleeping with you."
"Why do you think that I'm interested in sleeping with you?" I laughed, wanting to be crude and make her feel as if she were the furthest thing from something I might desire, but I couldn't do it. I wouldn't. Not after Cindy told me about her situation. I'd never cheated on a girl, but then again, I'd never been in a relationship long enough to consider it.
"You're kidding, right?" She licked at her finger sensually. Bitch. She had to be playing a game with me. I couldn't even seem to tell anymore with her.
"Brats are done!" Clay walked in with his hands in the air. "No thanks to you."
"Me?" I got up, ignoring the desire to grab Cora's hand and lick her finger clean for her. She had no clue how good I could make her feel, nor would she if she kept it up. I could handle a bit more, and then I was hitting the door.
Keep telling yourself that.
We gathered around the large kitchen table in the dining room as Dedra and Emily started to open windows. The spread on the table looked great, and my stomach growled as I reached for a plate.
"Hold up, handsome. We gotta pray over the food." Dedra bumped me with her hip and smiled.
"Go for it." I smiled at her and bowed my head as she prayed. I glanced up to see Cora watching me as if she wanted to ask a question. I mouthed, “what?”
She mouthed back, “Close your eyes.”
I winked at her and closed my eyes, licking at my lips in hopes that she would know that I was teasing her for not closing her eyes, too.
"Amen," Dedra finished up and lifted her hands. "Eat up. We'll start the movie after this."
"The horror movie, right?" Clay grabbed a plate. "Cause Brody here hates a fucking chick flick."
I pretended to gag. "Only good for one thing."
"Making out!" Cindy laughed.
"Exactly. That's my girl." I pointed to her as Derek growled at me. "Or your girl?"
Clay shook his head at us. "You guys are ridiculous. A chick flick is the perfect excuse to get out a good cry and still keep your man card."
"A good cry?" Derek laughed. "That's it. Get his card." He nodded toward me, and I handed my plate to Cora who'd moved up beside me. We moved toward Clay as he lifted his hands.