Good Sensations (6 page)

She hangs up and I’m left there with a shattered soul, unable to think clearly.

“Mallory? Earth to
Malllllory?
” Sarah waves her hand in front of my face. “Hey there, welcome back. I’m off again. Josh is waiting down in the car for me.” She hugs me tightly and I go through the motions, but sit quietly in shock as she carries on. “You have fun with your man and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nod, barely looking at her, still too caught up in the phone call, the threat, I just got from Evan’s mother. “Okay, bye,” I mumble.

When she opens the door, I hear Evan, which snaps me to the present. I was hoping for a few minutes to collect my thoughts, but I’m not that lucky. “Hey, don’t rush off on my account.” I hear them speaking in the other room.

I wipe at my eyes, where tears were starting to form.

Sarah’s voice carries. “No, no. I was leaving already. You two have a good time. Hopefully I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks again for helping me surprise Mallory.” I can hear the smile in his voice. He’s genuine and honest and I weaken just a bit. “Is she here?”

“No problem, and yeah, she’s in her room.”

The door closes and I hear the faintest sound of footsteps coming closer. I put on a fake smile, hoping to cover the damage the Wicked Witch has caused. It may be surface, but I don’t want to have any emotional conversations about his mother without processing her words first. I shouldn’t give her even a second of my thoughts, but she comes from a place of protecting her son and I don’t take that lightly. Even though my instant reaction is to prove her wrong, I don’t want to make us about that. As soon as he rounds the corner, I put on a smile and say, “I gave you a key to use—”

“I didn’t want to barge in, just in case Sarah was home.”

I stand to greet him, wrapping my arms around his middle, and resting my cheek on his chest, effectively hiding my face. “How’d it go today?”

“Really well.”

“Yeah?” Leaning back to look at him, I raise my eyebrows, hoping he opens up more. “You want to talk about it?”

He leads me to the bed and we both sit down, making ourselves comfortable. “I’m in.”

I’m trying to decipher his quick, but casual response, but the two words seem too simple. It can’t be that easy. Can it? “You mean you’re
in
in?”

“As of January seventh I’m officially a Buffalo.” He leans forward, taking my hands in his, and says, “Do you think you can handle me being around all the time?”

His mothers’ words begin taunting me as they roll over in my head playing on repeat. I look away from what feels like his too direct of a stare and state, “Evan, please never doubt my intentions. I hope that you trust I’m being honest with you when I say that I want you here with me.”

Two fingers grace my chin and he turns my head to face him again. His tone is soft and gentle as a smile toys with the sides of his mouth. “I do believe you. Thank you.” I watch his lips, still not allowing myself to look into his eyes. He kisses the end of my nose.

Guilt sets in, rumbling my stomach. “You’re making so many sacrifices. I wish I could do the same for you,” I utter the words that are becoming the bane of our existence. With us, the imbalance of what we can give always tips the scales in his favor, making me feel bad.

He doesn’t hesitate. The strong-willed, confident, surfer I met last summer emerges determined. “You’ve given me life, Mallory. What I’ve given you pales in comparison. I owe you everything.” He pulls me over to sit on his lap. “I love you so much. Moving to be near you comes from a purely selfish place. Believe me when I say that, so don’t go nominating me for sainthood just yet.”

I relax, resting my head on his shoulder. “I can’t wait for you to be here.”

“It’s gonna be tough going back to New York when my heart is here with you. Hey,” he says, looking at the window. “It’s still early. You want to go house hunting with me?”

“A house? You want to get a house?” I ask, sitting straight up, astonished once again by how he seems to have the world at his disposal.

“I’m not sure. I think I’d prefer an apartment, something close to you, but I’ll look and see what I like.”

“You’re so sweet, and by the way, have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“No, tell me,” he smirks.

“I love you, Evan Ashford.” There’s a definite neediness building inside of me, all signs of playfulness evaporated from my lowered voice. I need him to know how much I love him, to feel my love. I need that love to be strong enough to bring him back and fight for all that’s good and honest in this crazy situation.

He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles and without needing
his
words, I feel his love for me.

We spend a good portion of the day driving around and stopping in on a few apartments. His long list of complexes quickly gets narrowed down to three options, all close to me.

After a nap and some fun at my place, we go out for dinner then I offer to introduce him to our local dive, The Sink. It’s already bustling with co-eds when we arrive just after ten. Making our way through the crowded bar. I spot Sarah and Josh hanging out in the corner with a group of other people. We stop to get a beer at the bar before heading over to join them.

After introductions, Josh and Evan hit it off, discussing the current rankings of the Pac-12 Conference, which is a big relief because I’ve seen too many relationships strained because the friends didn’t get along with the significant other. After a few more beers, Josh convinces Evan to throw a game of darts, betting the bar tab on it. I push him forward, but he playfully resists then gives in with a smile. “If you’re sure,” he says with a wink.
Why do I get the feeling that he’s a really good dart player, maybe even a hustler?
Oh, yes, that’s right, because he’s good at everything and he kind of is a hustler.

Sarah and I plant ourselves on barstools out of the way and watch from a distance. I enjoy watching Evan in this environment,
in my environment
, a little too much I worry. His mother’s words still haven’t left my thoughts and dampen the fun for me a bit.

“He’s really hot, Mallory. I can definitely see the attraction.” She bites her lip as she checks him out. After looking around the bar, she adds, “I think every girl in here can too.”

“You should see him when he’s coming out of the ocean after surfing—all wet, sun hitting...” I sigh heavily wishing I’d taken more pictures.

Evan comes up and kisses me on the cheek. He slides his nose across my skin until his lips are pressed to my ear. “If I hit a bulls-eye, what do I win?”

His warm breath and amorous tone heats my face and warms my body. I turn until my cheek is against his and whisper, “What do you want to win?”

“Your undying devotion,” he says, standing up.

I pat him on the shoulder and give my version of a romantic interlude. “That’s so Romeo and Juliet of you. I, thee, my Romeo, henceforth cherish you with my undying devotion and ask for nothing, but a mere kiss in return.”

“I’ll give you more than a kiss any day of the week, my Juliet.” He stops to kiss me on the cheek again.

Sarah rolls her eyes, and says, “Sunny was right about you two.”

Josh walks up, taking a drink of his beer, then taps Evan on the chest and says, “Your turn.”

“What’d Sunny say?” Evan asks, waiting with the darts in hand.

We all three wait for Sarah to continue. She looks at me, and says, “She said you guys were different.”

I lean my elbows on the table and ask, “Different how?”

“It’s real, your love for each other. I can see it. She’s right.”

My gaze drops from her and goes immediately to Evan, who’s taking in her words. When he looks at me, he nods his head to the side, calling me to him. I get up and go, sliding my arm around his back, and lean my head on his chest. “They’re both right, you know,” he says, then kisses my temple.

“I know. I believe the same thing.”

He swats me away and says, “Now back up, woman. I’m throwing darts for undying devotion and I’m hoping for some naughtiness when we get back to your place tonight.” He raises the dart into the air, squints one eye, and aims.

Right when he throws, I smack his ass, and the dart goes flying, but because it’s Evan, it still hits the dartboard. “Seriously, Evan, is there anything you’re not good at?”

With a smirk plastered on his face, he says, “I’m not good at losing or sharing.” After that statement, he finishes his off his beer.

“Damn it,” Josh says, staring at the dartboard.

Sarah and I turn, surprised. Laughing, I say, “I think that’s the first curse word I’ve ever heard you say. And if you’re trying to keep up with Evan, you’re gonna have to give a lot of fucks to compete with him.”

“Eh, not competing. Just irritated at my crappy dart throwing tonight,” Josh adds.

Sarah gets up to console him with a hug.

Evan saunters to me, and says, “About that undying devotion, Miss Wray.”

“And here I thought you’d only be focused on the naughty you threw into the bet at the end there.”

“You caught that, huh?”

I lean forward as if I’m going to tell him a secret, but don’t bother whispering. “Hate to break it to you, but I had you all figured out at the airport and I still slept with you. I kind of expect some naughty when it comes to you, Mr. Ashford.”

Grabbing me around the neck in a pretend headlock, he laughs. “This is why we make such a great team. We understand the dynamics of our relationship and have our priorities straight.”

“Always the charmer when it comes to sex,” I add, rolling my eyes, and patting my hair back into place.

“Worked on you.” He smiles, taking my hand and kissing it. “Luckily for me.”

“Why does it feel like you think you’ve won more than a dart game here? Like you charmed the pants right off of me when we’ve had this talk before? I’m the one who chose you.”

He bursts out laughing, but reins it in quickly. With a smile that says he’s lying out his ass, he says, “Yes, dear. You were in total control that day at the airport.”

As much as I want to get all defensive and hide the fact that we started as a one-night stand, it’s our story and look at us now. Anyway, he’s too sexy to get mad at. Instead, I pull him by the hand and say, “I think I’ll have to remind you exactly how that day played out, but later, after I kick your ass in darts.”

Josh steps forward, and says, “I was hoping for a rematch.”

Evan smiles. “I’m happy to take your pride twice, dude, but first my lovely girlfriend has challenged me to a game.”

With a laugh, I offer, “You guys go ahead and play and I’ll get another round of drinks.”

“Thanks, Mal,” Josh says.

Looking at Sarah, I smile. “I’ll be right back.”

“Need help?”

“No, I’ve got it.” I walk to the bar and slip onto a stool. The place is busy and the bartender is running around trying to fill drink orders. Before I have a chance to order, I feel a body press against me from the side. I spin on the barstool and see Will with a smile on his face, staring back at me.

“Mallory, how are you this fine evening?” Adjusting to squeeze in closer, he maneuvers between me and the next seat, which is currently occupied by a large guy. Will doesn’t bother me as much since I had the revelation I did back in the cafeteria that day. It’s not like he wants me back. It’s more that he wants what he can’t have, so he continues to flirt and I continue to blow him off. It’s become a little game we play.

Leaning forward to get the bartender’s attention, he waves his hand which makes his drink spill onto my chest.

The liquid is cold, making me jump. Up. “Shit!” I say, accidentally bumping him and causing him to stumble backward.

That’s when I notice he’s pretty drunk. He rushes me, hands out, all grabby. “Oh hey, Mallory, I’ll get that for you,” he says rubbing his hand across my chest, no napkin in them, just his hand over and over again.

Smacking his him away, I shout, “Get off of—”

Startled by the hit, Will trips on the leg of a stool, losing his balance, and begins to fall backwards. But as he falls, he grapples for anything to keep him upright. In haste, he grabs me and I fall with him.

My head scrapes across the edge of a nearby table before I land directly on top of him with a thud.

He doesn’t miss a beat. “I knew you wanted me, Mal, but all you had to do was ask.” He laughs, a bit drunk-dazed, a lot amused as he pulls me closer.

Trapped between his legs, I feel him growing harder against me. I fight against him, but my head throbs and he quickly rolls on top of me, pinning me underneath him. He has an apologetic expression, maybe even regret covering his face when he says, “I’m sorry for cheating on you. Give me another—”

“Get off me, you asshat,” I say, angry. Pressing against his chest, I push hard to get him off. “You were such a mistake. There’s no chance in Hell I’ll make it again.”

In an instant, he’s gone when Evan yanks Will off of me, holding him high enough that his feet barely touch the ground. “What the fuck are you doing?”

With his hands up in surrender, Will stammers, “I, er, uh—”

“If you ever come near her again, I’ll make you regret the day you laid eyes on her. Do you understand me?”