I give her a small smile, but don’t press. She’ll tell me when, or if she’s ever ready.
My phone chirps, ruining the moment, and I apologize to Madison as I pull it out of my pocket. The sender is someone I was not expecting, considering she got what she wanted from me last night.
I’ve got an itch only you can scratch. Are you free tonight?
Madison must see my face drop as I read Juliet’s message because she asks, “Everything okay?”
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I nod, clearing my throat. “Yeah, fine.”
And just like me, she doesn’t press; she simply sips her coffee, and gives me a reassuring smile. Both Madison and I have secrets, but every so often secrets are better left unsaid.
22
One Direction
DIXON
After dropping Madison off at her place, I decide to hit the gym and burn off some of my pent-up sexual energy, and also my smorgasbord of sweets. I texted Hunter and he was keen for a workout, and to brag about his night.
After he’s done scarring me with images I so wish I could burn from my hippocampus, he decides to inquire about my night.
“So, how was your evening?” he asks, running on the treadmill beside me.
“It was great,” I reply, my feet pounding on the belt.
“Oh, yeah? How was Marisa?”
I could try and elude him, but I don’t see the point.
“I wouldn’t know,” I respond breathlessly.
“You wouldn’t know? What the fuck are you talking about?” he questions, utterly confused.
When I don’t reply and focus on running instead of talking, he grumbles, “You choked, didn’t you?”
“Call it whatever you like,” I say with a casual shrug. “I call it not catching crabs.”
“There was a time in our lives when crabs were cool, Dix,” Hunter rebukes, and I blanch.
“There is never, ever, a cool time for VD, Hunt,” I say, brushing my sweaty hair off my brow.
“Yeah well, that’s what the new, boring Dixon says. But the old, fun Dixon would be down with a medicated crab wash.”
“You, my friend, are disgusting,” I say, laughing. “And for your information, I didn’t choke, I just upgraded.”
“Whoa, hold up. What does that mean?” he says, his curiosity piqued.
“Why don’t you use that creative mind of yours and figure it out?” I smugly reply, focusing on finishing my two-mile run.
However, one minute I’m running, and the next, I’m almost face planting.
“What the hell?” I bark when Hunter hits the emergency stop button.
“Start talking, Mathews,” he demands as I step off the machine and attempt to catch my breath.
“There’s not much to tell,” I reply, slowly pacing to cool down. “I went home with Madison, instead of the peroxide airhead.”
“Madison!” Hunter yells in disbelief as he hits the stop button on his own machine. “As in Cherry Pie Madison?”
“Yes,” I reply with a smirk, as his nickname for her is quite fitting.
“Holy shit, you dog. Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?”
“Yes,” I counter, stretching my arms above my head.
“You fucking dog!” he screams excitedly, slapping me on the back.
“It’s not like that,” I clarify.
“It’s exactly like that,” Hunter nods. “So, how was it? I know you’ve had a hard-on for her for ages. Did it live up to everything and more?” he asks, rubbing his hands together.
“It’s really not like that,” I say, walking toward the water fountain.
“So what, you’re telling me you had like a slumber party, or something?” Hunter jokingly says as he follows in hot pursuit.
“Something like that,” I say with a shrug, and can’t help but chuckle at the disgusted look on Hunter’s face.
“Sweet baby Jesus! And what, did you braid each other’s hair, and argue over whether Niall or Harry is cuter?”
“Who the hell is Niall?” I ask, pulling away from the water stream and cocking my eyebrow.
When I continue looking at him, afraid for his sanity, he brushes it off.“Never mind. Stop trying to change the subject.”
“I’m not trying to change any subject,” I reply, wiping runaway water from my lips with the back of my hand as I stand to full height. “And there’s only a subject because you keep making it one. Madison and I are friends, and yes, I’m attracted to her, but she has a boyfriend, and I would never screw that up for her because she’s the first girl I’ve met in ages that I actually give two shits about,” I say in a huff, while Hunter smirks.
“You so braided each other’s hair,” he counters, while I punch him on the arm.
We walk to the changing rooms and the fact Hunter has gone quiet is never a good sign.
“Spit it out.” I sigh, as I know he’ll explode if he doesn’t get whatever is festering in his head out in the open.
“I just…” He pauses, looking stumped. “You’re telling me a smokin’ hot, gorgeous girl, was in your apartment, in your bed, and you did nothing?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you,” I reply, sitting on the bench and untying my laces.
“Not even a blowjob?”
“No.”
“Hand job?”
“No.”
“Foreplay?”
“No.”
“Making out?”
“No.”
“Dry-humping?”
“No.”
“What about some over-the-clothes touching?”
“No.”
“A sensual massage, which led to some kind of skin-on-skin contact, which then led to some kind of penetration?”
“No.”
“Dirty pillow talk?”
“No.”
“Playing footsie?”
“No.”
“What about some peeping Tom action when she was sleeping?”
“No.”
“Faked sexomnia?”
“Fuck, you’re one sick man,” I say, pulling a sickened face as I reach for my gym bag.
“Anyone would think you’re a damn virgin,” he states, and his comment reminds me of Madison’s confession.
“Speaking of virgins,” I smugly declare, while Hunter almost gags on his tongue.
“No? No fucking way,” he exclaims, shaking his head, not believing me.
“Yes,” I affirm with a nod. “She pretty much told me she was.”
“I am actually speechless right now. There are no words to convey how I’m currently feeling,” Hunter affirms, appearing to be in utter shock as he slumps down onto the bench seat.
“Good, let’s keep it that way,” I reply, zipping up my hoodie and shouldering my bag. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Wait, where’s the fire?” he asks, standing up.
“Besides in your pants?” I playfully counter, referring to his sordid night with Mandy, and the possible diseases he’s caught from sleeping with her.
“Very funny, you tween.” He punches me in the arm. “Seriously though, what’s the hurry?”
I failed to mention Madison will be staying over for another “slumber party,” and I also excluded the minor detail that Juliet will probably turn up on my doorstep unannounced, and quite possibly naked. I didn’t reply to her text because I didn’t know what to say.
“Man, you really are a masochist,” Hunter says with a shake of his head, as he can obviously read my facial expressions. “You’re letting a chick, who will in no way put out ’cause she’s a damn virgin, and has a boyfriend, sleep in your bed…again. You’re the one who needs to see a shrink.”
I don’t argue with him on that.
“What about the harlot?” he asks, and I decide to leave out the part about her masturbating on my doorstep.